The Prescott daily news., 1913-01-09
WHY MABEL LOST HIM
By BLANCHE HARPER.

"Ill leave it to you" said the young man with the receding chin to> his friend with the fuzzy bat, whether it was my fault or not! It was just had luck I'm hoodooed. that's what"
 q thought you were asked over to visit Mabel's family at their place in the country" objected his friend with the fuzzy hat
 q was" admitted the young man with the receding chin. And I put it to you if that wasn't encourage ment. When 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 a nice letter when she asked me and I 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 cal tell. Still, had always liked Mabel pretty we'll. 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 I might do lots worse Besides, I hated to dis appoint Mabel. I resolved to ask her to marry me and get it over with"
 "Gee," said the man with the fuzzy hat in admiring tones. T like to sec a man with courage!"
 q 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 Rollson cha that particularly obnoxious fellow who never notices anybody, you know I resolved to show him a few things So I 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 I simply took the hose away from her and naturally shc had to stay and watch me use it. i tried to lead up gradually to what had in mind, but she didn't seem tc realize the situation and always raj me off the track. Finally I turned tc her in desperation and, throwing out my hands, said"
 "What?" breathlessly inquired hiS friend.
 Well, whatever I 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 hos5 naturally and the nozzle struck on { ! stone at such an angle that the full force of the stream hit Mabel in tht face and drenched her.
 T didn't see her again till evening but, of course. neither did Rollson Naturally I sought her out to apolo. | gize. She had Just taken a chair un. 1 der the moonvine at one end of the porch and said "Oh!" In a rather dis. appointed tone when she looked UT
 and saw me. It sounded as though
 she had expected some one else.
 Mabel I began, cant tell you | how sorry I am
 | Doi tiy' sHe Sdlu. 6ut l kept on for an hour. Whenever any one ! else walked toward the corner I | hitched my chair around to prevent | the intrusion. so we were not dis.
 turbed. Finally she rose and so did
 l. l stepped closer to her and took | her hand, but just as I said Mabel | softly she let out shriek that ! brought every one running. My foot! My foot, she walled
 You brought your great heavy heel
 down on my foot and nearly killed mel"
 Then that Rollson chap pushed in
 ahead of me and half carried her to
 a chair. It was most annoying. But
 l knew that fate could not defeat a
 persistent man.