National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-08
A STARTLING ROMANCE.
What a Game Of CrOquet Led tO-Seenes
OfBeauIIfuI Love.
" JESSE sARvIs.

Copyright applied for in two yolumes.I
elias Myrtle come homer"
The sneaker was a richly dressed woman of per-
hans forty summers, although it might have been
,,ossible TO have added an autumn, and perhaps
corpIe Of late springs to the account that time,
that faithful but relentless chronicler of the worlds
doingS its lights and shades its gaia days and sor
reyful anniversaries, had slowly but surely set OPP
rsite her name on the closely written pages ofthat
book which no man has read.
The person to whom she spoke-a delicately-
formed girl with deep, hazel eyes AMI fiaxen hair,
that hung between her faultlesSly moulded, butnot
too fat, shoulders in simple braid, looking n0tun
ike Few rope tug of the kind used on horse
cars-stood on the veranda of q handsome villa in
thcSouth Of England, tapping gently with GRO
uuet-maIlet which she held in her hand tiny foot
that peaDed out from beneath the feecy folds of
ner peienOir dress Suddenly she started slightly,
and ? look of pain passed over the dehcately-
chiseled features of her perfect face.
she had hit her corn.
This corn was the only sad chord in the other
wise perfect symphony of Ethelberta De CoUrcey's
life Often, when gliding dreamily through the
measures of soft sensuous waltz, that set all her
senses pulsingin harmony to the music her nose
resting trustfully on the shoulder of Percy Mon
trose her affiapced, had she been suddenly called
back from the realms Of the rose-tinted medita-
ton by some one stepping on her com. Some
fines, in the desolate moments that followed one
of these painful society events, she would almost
sob out her grief to the world. and often IN the
still watches of the night would come to her the
thought that even bunion would have been bet
ter.
Although of tmid shrinking nature, and pos
SesSed of reserve that insurance companies might
envy Ethelberta had an iron VIII, copper fastened
and clinched On both Sides and proud spirit that
could not brook the slightest afront. In point of
spirit and reserve no girl among the proud arts
tocracy of naughty Albion was better fixed. Once,
when an elder sister had in moment of passion
charged her with eating slate pencils to improve
her complexion, Ethelberta had only looked at her
with an expression Of whitening scorn, and said
calmly, i shall never speak to you again p
It was nearly al hour before she borrowed the
other girls chew of gum.
Percy Montrose was the only man she had ever
loved. He was handsome, manly-l looking fellow
of twenty-six, and came of an ancient Saxon fam
lily that got start In life by stealing evergreen
trees in Norway about Christmas time and ship
ping them to England. Ethelberta did not know
this The one thought of her life was that she
loved Percy with wild, passionate love that was
almost wicked in its intensity. He was in her
thoughts by day and her dreams by night. She
had told him OF her love freely and fully. Often,
OF her fathers house her head resting in perfect
confidence just below his clavicle and above his
right lung, had she mUrmured softly to him that
she lived only for his love, and that without the
oasis of his affection life would be dreary desert
upon which the sun beat pitilessly down.
It isnOt every young man that can be an oasis
all By himself and Percy naturally felt pretty
coTky about the fact.
Shortly after Ethelberta mother had gone over TO
town and left her daughter standing on the porch,
alone with her thoughts and corn, Percy Montrose
came sauntering up the graveled walk that wan
dercd gracefully through the front yard until it
reached the sidewalk. The girl greeted him with
effuSiOn and kiss. He took both.
In 4 little while they walked together to the GRO
quct lawn and began TO play. Both were experts
al the game, and neither could gain an advantage.
Finally Ethelbertas ball was in q favorable posi-
tiOn. With her dainty foot upon the ball and
malie appraised. she was the picture of beauty and
grace. Should she make the shot the game would
be over. Just as the mallet was descending with
8 graceful sweep Percy's voice was heard.
Your garter has come down" he said.
The mallet fell with crushing force. There was
Il wild whoop ofanguish, and Ethelbera f1uttered
toward the house on one leg like a wounded bird
She had hit the corn, and never spoke to Percy
again.
Did Myrtle come home ?? some may ask who
remembers the opening sentGnce of this story
should smile. She not only came home, but she
played out the game with Percy, and subsequently
married him