Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-11-20
WHY MABEL LOST HIM
BY BLANCHE HARPER.

tAiCAtu VIII liS AuEAy DAT WuSIH6E II
was my fault or not! 1t was just
bad luck! I'm hoodooed, that's what"
II thought you were asked over to
visit Mabels family at their place in
the country" objected his friend with
the fuzzy hat.
81 was" admitted the young man
with the receding chin. And | put
it to you if that wasn't encourage
ment. When a girls family let's her
invite man for weekend doesn't
it look as though everything was all
right? And If the girl didn't want you
couldn't she sidestep the invitation
Mabel wrote me nice letter when
she asked me and | considered the
question before accepting. A man
doesn't want to commit himself off
hand, you know Girls are so fright
fully keen these days, and while
Mabel never seemed so you never can
tell. Still, | had always liked Mabel
pretty well. and you know where her
dad stands-he's got so much money
that they use it for kindling wood.
So l made up my mind that | might
do lots worse, Besides, | hated to dis.
appoint Mabel. | resolved to ask her
to marry me and get it over with"
"Gee!" said the man with the fuzzy
hat in admiring tones. Il like to see
a man with courage!"
Il was a little surprised" said the
young man with the receding chin,
Ito find when | got there that about
six other fellows had been invited,
and among them that Robson chap
that particularly obnoxious fellow
who never notices anybody, you know.
| resolved to show him a few things.
So l got Mabel to myself the very
first day. She had the garden hose
turned on her pet flower bed and /
rushed out to help her. She in
sisted that she preferred to water the
flowers herself, but / simply took the
hose away from her and naturally she
had to stay and watch me use 1t. !
tried TO lead up gradually to what |
had in mind, but she didn't seem to
realize the situation and always ran
me off the track. Finally l turned to
her in desperation and, throwing out
my hands, said"
WHAT" breathlessiv inquired his
friend.
We'll, whatever | said was com.
pletely lost In the subsequent excite.
ment," admitted the young man with
the receding chin. when threw
out my hands / dropped the hose
naturally and the nozzle struck on a
stone at such an angle that the full
force of the stream hit Mabel in the
face and drenched her
Il didn't see her again till evening,
but, of course, neither did Robson.
Naturally / sought her out to apollo.
giZe. She had just taken a chair un.
der the moonvine at one end of the
porch and said Obi" In a rather dis.
appointed tone when she looked up
and saw me. 1t sounded as though
she had expected some one else.
Mabel began, I can't tell you
how sorry am"
Don't try, she said But I kept
on for an hour. Whenever any one
else walked toward the corner ]
hitched my chair around to prevent
the intrusion, SO we were not dis.
turbed Finally she rose and so did
l. I stepped closer to her and took
her hand, but just as / said Mabel
softly she let out a shrek that
brought every one running.
"'My FOOT My footi' she walled
You brought your great heavy heel
down on my foot and nearly killed
met"
Then that Robson chap pushed In
ahead of me and half carried her to
a chair It was most annoying. But
| knew that fate could not defeat a
persistent man.
The next day all of US went for a
walk. but despite my efforts | could
not get word with Mabel. admired
her shyness. A girl can always feel
a proposal in the air. and it Is nat.
ural for her to throw obstacles in the
way. 1t only proves her interest
Finally / circled around and reached
stile ahead of the rest planned
to be there when Mabel arrived and
help her over before Robson could
climb the fencs and do IT himself. IT
worked beautifully, only as | bobbed
UP smiling and lifting my hat I ran
plump into a hornets nest in a
sassafras bush back of me-anc
don't know who helped Mabel over
that stile.
Every one seemed to think 1t my
fault that Mabel was stung by several
of the little beasts, too
II made up my mind that I would
have to write my proposal and send II
to her. But just before / left her
for home / accidently overheard
Mabel and her father talking
"'Good graciousi' Mabel told him.
Don't blame me If he has kept out OF
all your bridge games! I told you he
could play bridge when you wanted
some one to fill out your table, but
didn't guarantee to chain him into a
chair! Haven't endured enough In
my constant maneuvers to escape his
attempts to propose to me? I've been
nearly drowned and poisoned by
hornets and my foot was smashed
trying to get away from him-and
Mr.. Robson ready to slay him at
sight Go away, papa, and don't add
to my troubles!
Now l leave 1t to you II didn't
serve Mabel right just to let matters
drop and not write that proposal?"
you did" agreed the friend with
the fuzzy hat.--Chicago Daily News.