The Topeka state journal., 1921-09-20
Eoening Story
A Chronicle of Courtships.


Marry? Me? Why, don't you
know 1 was born odd?" 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
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 bigger'n they are. or
that old Father Noah had hardly their
foresight. Get on with 'enl? Sure!
Wouldn't have 'em about If couldn't.
Yes, have had marryin' chances, and
I don't say they weren't good ones
some of 'em. But somehow If liked
a mans looks his disposition didn't
suit-if he had more money'n did,
he wanted mine all the harder; II ne
had less, he was main sure TO be
tetchy about it-think I ought to
make him high cockalorum over ev-
erything And that's what I shant
ever do. Pap taught me too well for
that"
Jimmy Griggs giggled at the end of
this exordium. He had indeed giggled
interrnittently thruout it. But you
know you're lonesome-dead lone
some, 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 1t.
Makes me think of the song:
And the kettle sings songs Of family
While alone wild yer cup, like a hermit yet
Och hone! Widow Machreer'
'I know Mr.. Tom Jameson would
love to sing it to you-it would fit
fine, Prudence Machree.'
You right down raalely reckon
so ?" Miss Prude drawled, giggling in
her turn, and threatening Jimmy with
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,
yourself with Lena McLane? She has
looked at me right down crosseyed
ever since you told her my pound
cake was the best everJ-she needn't
even try to make as good"
Lena 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 a musqu1to
that buzzed round you If they're born
that way. Lord be praised l WASH t
born so. Or maybe it's because I've
body wants to think less of me or more
of some other body-do it and well
come. I'll sit tight sayin' to myself
they lose as much as 1 do; maybe
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 don't walk
the chalk every day and Sunday too"
when didn't you last?" Miss Prue
queried. 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 Lenad been there and seen
how it all was I don't believe she d
really minded, but told the way she
was, she boiled over when she saw me
tried to throw my ring in the fire
and run away when I put 1t back on
her finger and wouldn't let 1t come
off"
sThen, don't you worry. She'll be
like a May mornin' next time" Miss
Prue consoled. 'If she isn't-I ought
not to tell taIes-but just you up and
ask her did she ever know Harvey
Clay?"
GOOQneSS! w IldI IOA O41Alily
demanded.
Miss Prue pursed her lips. Them
that ask no questions save chances
of hearin' lies she said. You do
as 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 We are-but life's mighty full
of euriousnesses. Turns and twists
nobody can count on-nor out" Miss
Prue returned oracularly. ''No charge
tell me how it works out and all about
it,"
ST can't go it blind this way" jim
my protested. 'Why must I ask her
about this Harvey Clay?"
'If you will have it, because she
of marryin' him, when she was seven
teen, and he flew the coop"
Jimmy sprang up, his teeth
clenched. where is he? I'll kill
him. he all but shouted.
Miss Prue caught his arm, saying:
, Eye can't! He's good and dead. Left
Lena for q rich widow, who had a
limousine and a roadster, and both OF
'em broke their necks three months
after the weddin'."
II seei So Lena's sort OF widow
Jimmy sighed.
that if ye will=but not to her. There
was another fellow, one-Qf the trus-
tees, at that school she taught. seemed
to have a fine chance of consolin' her,
until she found out he ate onions on
the sly while he courted her"
We'll, I will be jiggeredl" from
Jimmy. But no wonder-with her
such a peach"
Besides, she's got taking ways"
said Miss Prue. my sister wrote me
she was real epidemic up in the Bush
Creek neighborhood: she taught there
two terms, you know. The circuit
rider cast sleeps eyes at her; and the
doctor-his name is Towser-quar-
relied with his sweetheart because she
acted up to Lena. No wonder Lena's
so jealous after all that experience;
but you're no babe and sucklin' your
self, Jimmy boy! Didn't you come as
near as the license once to marryin' %
"Shucks! Don't go rakin' up that
fnniiShna4S from Tir0rpie sfTf wa