Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-12-06
TWO PROPOSALS


zed when they started out to shoot Span
iarcs that they woGld meet crushing de-
feat al the hands 81 Cupid, there might have
been two men ever among the volunteers
sho we're se0t to Cuba. But Bundy and
OrsiAe looked into the future and saw
themselves coming back home with the
Band playing one 81 Sousa marches and
the residents 81 tross FORKS shouting them
selves hoarse yer the return Of two con-
quering heroes
With taese IeAe s.ions adding fire to
then patflotism rae young men started
for the scene cf acfion. As the train pulled
ont Of Gross fks Bundy waved an affec-
tionate adieu weeping maiden who had
chung To him until the last moment, while
0rville threw passionate kiss toward an
other gries-stricken young woman.
Now for war" said Bundy, as he and
Orviile finally boarded transport at
Tampa.
''Ies, and shoulder straps, too" assent
ed Oryille When they reached Cuba they
were consigned to trenches far from the
scene OF action, and there the pair crouched
until an unseen foe in the shape of Cuban
fever attacked them and they were taken
TO hospital. For days and days they raved
about war and the Spaniards and love and
Gross FORKS. A trim little woman with a
face Of rare beauty attended to their wants
When they were finally able to show an in
terest in their surroundings she confded
to them that her name was Ray Lowell and
that she was the youngest nurse in the hos
pital.
The two Cross Forks volunteers occupied
cots in separate parts Of the ward Each
rha sv,4a fy
Lowell. Once when she approached Bundy
he seized her and poured forth his heart
The nurse smiled, and Bundy was certain
that she nodded her head and squeezed his
hand A moment later she admonished
him to remain quiet for fear OF relapse,
and then she glided away. Bundy then
dropped into profound slumber. He did
not dream of Cross Forks.
Several days passed, during which Bundy
saw little Of the beautiful young nurse.
Much to his dismay he noticed that she
spent most Of her time near Oryille
During this time Orville was beginning to
think that the dainty young nurse was by
far the best-looking girl he had ever seen.
1t occurred to him that she would make
nice prize to take back to Cross Forks, and
he began putting forth efforts to win her
which had helped to win him fame in his ma
tive town.
"Seems to me it's goin' to rain outside"
he muttered one morning when Miss Lowell
appeared at his bedside
Probably it will, she answered. with
some hesitancy.
Cup in my country this here rain would
mean good crops" pursued Orville, "an'
-. ar3+
me, say, owned a good farm an was Twin
together like two doves peclin' in a road
way, | think everything would be sunshine,
'eeptin' when the rain come along to help
us"
You are talking too much" interrupted
the nurse, and then she left him.
Say" pleaded Orville, as she depart
ed, Il only wanted to know if you would
be my wife Miss Lowell turned and
smiled, then put her finger to her lips, and
as Orville nodded assent to her final silent
warning against talking, she left the ward.
A few days after this incident Bundy and
Orville We're permitted to leave their beds
and walk about in the hospital.
mate" said Bundy, during their first
walk, Il want to tell you of my great luck.
I'm engaged to Miss Lowell"
You're a liar!" exclaimed Orville an
grily You're a willful liar, an I'll fight
you right now for that past remark. I'm
engaged to the young woman myself. Lots
Of rain, good crops, and life Of sunshine,
Charlie Bundy. that nurse is just head over
heels in love with me-" When Bundy heard
this his pale cheeks became surprisingly
red
Mister Orville," lie responded, haught-
ily, this young lady has eonfided her very
soul to my care. She just as good as told me
the other day that she was all mine. With
me thinkin' OF this, would just as soon Kill
you as not if did not realize that you was
seill delirous" But for the timely appear
ance of Miss Lowell murder might have fol-
lowed Bundy's declaration. Orville was
approaching bis rival with clinched fists,
and me latter was brandishing a pitcher
which be had seized as weapon Of de-
Tense, wnen the nurse ran between the pair.
She was a small woman, but the men were
weak, and with no apparent effort the fair
peacemaker seized the belligerents by the
collars and kept them apart.
You two evidently want to so back to
bed and then TO a Cuban graveyard" she
said, sternly
"No, we don't" answered Bundy, "but
right now ] want to prove to this animal
across from me that you said you'd be my
wife" Miss Lowell Involuntary released
her hold on Bundy's collar,
Why, you must be crazy she said.
while you were delirious you kept max
ing love TO as many as a dozen different
girls Once you proposed to me and seized
my hand / allowed YOU to ramble on with
your nonsense for fear Of increasing your
fever ii took it seriously, and told you
what an utter idiot you were making Of
yourself"
Didn't you squeeze my hand?" asked
/ Bundy
Il most certainly did not"
BY this time Orville was laughing most
immoderately.
"You see, Mr. Bundy," he finally
4 drawled, cts me, after all. Miss Ray, he
continued, turning to the nurse, salute
I your future husband with kiss" AT this
he received violent slap on his lips which
he had puekered for the anticipated token
OF love, and then very angry nurse ran
/ out of the room.