Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1913-01-10
WHY MABEL. LOST HIM
BY BLANCHE HARPER.

bad lucki I'm hOodooed, that's what
Il thought you were asked over TO
visit Mabel's family at their place In
the country" objected his friend with
the fuzzy hat.
Il was, admitted the young man
with the receding chin. And | put
it to you if that wasn't encourage
ment. When a girls family lets her
invite a man for a 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, I had always liked label
pretty well, and you know where her
dad stands-he's got so much money
that they use it for kindling wood
So 1 made up my mind that | might
do lots worse. Besides, l hated to dis
appoint Mabel. / resolved to ask her
to marry me and get it over with"
"Geel" said the man with the fuzzy
hat in admlring tones. Il like to see
man with courageN
Il was a little surprised" said the
young man with the receding chin,
ito find when I 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
I resolved to show him a few things |
SO 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 l simply took the |
hose away from her and naturally she |
had to stay and watch me use IT, /
tried to lead up gradually to what l
had in mind, but she didn't seem to
realize the situation and always ran
me off the track Finally / turned to
her in desperation and, throwing out
my hands, said"
WHAT" breathlessly inquired his
friend
Well, whatever l said was COM
pletely lost in the subsequent excite
ment," admitted the young man with
the receding chin. when | threw
out my hands l 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
ACE and drenched her.
Il didn't see her again till evening, !
out, of course. neither did Robson. !
Naturally sought her out to apollo
yize She had just taken a chair I'M :
Ter the moonvine at one end of the 3
'orch and said OH" in a rather dis $
appointed tone when she looked up I
md saw me. It sounded as though
he had expected some one else. I
Mabel | began, can't tell you I
low sorry l am" e
Don't try, she said. But kept U
N for an hour. Whenever any one It
lse walked toward the corner c
Etched my chair around to prevent u
he intrusion, so we were not dis o
lrbed Finally she rose and so did v
| stepped closer to her and took u
er hand, but just as | said Mabel
oftly she let out a shrek that "A
rought every one running. a
My FOOT My foot!' she walled. n
you brought your great heavy heel W
own on my foot and nearly killed I,
Iei" l.
Then that Robson chap pushed in 81
head of me and half carried her to &c
chair. It was most annoying. But
knew that fate could not defeat a Ia
srsistent man.
The next day all of us went for a "
ak, but despite my efforts I could ~
IT get word with Mabel. admired %
II shyness. A girl can always feel -,
proposal in the air. and II is nat
al for her to throw obstacles in the -
ny. II only proves her interest y,
nally | circled around and reached ~
stile ahead Of the rest. / planned -
be there when Mabel arrived and ~
LIP her over before Robson could 20
NIB the fence and do II himself 1t -
'rked beautifully. only as ] bobbed ~
smiling and lifting my hat l ran -
imp into hornets nest In 90
ssafras bush back OF me--and
Mt know who helped Mabel over ~
1t stile.
Every one seemed to think II my -,
III that Mabel was stung by several a.,
the little beasts. too -.
I made up my mind that would air
We to write my proposal and send II hu
her. But Just before left her IN.
home I accidently overheard m,
bel and her father talking. n.
Good gracious.' Mabel told him. m
MT blame me II he has kept out of mo
your bridge games, told you he w
Id play bridge when you wanted no,
le one to Ill out your table. but ont
nt guarantee TO chain him into a "
ir, Haven't | endured enough IN pa,
constant maneuvers to escape his yor
'mpts to propose to met I've been -
rly drowned and poisoned by mo
nets and my foot was smashed a
ng TO get away from him-and nke