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

"Lets see, he said 81 stayed with the
Barrys last April. I bought my clubs af-
terwards"
"They had the disease, and you caught
it," | sneered.
"Just so. It's awfully infectious, and
it's chronic. You'll catch it too. Look
here; know a man who wants to sell set
of nearly new clubs. When you"
"0ne word, Monkton, if you please.
You know what l think about golf; don't
change my mind glancing at his clubs
''and | beg you won't talk in that strain to
me any more; it's childish"
did not say much to him during the
drive. He had irritated me, and wished
to put him down little.
1t is certainly beautiful house, and
the Barrys seem to be nice people, though
the whole family did follow up their wei
come by deploring our omission to bring
our golf clubs. (Any one would think
golf clubs were as indispensable as umbrel-
las y The truth is, regular golf atmos-
phere pervades the house. There are odd
clubs in the umbrella stand, club bags
hanging on the hat-pegs, and plate on
the hall table was full of balls more or
less knocked about Miss Barry wears a
brooch of tiny gold golf club and pearl
ball, and her brother Charley tie-pin of
similar design. When admired the lawn
from the drawing-r room window, Mr.. Barry
senior said "Oh, the putting green
There are very fair hazards on that bank
and down by those trees" At dinner, the
talk is of quarries and bunkers, cleeks,
niblicks, and mashies (whatever they may
be-. l had to confess that my first and
last game was played in Arran FIVE years
ago. | thought [ saw Miss Barry smile
when | said it was my last. | don't think
much of one-ideaed people Two or three
times | tried to turn the conversation.
offered them the last novel, the war in
South Africa, the long drought; but it was
no use. The talk drifted back to golf
again somehow, and stayed there. By
the time the ladies got up to leave the
table, | hated the game more than ever.
"Aren't they all nice?' Maria whisper
ed to me in the drawing-room afterwards
So3 NCiI, l. dSACCd. IL udu UCtu d
capigei dinner. Barrys cook is an artist.
"But, say, Maria, they all have got golf
on the brain"
II was afraid it bored you, dear | got
rather tired of cleeks and smashers myself
But, Algy-'
0Well?"
"Will you drive them-us-up to the
Entc A~s H.
coachman in the afternoon, and Charley
Barry can't drive, and I should be nerv-
Gus if Mr.. Monkton drove on these hills.
"I suppose l must, under the circum-
stances; but"
It's all right, Alice" my wife called to
Miss Barry, "Algernon will drive us"
Miss Barry came over to us and explaine
ed that the links were five miles away, and
that their practice was to put up the hors-
at friends house for the day. Thus
when the coachman was wanted at home, |
he could not go.
wished the coachman was like young
er son, "not wanted at home" Now was
fairly let in for day on the links. l had
not bargained for that when | said would |
drive.
"You needn't play, dear, if you don't
want to- said Maria, in answer to my
mild reproaches, when we were alone up
stairs.
That was just one of those obvious state
ments which annoy me; Maria is always
saying things like that
The road to the links was uphill nearly
all the way, so the journey took some time,
and allowed me to improve my acquaintance
with Miss Barry. She is a great friend of
Maria's, and last night l had been quite
unable to understand what sensible woman
like Maria saw in her to like. I must
confess that | was agreeably surprised
During the whole drive she did not men
ton golf till we came in sight of the links,
and then only to point them out, and re-
vert at once 10 our discussion on technical
education in village schools, subject on
which she discovered very discriminating
views.
81 only wish, she said, 1--WE could get
the authorities to adopt the scheme some
body sketched out 10 the last Nineteenth
Century"
l could not help smiling. L had written
the article myself "It was so we'll thought
out, she continued. "There was nothing
impracticable or Utopian in il"
Maria was listening, so told Miss Barry
that | was the author of the article, before
she could say any more nice things about
it. 1t is so embarrassing to have ones
work praised in the dark. | fear | did
more than my share of the conversation
after that until we reached the links
''She is nice, isn't she ?" said Maria, tax
ing advantage of Miss Barry's disappear
ance into the cottage which did duty as
headquarters of their golf club.
| felt could say ayes" honesty.
II say, this is bore" said Monkton,
coming out of the cottage. 'There's only
one caddie here. He can't carry all our
clubs, let's send him to call some more
''I'd rather not do that" said Miss Bar /
ry. "We always try not to encourage them |
to play truant from school. Peter Moule Q
can carry Mrs. Jones's clubs, and we will {
carry our own.
l was touched by her strong sense of c
right. '
"You must allow me to be your caddie, t
Miss Barry" l said.
She protested little, but possessed my
self of her bag and slung it on my shoulder. i
After all, it was more sociable to remain q
with them, even though 1 did not play.
l was not asked to play My business G
was to follow Miss Barry, and take care t
that she did not bruise my knuckles thrust T
ing clubs back into the bag. She changed
her club at every stroke; it seemed affecta- Q
ton the way she discussed the proper club 1
with Monkton. I should not like to earn '
my living as caddie The links were on I
a range of hills SCARED all over the quar- f
ries, and when we got among these, wished y
l had gone for quiet walk. Whenever j
Monkton or Miss Barry hit the ball into a