Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-08-16
MR.. COLLINS CRooUET SET.

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 Mrs. Collins arranged
the wickets. Collins had learned to
play when in Gloversville, last summer.
and Mrs. Collins acquired an indifer-
ent knowledge of the game from two ell
derly maiden sisters on Paxton street.
And so on that delicious Friday after
noon, they took out the mallets and
balls and commenced the game.
''Now Emeline,' playfully observed
Mr.. Collins, don't you begin cheating
at the start If you do, the game will
be prostituted to mere gambling, and
we'll injure our moral natures in trying
to build up our physical"
"People who are ready to charge
against others need close watching
themselves, young man. said she in the
same spirit, ''and mean to keep a
sharp eye on you"
Then they both laughed
"But it will be good thing for you.
Emeline, he said with tinge of ten
derncss in his voice. "You are kept
cooped up in the house so, that you
hardly get a breath of fresh air. This
will give you exercise, and keep you out
of doors, too.
"You are always thinking of me, said
she as her eyes grew moist. "YOu need
the outdoor air as much as l do, but
you are too unselfsh to think of your
self"
And thus exchanging sentiments
which did credit to both their hearts,
the game progressed.
After passing through the center wick
ct, Mr.. Collins used her ball to help
himself through the other wickets 10 the
upper stake. Then he left her near the
first wicket, and struck for the stake,
which beng but about eight inches dis
tant, made him over confident. The
ball missed by about an eighth of an
inch.
81 declare !" he exclaimed, in much
vexation.
Then she, having watched his rapid
progress with clouded face, now struck
for him, and hit him, and minute la
ter 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 we'll 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 nervously to-
ward it 1t was quite evident that he
was not unruffied. 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, and then sent him flying again.
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
smiling.
you'll have to pay better than you
have DONE" she pertinently suggested
Il think 1 know as much about Gro.
quet as you do he said, still with a
straight face
"You don't play as if you did," she
retorted.
"If you had any fairness about you
you'd let me had that stroke over, wher
/ was up to the stake. You knew
slipped, as well as / did, he said, grow.
ing red in the face.
mo, | didn't know anything about
it, she replied, taking on little color
81 say you did"
"And / say didn't. But if you arr
going to play this game. why don't you
60 ahead"
"L'll play when | get ready" he an
swered, turning white around the mouth
"If you amt going to play. you'c
better 60 into the house and shut up,
she suggested, raising her voice.
"Don't you talk to me in that way,
he cried, "Or I'll make you sorry for it
you brazen-faced hussy."
"Hussy. hussy !" she screamed. "Ain'
you ashamed of yourself, John JacoI
Collins, to call your wife hussy? Hus
sy am I, you old villain Hussy is it
you miserable brute. I'm 10 be called
hussy. am I, after working my knuck
les off for you, and shaving for thirty
years after your crooked carcass.
There" she cried. in a paroxysm
throwing the mallet on the ground
"Take your old croquet aud shove i
down your lying throat and choke your
self TO death with it, if you want 70
you miserable old wretch. And dom
you never ask me to play with you again