, 1875-06-20

/ Danbury Nt.cs.
Croqnet, that eminently fascinating game, VA
! introduced On the premises OF the Collins, FIR
day. In the afternoon Podge's boy brought U
| the set and Just before tea Mira Collins ar1ang
| ed the eckets. Collins had learned to pla
when visiting in Gloyershi1e: last summer, an
/ Mrs. Collins acquired an Indifferent knoHledg
! Of the game from two elderly maiden sisters L
Paxton street. And 70 on that delicious Frida.
afternoon, they took out their mallets and ball
and commenced the gans.
Now Emmeline," .piayfullY observed Mr.
! Collins, "dou't you begin cheating Ut the start
! gambling, an Ws'n injure our moral natures lr
trying to build up our phgeical."
People who are 80 ready to charge &gaine
others may need close watching themselves
| young map," said she, in the came epirlt, - ant
! mean to keep eharp ego op you-"
But il will be good thing for you. u ho said
| with ttnge Of tenderness III his voice 5o'
are kept cooped up in the house 90 that yo1
hardly get 3 breath OF fresh ait: This will g1vt
| yon e1arc1ee and keep you out doors, too,.
"Yop are always thinking. Of me, said she
IS her eyes grew 1aoist lyon Deed the out
door slr "a much as do. but you are to un'
selfish to think Of yourself.
And thus exchanging sentiments which die
credit to both their hcarts, the game pro
creased.
After passing through the centre wicket, Mr.
Collins nsed her balls to help himaeR through
tho other wicket to the upper stake. Then he
left her near the first wicket, and struck for the
staks, which. being about inches dlasant made
him confident. The ball missed by about an
eighth OF Al inch.
II declare" be exclaimed, ia vs1ation.
Then ahe, having watched his rapid progress
NOW struck for him and hit him, and minute
later bis ball was spinning through the grass to
the other end Of the ground. She Was DOW IN
position for her wicket, and passed through it
%t.n -+k~ nh nt+n hY.fS aaH
he came up by we'll directed blow to within q
inches Of the stake. But she vent for hin
again. and when she ROT through. ahe was three
wickets beyond the stake. and lis ball was at
the other end Of the ground again, and hlh bro"
was finely corrugated He stepped neFvously
unruf1led. When his turn came again he drove
back to tho stake but struck wicket and TO-
bounded 40 close to her that she easily ut him,
aud again introduced him through wiokets he
was not for, and then sent him lying sgaln;
Her success caused her to laugh. and he heard
"You think you arc pretty smart but III get
even with you,' he said, without smiling,
"You1l have to play better then you have
done" she pertinently suggested
you do he SAID, still With q straight face. 1t
you had any fairness about you, you'd let me
have that stroke over. When vas up to the
stake. You knew slipped a. we'll az dld,
he said, growing red in The face.
"No, I didn't know anything about it, ahe
replied. taking On littla color.
II say you did"
"And / say didn't, Bot il you are going to
play this Cams, why don't you so ahead?"
+s1l play uhan get ready" he anaWe1ed,
turning white about the mouth.
IF you Amt going to play, you'd better 50 in-
to The house and ahut up, aho suggested. Eals~
ing her voice,
"Don't you talk to me- that way" he cried,
4" or I'll make yon sorry for it, you brazeu-faced
hussy.''
"Hussy, hussy!" she screamed. ''An't you
ashamed OF yourself, John Jacob Collins. to call
your wife hussy7 HussY am L you old villain.
Husay is it, you miserable brute. I'm to pc
called hussy, am /, after working my knuckles
on for you, and slayiDg for thirty yeArs after
rour crooked CARCASS. There" ehe cried in 3
paro1ysm, throwing the mailet on tha ground.
- take your old croquet and shove it down your |
ying throat and choke yourself to death With it,
( you wapt to, yon miserable old wretch. And |
3on't you eYer ask me to play With you again. or
I'll tell you something you'll remember the long
,st day you live, you old devil
And then she bounced into the house, leaving !
lin standing there and ubb;nK his head, in !
sort Of way. But almost immedi- !
italy after abe tbnrst her head out Of the win !
low and SNAPPED out:
lyon needn't think you are going to get any !
lot biscuit for your tea in this house this night,
'oung mnn, and you can put that in your !
'ipe and smoke it just u BOOB as you havo
mind to-"