The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-09-27
MIR. NUBBINS PROPOSAL.


for the departure of the Montreal ex-
press from the Grand Central station,
and the cars were rapidly filling up.
Nathaniel Nubbins, well-dressed,
meek-looking little gentleman, had
just got comfortably Y settled down in u
corner seat of the car next to the
smoker when he heard familiar voice
addressing him:
'Why, hello, Nubbins; how nre you?
I'm right in luck today. / was Just
looking for some one to take charge
of Aunt AbigaiPs bundles and assist
her of the train with them when she
reaches Troy. You're going through,
of course?"
'Y-yes." answered Nubbins, faint
ly, rs he glanced up and recognized
his friend Travers with his arms full
of bundles of all shapes and sizes and
"Aunt Abigail" grimly looming up in
an aisle behind him like one of Napo-
Icons grenadiers.
Now, Nathaniel Nubbins was Of q
decidedly shy and retiring disposi-
tion, besides being dyed. in.the- wool
old bachelor (Nubbins was 80, still
single, and not only willing bat anxi-
Gus to remain SOY, and if he could
have had his choice he would sooner
lead bayonet charge, face gang Of
mutineers or a midnight burglar, or
encounter most any other trihe in that
line rather thal take charge of a
woman and her luggage for l5O-mile
railroad journey. Therefore the
reader will kindly imagine the remarks
(they will hardly do for print that
Nubbins made under his breath as he
got up and, with forced politeness,
bowed the waiting female to the seat
next to the window.
'Thank you," said Travers, MS he
began piling bundles on Nubbins' feet
and into his lap, whichever came the
handiest; 81 knew you'd just as soon
do me the favor to take charge of
Aunt Abigail as not, and I'm glad I
happened to run across you. She is n
triile hard of hearing, and-er-a little
eccentric in some respects, but you'll
find her first-rate company when YOU
get acquainted with her. BY the way,
came near forgetting to introduce
you TO each other. Mr.. Nubbins, this
is my aunt, Miss Abigail Doolit-
tie" Then, raising his voice, he
shouted: Aunt Abigail, allow me TO
present my bachelor friend, Mr.. Nub.
bins, who will look after you and see
you safely off the train with your bag
gage when you reach Troy"
so good of him, I'm sure. Happy
to meet you, Mr.. Nubbins," I" responded
Miss Doolittle, with what was meant
to be winsome smile in Nubbins's
direction.
At this moment the starters bell
rang, the train began slowly moving
out of the station, and with hurried
"goodby" Travers dashed out of the
car, leaving Nubbins alone to face the
responsibility of delivering Miss Doo-
little and her collection of baggage
safely at the Troy station-a respon-
sibility which even the bravest of
Nubbins's sex might we'll have hesi-
tated to face.
Now, Nubbins, as have previously
intimated, was not cast in a heroic
mold. He was timid little gentle
man, measuring probably feet 2 in
his patent feathers, and his great aim
in life, so far as the so.called gentler
sex was concerned, was to leave them
severely alone and quietly flock by
himself, as Lord Dundreary used to
express it.
Miss Abigail Doolittle, on the con-
trary, though she had chiefly focked
by herself through tive-and- forty sim
mering summers and the same number
of dreary winters, had done so unwil-
lingly and under protest, as it were.
For full quarter Of century the
tall and stately Miss Doolittle (who
loomed nearly foot above Nubbins
and looked every inch grenadier as
believe l have before hinted) had
been on the matrimonial bargain
counter-she had snug little fortune
in her own right-waiting patiently
for some enterprising and apprecia-
tive gentleman to appear on the scene
and take possession of her willing
heart and other personal property.
But alasl Thus far her waiting had
been in vain. Among her list of nc
quaintances other maidens, young and
old, attractive or otherwise, some with
fortunes and some without, had been
taken, and she alone had been left to
mourn over the porverseness of man.
kind.
Much brooding on the subject.
coupled with her infrmity of hearing,
had at last resulted in the harmless
delusion that every man who treated
her at all politely was desperately in
love with her, and as Nubbins had not
been warned of this fact, it can readily
be surmised that his present position
was one OF extreme peril-that is, SO
FAR as his peace OF mind was con-
cerned, at least.
After the Forty-second street tunnel
had been passed and the train had
emerged once more into daylight.
Nubbins transferred the most of the
bundles from his lap to the rack over.
head. and presently veutured upon
u .1x.x l. L..