The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-01
Q eeseseeeeeeesoeeee,
{: Mr.. NUDD|NS' PROPOSAL
. oeeeeeseeoeoeeseoe

. Q o . . Q . . . Q . Q ee 6 Q Q .
1t lacked five minutes of the time for
the departure of the Montreal express
from the Grand Central station, and
the cars were rapidly filing up. Ma
thaniel Nubbins, a well dressed meek
looking little gentleman, had just got
comfortably settled down In a corner
seat of the car next to the smoker,
when he heard a familiar voice ad-
dressing him:
"Why, hello. Nubbins. How are you?
I'm right in luck today. l was just
looking for some one to take charge Of
Aunt Abigail's bundles and assist her
off the train with them when she
reaches Troy. You're going through,
of course"
"Y-yes," answered Nubbins family
as he glanced up and recognized his
friend Travers with his arms full of
bundles of all shapes and sizes and
Aunt Abigair' grimly looking up in an
aisle behind him like one of Napoleon's
grenadiers.
Now, Nathaniel Nubbins was Of de-
cidedly shy and retiring disposition, be-
| sides being dyed In the wool old
| bachelor (Nubbins was so, still single
| and not only willing, but anxious to re-
main sol, and If he could have had his
| choice he would sooner lead a bayonet
| charge, face a gang of mutineers or a
midnight burglar or encounter most
| any other trifie in that line rather than
take charge Of a woman and her lug
| gage for a $50 mile railroad journey.
| Therefore the reader will kindly imag-
inc the remarks Ohey 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 as he be-
gan piling bundles on Nubbins' feet
and into his lap. whichever came the
handiest. Il knew you'd just as soon
do me the favor to take charge of Aunt
Abigail as not. and I'm glad happen
ed to run across you. She is trif1e
hard of hearing, and-er-a little &C.
centric in some respects, but you'll find
her first rate company when you get
came near forgetting to introduce you
to each other. MIR. Nubbins, this is
my aunt, Miss Abigail Doolittle.'
Then, raising his voice. he shouted
Aunt Abigail, allow me to presen:
my bachelor friend. Mr.. Nubbins, who
will look after you and see you safely
off the train with your baggage wheI
you reach Troy"
$50 good of him, I'm sure. Happy
to meet you, Mr.. Nubbins," responded
Miss Doolittle, with what was mean,
to be winsome smile in Nubbins' di
rection.
At this moment the starters bel
rang, the train began slowly moving
out of the station, and with a hurried
goodby Travers dashed out of the ear
leaving Nubbins alone to face the re
sponsibility of delivering Miss Doolit
tie and her collection of baggage safe
ly at the Troy station, a responsibilit!
which even the bravest Of Nubbins
sex might well have hesitated to face.
Now, Nubbins, as l have previOusl.
intimated, was not cast in a herOi'
mold. He was a timid little gentle
man, measuring probably 5 feet
inches in his patent feathers, and hi
great aim in life, so far as the SO call
ed gentler sex was concerned, was t.
: leave them severely alone and Quietl,
flock by himself, as Lord Dundrear.
used to express it.
Miss Abigail Doolittle, on the con
trary, though she had chiefly f1ocke,
by herself through five and forty sim
: mering summers and the same numbe
of dreary winters, had done so unwill
ingly and under protest, as 1t were.
For full quarter of century tn
tall and stately Miss Doolittle, VIII
| loomed nearly a foot above Nubbin
| and looked every inch grenadier, as
' believe | have before hinted, had bee
3 on the matrimonial bargain counter
g she had a snug little fortune In he
. own right-waitfng patiently for som
: enterprising and appreciative gentle
:, man to appear on the scene and tax
r possession Of her willing heart an
e other personal property. But alas
e Thus far her waiting had been in vail
+ Among her list of acquaintances othe
t maidens, young and old, attractive @
y | OCnefWlSe, SOlue WITH lOItuueS al
= some without, had been taken, and sh
= alone had been left to mourn over th
e perverseness of mankind.
Much brooding on the subject, col
pied with her infirmity of hearing, ha
at last resulted in the harmless deli
v sion that every man who treated her 6
b all politely was desperately in lov
II with her, and as Nubbins had not bee
d warned of this fact 1t can readily
surmised that his present position we
: one of extreme peril-that is. so far 6
y his peace of mind was concerned, {
l. least.
d After the Forty-second street tunn
Is had been passed and the train ha
re emerged once more into daylight Nu
r bins transferred the most of the bu
% dies from his lap to the rack overhea
% and presently ventured upon the r
3, mark that 1t was fine day.
y "Beg pardon, sirp' said the fema
grenadi n. suddenly Strengthening I