Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-05-17
THE UNIVERSITY MATCH.

The Rev. Thomas Baxter was curate of the muscular, energetic type, which, fortunately for the church, is turned out not unfrequently by our universities and public schools. He was a big, broad shouldered young man, who, besides dis tinguishing himself greatly both on the river and in the cricket field. had taken a very respectable degree, for he was by no means afraid of hard work of any de scription. Such men often make capital parsons, and Tom was hardly less ener- getic in his parish work than he had been in very different spheres of action at Eaton and Oxford. But there were limits to Mir. Baxter's endurance; he liked an occasional holiday, and this was the only point upon which he and his vicar, the Rev. SC imus Straightway, were not entirely agreed.
 The Rev. Septimus was an earnest man, and took a severe and gloomy view of the pleasures of life. He worked terribly hard in an East End parish: knew nothing and cared less about out door spOrts-Or, in fact, about any form of amusement; and fully expected his curates to follow unhesitatingly in the extremely narrow and steep path up which he led them. Hence it came to pass that Mir. Straightway experienced considerable difficulty in finding curates after his own heart; the young men were continually leaving him for less arduous duties, and the vicar's opinion of human nature in general, and of the younger fly grew worse. In Tom Baxter, how ever, he really thought he possessed a treasure, and the danger of working a willing horse to death never so much as entered into his head.
 Poor Tom did his very best to satisfy Mir. Straightway's requirements, for he really respected the man and valued i'm mensely his good opinion, but, as has al ready been indicated, he could not help longing that his superior would enter a little more into his own harmless liking for occasional relief, and sympathize with his passion for rowing and all that was connected with athletics.
 At the time 1 write of the cricket sea- son was in fulS swing; but Toms duties had not only prevented him from play ing in a single match, but even from looking on at one for few hours from the roof of the pavilion at Lords. More over the university cricket match, in which he took an absorbing interest, was fast approaching, and he was sorely troubled by the dread that he might not be able to see it. This fear haunted him day and night; it worried him during his visiting and mission work, spoilt his rest and occasionally obtruded itself upon him in the pulpit. Even the absent minded Mir. Straightway at length no ticed that his curate's mind was ill at ease, and one day he went so far as to in- quire the cause. Tom stammered out something about being out of sorts, and ventured to hint that he thought days holiday would do him good.
 "When was your age, NIT. Baxter, never wanted a holiday" replied the austere vicar; "but you are certainly not looking we'll Let me see. today is the 2ith of June. In about a fortnight think can arrange a day for you. Say the 12th of July"
 Cant it be managed a week sooner?' queried Tom. desperately, for the uni versity match was fixed for the 4th. Quite impossible, fear" said the vicar, Gecisively. for he was a terrible martinet with his curates. So, with a wave of lis hand, he dismissed the sub- q hot was useless.
 "It's rather too bad," grumbled Mir. Baxter, as he walked home to his humble lodgings. But it is no use talking to him about cricket; he doesn't know a bat from a ball." And with heavy heart he tried 10 resign himself to the inevi- table.
 But two days later a circumstance oc- cured which entirely routed Toms yir- tuous resolutions. A letter arrived at the reverend gentleman's lodgings which was couched in the following terms: HEArHcoTE HALL LoAxsHIRz DEAREST ToT-We are actually coming to town! Only for two days, though; and we are going to Lords to see tine match Uncle has got drag there, block B Of course shall never forgive you if you don't come and see me; on Wednesday afternoon we go to Essex to stay with the Chil vertons, so this is our only chance of meeting Dc come; in terrible haste. Yours lovingly.
 ALICE
 From the foregoing it may be gathered that Miss Alice Heathcote and Mir. Ton, Baxter were on tolerably intimate terms, Asa matter of fact they had been en, gagged for six months, during which time they had very rarely met. Baxter's peo pie were we'll off, and he had very rich uncle, among whose possessions was an excellent family living, destined in the future for Tom and his bride. But the uncle was stern and conscientious gen. tleman. and he was determined, before