Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-08-10
rIr. Nubbins' Proposal.


It lacked five minutes of the time fol-
the departure of the Montreal express
from the Grand Central station, and
the cars were filling up. Nathaniel
Nubbins, well-dressed, meek-looking
little gentleman, had just got com
fortably settled down in a corner seal
of the car next to the smoker when he
heard a familiar voice addressing
him.
"Why, hello, Nubbins; how are you!
I'm right in luck today. ] was look
ing for some one to take charge OF
Aunt Abigail's bundles and assist hel
off the train with them when she
reaches Troy You're going through, o.
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 Abigail grimly looking up in
an aisle behind him like one of Ma
poleons grenadiers.
Now, Nathaniel Nubbins was of q
decidedly shy and retiring disposition
besides being a dyed-in-t wool ole
bachelor (Nubbins was so, still single
and not only willing, but anxious tC
remain so), and if he could have had
his choice he would sooner lead q
bayonet charge, face a gang of mutt
neers or a midnight burglar, or en-
counter most any other trihe in thai
line rather than take charge of a wo-
man and her luggage for 15O-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, as he
began 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
happened to run across you. She is
trif1e hard OF hearing, and-er-a lit
tie eccentric in some respects, but
you'll find her first rate company
when you get acquainted with her
BY the way, / came near forgetting tt
introduce you to each other. Mr.
Nubbins, this is my aunt, Miss
Abigail Doolittle." Then, raising his
voice, he shouted: Aunt Abigail, al,
low me to present my bachelor friend
Mr.. Nubbins, who will look after yor
and see you safely off the train with
your baggage WHEN you reach Troy
so good of him, I'm sure. Happy
to meet YOU Mr.. Nubbins," responded
Miss Doolittle, with what was mean
to be a winsome smile in Nubbins
direction.
At this moment the starters bel
rang, the train began slowly moving
out of the station, and with hur
ried goodbye" Travers dashed out o
the car, leaving Nubbins alone to face
the responsibility of delivering Mis-:
Doolittle and her collection Of baggage
safely at the Troy station-a response
bility which even the bravest of Nub
bins sex might we'll have hesitated tt
face.
Now Nubbins, as / have previousl.
intimated was not cast in heroi
mold. He was a timid little gentle
man, measuring probably feet 2 il
his patent feathers and his great ain
in life, so far as the gentler sex wa
concerned, was to leave them severel,
alone and quietly flock by himself, a
Lord Dundreary used to express it.
Miss Abigail Doolittle, on the con
trary thought she had chiefly flocket
by herself through five-andfOrty sim
mering summers and the same numbe
Of dreary winters, had done so unwill
ingly and under protest, as it were.
For a full quarter of a century tn
tall and stately Miss Doolittle (wh
doomed nearly foot above Nubbin
and looked every inch a grenadier, a
I believe l have before hinted) ha
been on the matrimonial bargai,
COUNTRYSIDE had a snug little forum
in her own right-waiting patientl
for some enterprising and apprecia
tive gentleman to appear on tn
scene and take possession of her will
ing heart and other personal property
But alas! Thus far her waiting ha
been in vain. Among her list of az
quaintances other maidens, young an
old, attractive or otherwise, som
with fortunes and some without, ha
been taken, and she alone had bee
left to mourn over the perverseness {
mankind.
Much brooding on the subjec
coupled with her infimity of hearin:
had at last resulted in the Harmless
delusion that every man who treate
her at all politely was desperately
love with her, and as Nubbins had NJ
been warned of this fact, it ca
readily be surmised that his prese1
position was one Of extreme peril