The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-06-02

ave shall have to play" repeated Mrs.
Jones with emphasis; ''you'll see, Alger-
non; whether we like it or not, we shall
have to play. L don't see how We can get
out of it.
1t is so like woman to insist that when
you stay at friends house you must join
in all their amusements | smiled at
Maria in her corner and shook my head.
| had played golf once. The recollection
steeled me to resist for five years all the
pressure the fellows brought to bear on me
to join the club at footing. That one
game of mine was played in Arran The
links, my host averred, were as sporting"
as any in Scotland He had laid out the
course himself, and would not admit that
Prestwick was bit better St. Andrews
itself could not beat those Arran links, in
his opinion. l offer no ideas of my own
on the subject. As for the game, in JUS
tice to myself l must say that l approach
ed it in an unbiased spirit But after ore
morning, most of which 1 spent looking
for my lost ball-or, to be accurate, "balls,"
for lost four-after scratching my hands
to rags and breaking a club, l felt qualif-
ed to form an opinion of the game,
and that opinion 1 have retained ever
ball and going to look for it, and hutting
since. A game which consists of hitting
it again, if you are lucky enough to find
it, seems to me pastime suitable to harm
less lunatics. I said this, or something
like it, to Maria, who had put down her
book to try to convince me that | should
have to play at the Barrys'.
$50 you have told me before" she re-
piled rather shortly; "however, you will
see.
Put away the paper, and strap up the
rugs, like good boy. We are just ther.''
By the time [ got our things together,
the train had stopped. While | got port
ers to look after the baggage, Mrs. Jones
went to see if the carriage was outside
"The coachman brought note from
Alice" said she as she rejoined me; sshe
wants US to wait for Mr. MonktOn, who is
coming by the els from Paddington."
So Monkton was to be there too Sen
sible fellow, Monkton; we dined together
at the club one night last winter-Mrs.
Jones was out of town-and really think
he was more sarcastic about golfers than
was. I can stand alone, of course, but it
is pleasant to have an ally.
The 6.15 was late. So Mrs. Jones sat
in the carriage while 1 strolled about.
hate waiting for trains, and after twenty
minutes idling, suggested to Maria that
we should go on and leave Monkton to
follow in a cab. However, she would not
hear of it; she said the carriage had been
sent for him as well as for us; it was four
miles to the Barrys', and Monkton mighnt
be able to get fly. l went back and
kicked my heels for another quarter of an
hour, and was tolerably cross when the
train came in and Monkton got out.
"Halloa, old chap I'm afraid you have
keen kept waiting. Mrs. Barry wrote me
that we should drive up together. How's
your wife? Train is late; been waiting
long?"
"Oh, nc" replied; "only five-and-thirty
minutes or SC"
NAOuhtOu odAA AnuoOA II as
if l were likely to-and taking my arm,
said we must get his baggage. His port
manteau and hat-box were discharged
from the van at last, and l called porter.
"Wait bit, wait a bitP' cried Monk
ton. Haven't got all my things yet.
Confound it-why- Here, guard l''
"What's wrong?" l asked with concern,
for Monktou takes things easily as a rule.
He had bounded into the van, and was
among the heaps of luggage, high
and low.
"They can't have been left behindl" he
walled, dusting his hands together as he
jumped out
"What can't have been left behind2"
"My-Oh, hi, guard r From the
way he few after the man ! began to think
the loss was something serious. Two min
utes later he came back, carrying a long
brown canvas bag under his arm. "All
right" he remarked cheeriIy; "they were
in the other van"
"Golf clubsp | exclaimed. "You,
Monkton-you- You don't mean to tell
sure my voice faltered-"that
70 uhave taken to golf?''
81 do" retorted the abandoned creature;
and so viii you before you're much older"
Passing over this observation, which was