Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-26
BITlgJie

payne.
The international cricket match that
year was with the Oxford Strollers, 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 Euglishmen presented TO me before
play was called. They went to the bat,
and by lunch time l had thoroughly estab-
lished myself as the patroness of these sun
burned young heroes, and they were prom
Used to me for a garden party.
impaired this welcome intelligence to
my girls (being now q matron, this was
the manner i'll which l spoke of Lofty and
Olive when l met them at the gate, and
drew from them the warmest encomiums
This was 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
bric only TO find that had been before
hand with her.
All the girls IN the grand stand were
furiously envious of us already, and our
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 a little. When
! looked in the direction of Sir Edward
Cover Poyntz he was talking 10 Lofty in
the most ardent manner. AT Mrs. Char
ters garden party there will be dancing, I
suppose, Miss Hathorne'"
Il suppose so, my lord."
Il say, you know you mustn't call me
my lord;' I'm only Sir Edward
But that sounds so-faInihar," says
Lofty the wretch).
Then drop the sir you know. But
will you give me a dancer Will you prom
Use me the first, and the second, and the
third
Goodness, your gracei what will my
young msn say?'
Have you young mani Do you allow
followers. Mrs. Charter"
(which | will not deceive your royal
highness," said Lofty; 81 have young
man. How WAS l to know about your"
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, II am
going to have a garden party on Saturday
for the cricketers, and you must come
VIII you? And let me present Sir Edward
CoverPoyntz." Sir Edward bowed.
Mrs. Charter is awfully good 20 u.s."
said he: II hope you'll come to our garden
party-it will be jolly stair, vow. I'm
going to put up wicket and bowl to the
ladies"
do come" said 1 sweetly; "pray dos'
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 8 fisherman
forced TO watch another man hooking the
trout out Of his particular pool.
All through the three days Of the match
l stocked my seats with pretty girls, and
the Euglishmeu declared loudly that had
laid a trap for them and rendered them
totally unfit for their duties. They de-
manded an amount of sympathy, however,
entirely ont OF proportion 10 their not over
wheImIng defeat, but candor compeis me
To admit that they got it. and that many
girls were SO unpatriotic as to wish them
number OF reed birds that Sir Edward was
supposed TO have eaten at my garden party,
and never saw a man firt in more en-.
thusnstic 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
o. r1y Own ''cedara alleys that almost