The Republican journal., 1921-12-29
A Chronicle of
Courtships
By MARTHA MAcWlLLlAMs.

Marry Me7 Why, don't you
know I was born oddT Miss Pru'
dence Ray chuckled, letting her knit
ting fall gently into her purple calico
lap. mighty lucky, too-men persons
are all right, handy to have in the
house, and great when it comes to
doin' real hard work. But to my
thinkin' it's lots easier to hire 'em
than to be always honeyin' 'em up
maxim 'em believe Andrew Jackson
wasn't SO, much biggern they are,
OR that old Father Noah had hardly
their foresight. Get on with 'em
Surel Wouldn't have 'em about If
couldn't Yes, l have had marryin'
chances, and l don't say they weren't
good ones-some of 'em. But some
how If l liked a mans looks his dis
position didn't suit-if he had more
money'n did, he wanted mine all the
harder; If he had less, he was main
sure to be tetchy about it-think l
ought to make him high cockalorum
aver everything. And that's what l
shan't ever do. Pap taught me too
well for that"
Jimmy Griggs giggled at the end
Of the exordium. He had, indeed,
giggled intermittently throughout it.
ABut you know you're lonesome-dead
lonesome, Miss Prue," he said. "That's
why you let me come and run on
yards and yards about my girl. Next
thing you know, to lovin' Is hearin'
about it. Makes me think of the
song:
Shovel and tonss. to each other be-
And the kettle sings songs Of family
While alone wild yer cup, like hermit
Och hone! @ Widow Machree."
Il know Mr.. Tom Jameson would
love to sing 1t to you-it would fiji
fine. Prudence Machree'"
"You right down ra'alely reckon
so?" Miss Prue drawled, giggling in
her turn, and threatening Jimmy with
her ball of blue yarn. II wonder
now how much you'd bet on it!'
"Silk stockings against the blue
socks you're knittin'," Jimmy said
gamely. Miss Prue shook her head.
"'Twouldn't do-no touch," she said.
How'd we ever find out who won,
and if twas me how'd you ever
square yourself with Lena McLane?
She has looked at me right down
crosseyed ever since you told her my
pound cake was the best ever-she
needn't even try to make as good"
Iena couldn't be jealous with you
married to Mr.. Tom," Jimmy returned.
"That's all you know about women
folks" Miss Prue flung back at him.
They'd be Jealous even Of mos
quito that buzzed round you if they're
born that way. Lord be praised I
wasn't born so. Or maybe it's because
I've got such conceit of myself. Any
body wants to think less of me or
more of some other body-do it and
welcome. I'll sit tight sayin' to N.Y.
self they lose as much as I do; may
be little mite more"
Cant you somehow make Lena
look at things that way?" Jimmy
asked "She's the very best ever
but my! how she acts up if l don't
walk the chalk every day and Sun
day too"
"When didn't you last?" Miss Prue
quered. chuckling She had known
all along Jimmy had come for some
special reason.
"Why over at the Morrison play
party" Jimmy expounded. "Madge
Gray snapped me out-and, like the
plague she is, kissed me before she'd
set down. Had the right. you know
whirled and cut me off in the run round
If Lena'd been there and seen how 1t
all was l don't believe she'd really
minded, but told the way she was, she
to throw my ring in the fire and run
away when put it back on her finger
and wouldn't let it come off"
"Then don't you worry She'll be
like May mornin' next time" Miss
Prue consoled. 'If she isn't-I ought
not to tell tales-but just you up an
ask her did she ever know Harvey
Clay"
Goodness! What for7" Jimmy de
manded
Miss Prue pursed her lips. "Then
that ask no questions save chances
of hearin' lies," she said. "You dc
as l tell you-but don't name names
unless you have to-"
"You don't know anything to Lena's
hurt-nobody does-they can't" Jim
my protested loyalty.
Fright ye are-but life's mighty
full of curiousnesses. Turns and
twists nobody can count on-nor out,
Miss Prue returned oracularly 'Nt
charge for advice, boy-only you come
and tell me how 1t works out and al
about it."
II can't go it blind this way" Jim
my protested. "Why must I ask he
about this Harvey Clay?"
eff you will have it, because sh'
was engaged to him-come in montl
of marryin' him when she was seven
teen, and flew the COOP"
Jimmy sprang up, his teeth clenched
"Where is he? I'll kill him!" he al
but shouted.
Miss Prue caught his arm, saying
"Ye can't! He's good and dead. Lef
~ wi 1r,1o ho1