The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-05-29


The international cricket match that
year was with the Oxford Strollers, a lot of
young Oxford graduates who had come
over more for fun than for cricket. AS
was really fond of the game went with
Penny to the grounds early in the morn
ing, and reaped my reward by having all
the Englishmen presented to me before
play was called. They went to the bat,
and by lunch time had thoroughly estab-
lished myself as the patroness of these sun
burned young heroes, and they were prom
ised to me for a garden party.
impaired this welcome intelligence to
my girls (being now a matron, this was
the manner in which spoke of Lofty and
Olive) when / met them at the gate, and
drew from them the warmest encomiums.
This y,s after lunch; and presently several
of the cricketers returned to my side, be-
slowing themselves on the steps and in the
seats Of our own men; and just as our
gayety was at its height in walked Mrs
Naples, the hitherto acknowledged queen
of cricket matches, looking wonderfully
trig and complete in a lovely white cam
brio, only to find that had been before
hand with her.
All the girls in the grand stand were
position was emphasized when Mrs. Naples
took her seat, for she happened to be di-
rectly below us and was unattended save
by domestic cavaliers. could not resist
The temptation to rub it in little. When
looked in the direction of Sir Edward
Cover-Poyntz he was talking to Lofty in
the most ardent manner. 'At Mrs Char
ter's garden party there will be dancing,
c,DpoSa Misc Hotbnrpa91
81 suppose so, my lord"
II say, you know you mustn't call me
my lord;' Pm only Sir Edward"
"But that sounds so-familiar," says
Lofty (the wretch).
will you give me dance? Will you prom
Use me the first, and the second, and the
third'-
young man say?"
Have you young man? Do you allow
followers, Mrs. Charter?"
(which I will not deceive your royal
highness," said Lofty; 81 have young
man. How was to know about you"
"You ought to have told me sooner-it
wasn't safe. How shall be able to score
now?" At this point thought it proper
to begin. "Mrs. Naples" l said, 81 am
going to have garden party on Saturday
for the cricketers, and you must come.
Will you? And let me present Sir Edward
Cover-Poyntz." Sir Edward bowed.
"Mrs. Charter is awfully good to u.s."
said he; II hope you'll come to our garden
party-it will be a jolly affair, vow. Pm
going to put up wicket and bowl to the
ladies'"
do come" said / sweetly; "pray dol'
Then presented all the other English
men about me, none of whom was at all
likely to leave his occupation, and leaned
back in my seat, happy in the conscious
ness that Mrs. Naples felt like fisherman
forced to watch another man hooking the
trout out of his particular pool.
All through the three days of the match
stocked my seats with pretty girls, and
the Englishmen declared loudly that had
laid trap for them and rendered them
totally unfit for their duties. They de-
manded an amount of sympathy, however,
entirely out of proportion to their not over
wneiming defeat, but candor compels me
to admit that they got 1t, and that many
girls were so unpatriosic as to wish them
to be victorious | am afraid to state the
number Of reed birds that Sir Edward was
supposed to have eaten at my garden party,
and never saw man fiirt in a more en-
thusastic and determined manner. Nor
were his associates far behind him. / my
self can testify that so strongly was
tempted TO put myself under the influence
of my own 'cedarn alleys" that | almost
forgot that was for the first time host
ess. But my garden party was a tremen-
dous success. Even the Chinese lanterns
commanded admiration