The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-09-17
Y
sf40R az STORY
v Chronicle Of Courtships
~ Martha Meculloeh:WIlIlams

A6Feh RkRHY. MeG why uou yS ~
IN know was born odd?t
( Miss Prudence Ray chuck
J6d,, letting her knitting fall gent
into. her purple calico lap.
Mighty lucky, too men persons
III al ffght, handy TO have in the
4 house, and great when It comes 70
. 66fft real hard work. But to my
thinkin itiG lots easier to hire EN-
than 10 be always houeyin' EN- up
--tiRldnf lem bel!Ve Andrew Jack
on wasn't SO much bigger'n theI
are, or that old Father Noah had
hardly their foresight. Get on
With 'eni? Sure! wouldn't have EN-
tab6bt IL ! couldn't. Yes, ! have
had tuaFpyin' chances, and l don't
say they weren't good oneR-some
Of 'em But somehow II l liked a
mans looks his disposition didn't
Stittif he had more money'n ]
did, b , wanted mine all the hard:
Ell is he had jess, he was main
sire to- be tetchy about tt-think
fought to make him high cocKa-
i6ru1d over everything. And that's
What I shan't ever do. Pap taught
md too well for that.
Jimmy Griggs giggIed at the end
or this, exordIum. He had indeed
isgled intetrnittently throughout
tlt e"But you know you're lonesome
cad lonesome, Miss Prue," he
+ saifi. 'That's why you let me come
qua run on yards and yards about
my girl. Next thing you know to
" es8fl, Is hearin' about II. Makes
md think of the song:
Shovel and tongs, to each other
belongs,
And the kettle sings songs OF
family glee,
While alone wild yer cup, like
hermit 70 sup,
och hone! Widow Machree!"
~ know Mr., Tom Jameson
would love to sing 1t to you-it
would fit fine. Prudence Mach
..You right down ra'alely reck
On so?1 Miss Prue drawlsd. gig,
Cling with her ball of blue yarn:
q wonder now how much you'd
Aet on it,"
"silk stockings against the blue
locks you're knittln." Jimmy said
eSmeIy. Miss Prue shook her
head. "Twouldn't do-no touch"
she said. How'd we ever find out
1 who won, and 1t twas me how'd
Won ever square yourself with
ANA Mac Lane? She hes looked
t me right down crosseyed ever
since you told her my pound cake
mas the best ever-she needn't
I sven try to make as good.
Lena couldn't be Jealous with
yol married to Mr.. Tom" Jimmy
Returned. That's all you know
About women folks" Miss Prize
Hung back II him. They'd be
sal6us eev moi q mosquito that
fbtZzed arc Ind you If they're born
hat way. lord be praised wasn't
era SO Tor maybe it's because
I'VE got such a conceit OF myself.
Anybody wants to think less Of me
more Of some other body-do IL
fhd welcome. I'll sit tight sayin
"a myself they lose as much as J
do; tnayne @ little mite more. ("
rCan't you somehow make LEM
iaok at things that way?" Jimmy
sSed. She's the very hest everi
Tiff my how she acts up. il | don't
Salk the chalk every day and Sun
day, too"
when didn't you last" Miss
sFue queried, chuckIing. She had
nown all along Jimmy had come
hr sbmc special reason
why over at the Morrison play
naftyb Jimmy expounded. "Madgc
Cray nsapped me out-and, like
fhS plague she is kissed me before
abe ID set down. Had the right, you
Know, whirled and cut me off In
the run round. II Lena'd beed
there and seen how It all was !
Il 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 ] put 1t hack
!; on her finger and wouldn't let II
come off"
tThen, don't you worry. Shell
he ike a May mornin' next time,
Miss Prue consoled. II she isn't
ought not to tell tales-but Just
lyou up an ask her did she ever
know Harvey Clay?"
Seoodnessi What for?" Jimmy
demanded.
Miss Prue pursed her lips.
saThem that ask no questions save
chances OF hearin' lies" she said
iY6u do as l tell you-but don't
name names unless you have to-"
fYou don't know anything to
ii. eha shurt nobody does-they
cfnlt.n Jimmy protested Loyalty, :
fright ye are-but LIES mighty
fun Of curiousnesses. Turns and
twists nobody can count on-nor
outE'' Miss Frue returned oracu'
siarly. mo charge for advice, boy
otly you come and tell me how it
works out and all about it..
fTi'I can't go 1t blind this way"
Jimmy protested. why must !
ssJr her about this Harvey Clay?'
IL you will have 1t, because she
was engaged to him-come in a
month Of marryin' him when she
IS seventeen, and he flew the
Jimmy sprang up, his teeth
soienched. where is he? I'll kill
hiTnt' he all but shouted.
Miss Prue caught his arm. say
Esine;: qYe can't, He's good and
dead. Left Lena for rich widow,
vino had a limousine and a road.
ster. and both of EN- broke their
{nSoks three months otter the we'd