Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-07-31
MR.. COLLINS ORoOUET SET,

STOQuet, tudt cuiueutly laSCluutiHr
game, was introduced on the premises
Of the Collins, Friday. In the after.
noon Podge's boy brought up the set
and just before tea Mira. Collins ar.
ranged the wickots. Collins had
learned to play when visiting in Glover.
shire, last summer, and Mrs. Collins ac-
quired an Indifferent knowledge Of the
game from two elderly maiden sisters
on Paxton street. And so on that de-
licious Friday afternoon, they took ou
the mallets and balls and commenced
the game.
"Now Emeline," playfully observed
Mr.. Collins, don't you begin cheat.
ing at the start. If you do, the game
will be prostituted to mere gambling,
an we'll injure our moral natures in
trying to build up our physical"
" People who are so ready to charge
against others need close watching
themselves, young man" said she, in
the same spirit, "and I mean to keen
a sharp eye on you."
Then they both laughed
"But it will be good thing for you,
Emeline," he said, with tingo ol
tenderness in his voice. " You are
kept cooped up in the house SO, that
you hardly get breath of fresh air.
This will give you exercise, aud keep
you out doors, too"
=" You are always thinking of me, y
said she, as her eyes grew moist. '' You
need the outdoor air as much as I do,
but you are too unsel6sh to think of
yourself"
And thus exchanging sentiments
which did credit to both their hearts,
the game progressed.
After passing through the centre wick
ct, MIR. Collins used her ball to help
himself through the other wickets to
the upper stake. Then he left her near
the first wicket, and struck for the
stake, which being but about eight
inches distant, made him over conf
dent. The ball missed by about an
eight Of an inch.
"I declare" be exclaimed in vexa-
ton.
Then she, having watched his rapid
progress with clouded face, now
struck for him and hit him, and min
ute later his ball was spinning through
the grass to the other end OF the ground
She was now in position for her wicket,
| and passed through it and the others to
the stake, but missed it, Then he came
up by u well-directed blow to within
two inches of the stake. But she went
for him again, and when she got through
she was three wickets beyond the stake,
and his ball was at the other end of the
ground again, and his brow was finely
corrugated. He stepped ncrvously to-
ward it. 1t was quite evident that he
was not unruffled. When his turn
came again he drove back to the stake
but struck wicket, and rebounded so
close to her that she easily hit him, and
again introduced him through wickets
he was not for, a and then sent him fly
ing agaia. Her Success caused her to
laugh; and he heard it.
"You think you are pretty smart, but
I'll get even with you," he said, without
sinking.
You'll have to play better than you
have done" she pertinently suggested.
81 think know as. much about cro-
quet as you do" lie said, still with a
straight face.
Z" You don't play as if you did" she
retorted.
eff you'd had any fairness about you
you'd let me had that stroke over, when
was up to the stake. You knew /
slipped, as we'll as did, he said, grow
ing red in the face.
"No, I didn't know anything about
it," she replied, taking on little color.
81 say you did,"
"And I say didn't. But if you are
going to play this game why don't you
60 ahead"
"I'll play when I get ready" he
answered, turning white about the
mouth,
eff you amt going to play, you'd
better 60 into the house and shut up,
she suggested, raising her voice.
/ Don't you talk to me that way" he
cried, " or I'll make you sorry for it,
you brazen-faced hussy."
"Hussy, hussy!' she screamed.
"Ain't you ashamed Of yourself, John
Jacob Collins, to call your wife hussy
Hussy am I, you old william? Hussy is
it, you miserable brute. I'm to be
called a hussy, am I, after working my
knuckles off for you, and shaving fol
thirty years after your crooked carcass.
"There," she cried, in paroxysmi
throwing the mallet on the ground!
E" take your old croquet and shove ii
down your lying throat and choke your
self to death with it, if you want TO-
YOU miserable old wretch. And dom
YOU never ask me to play with you
again, or I'll tell you something you'll
remember the longest day you live, 20,
old devil"
And then she bounced into the house
leaving him standing out there ant
rubbing his head, in a benumbed sor
of way. But almost Immediately aite
| l. k..,ak ho~ baai ont nf the wtndOy