The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-07-29
THE STANDARD.
Mr.. Collins Croquet Set.

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game, was introduced on the premises OF |
the Collins, Friday In the afternoon |
Podge's boy brought up The set, and just |
before tea Mrs. Collins arranged the |
wickets. Collins had learned to play
when visiting in Glovershire, last sum-
mer, and Mrs. Collins acquired an indif-
ferent knowledge of the game from two
elderly 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. an Well
iniure our moral natures in trying to
build up our physical"
"People who are so ready to charge
against others need close watching them
selves, young man" said she, in the same
spirit, land mean to keep sharp eye
on you.
Then they both laughed.
'But it will be good thing for you,
Emeline," he said, witha tinge of tender
ness in his voice You a-e kept coop
ed up in the house so, that you hardly
get a breath of fresh air. This will give
you exercise, and keep you out doors,
too"
"You are always thinking of me" said
she, as her eyes grew moist. You need
the outdoor air as much as do, but you
are too unselfsh 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, Mr.. Collins used her ball to help him
self 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 dis
tant, made him over confident. The ball
missed by about an eighth of an inch.
II declare" he exclaimed in vexation.
Then she, having watched his rapid
progress with clouded face, now struck
for him and hit him, and minute later
his ball was spinning through III 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 welldirected 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 play better than you
have done" she pertinently suggested.
81 think | know as much about GRO
quet as you do" he said, still with 6
straight face.
You don't play as if you did, she re
torted
IF you'd had any fairness about yor
you'd let me had that last stroke over
when was up to the stake. You knew
I slipped, as well as did" he said, grow
ing red in the face.
mo, I didn't know any thing about it.
she replied. taking on a little color.
u say you did"
and / say didn't But if you ar,
going to play this game, why don't yol
go ahead"
"Tll play when get ready" he an
swered, turning white about the mouth
'If you amt going to play, you'd BET
ter go into the house and shut up, sh
suggested, raising her voice.
Ion you td1h w me tAde "dy'
cried, "or I'll make you sorry for it. yol
brazen-faced hussy."
"Hussy, hussy !" she screamed. "Ain'
you ashamed of yourself, John Jaco
Collins, to call your wife a hussy2 Huss
am /, you old villain? Hussy is it, yo
miserable brute I'm to be called a hu:
sy, am I, after working my knuckles o
for you, and shaving for thirty years afte
your crooked carcass. There, sh
cried, in paroxysm, throwing the ma
let on the ground, take your old or
quet and shove it down your lying thro;
and choke yourself to death with it,
you want to, you miserable old wretcl
And don't you never ask me to play wit
you again, or I'll tell you somethir
you'll remember the longest day yo
live, you old devil
And then she bounced into the hous
leaving him standing out there and ru
bing his head, in benumbed sort of wa
But almost Immediately after she thru
her head out of the window and snappe
out
.sYou needn't think you are going
get any hot biscuit for your tea in th
house this night, young man, and ye
can put that in your pipe and smoke
just as soon as you are a mind to. -Da
ba,r1 Ne7re r