The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-01-29
EASY FOR MAMIE
coURTSHIP HELPED ALONG BY
MRS. M'GEE.
Jimmie More Than Willing to succumb
to the Charms Of Little Girl Who
Had Won His Heart.

The rosy cheeks, cherry lips and
dark eyes of Mamie MCGEE were en-.
HANGED by real charm-a ooyness OF
manner that robed her youthful limo
cence. Mamie was but 16, yet she was
not too young to realize the damage
done by her weakness, as she fire.
quently saw others preferred before
her, girls who were more forward
though less lovable than herself.
Invite jamie to call on us, will
you, mother dear?" she ventured to
ask, as the young man who had all
but won her heart advanced toward
them.
You are too bashful Mamie. Why
don't you do it yourself? l wouldn't
be lettin' tn girls laugh at me-" said
Mrs. MCGEE; and then, addressing
jamie, who was approaching them, his
face beaming with good nature: Good
mornin', Misther MCGUIRE. How are
you this foine mornin'?"
"Oh, I'm away up" said James Nc.
CURE. Il hope you are both WELL"
I'VE are real WE'LL" said Mamie.
"Shure, an you must come an see
US" said Mrs. MCGEE.
Il shall be pleased to-" said he, as
he smiled roguishly at Mamie. "Wiu
this evening be soon enough"
"Indade, an it is, James, an IT,
sooner tn bether," said Mrs. MCGEE.
At seven o'clock a gentle rap at the
door made Nannies heart beat fast.
L love him-I know l do-and I'm
AFRAID he won't like me-" she was
thinking, as she opened the door.
But Mr.. Mcclure was bright young
man, seven years her senior, and he
declared to himself, Il am in love with
a bashful beauty, and 1 shall make q
conquest possible" Accordingly, he
brought with him a stereoscope and a
number of fine views, that he might
carry young Mamie out of her self.
consciousness with a pleasant intellec.
tual training.
Mr.. MCGUIRE thought 1t to his inter.
ests to be very close to Mamie, as he
placed the pictures and held the scope
to her eyes; and at one time he hit her
forehead little rap with the handle;
Mamie placed her finger on the spot
and laughed girlishly.
But Mr.. Mcguire declared that he
would have to make an examination,
so he rose and imprinted a kiss upon
the offended flesh. That's the way
we cure babies" said he. And it hap.
pened that her mother, who was in the
adjoining room, looked at that very
moment from over her spectacles and
through the open door. She must have
seen it, as she whispered to herself:
"Arrah! phwist! aisy!"
The evening advanced, and as Mr..
MCGUIRE continued charming, and be-
Ing charmed, Mrs MCGEE decided that
the neighbors might be criticizin'," SO
she walked quietly into the room,
spectacles In hand, and as she did SO
the clock struck ten times, ten loud,
heavy strokes, during which time
silence reigned. At the last stroke
Mrs. MCGEE said, while looking sym
pathetically upon the two young peo-
pie: "Shure, the clock is unmannerlyi"
Mr.. Mcclure threw back his head
and laughed heartily, taking 1t as a
good joke. That's right, mother"
said he, "the clock does not speak
pleasantly" and continuing: Per
haps I had better ask permission to
call you mother?"
you may call me mother whenever
you like" said she.
For the rest of my lief" queried
Jamie?
eyes," said Mrs. MCGEE, for the
rest of your life"
"Then 1 say good night" and tap
ping Nannie's curly head with his hat,
he said: Il spent three of the hap
piest hours of my life with you" Bow
Ing an adieu to Mrs. MCGEE, he took
his leave.
When the door closed behind him,
Mamie, while looking at at her mother
wide eyes, said: "Am l en-
gagged"
"Faix, an that's what they calls it"
said Mrs. MCGEE.