Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-01-24

couple passed a brief paradise III
Switzerland, and then went home tG
. Malbourne whence, after few days
sojourn, they were to 90 to CyriTs
fresh curacy in the west of London
The twins had however, been parted
since the time when Lillian finished hel
pious task Of rcscuing her brothers
intellect from the shipwreck which
threatened 1t.
They had met again but four-and-
twenty hours since, yet lillian knew
their old close relationship was at an
end forever. An ihsurmountable bar
rIer had risen up between them. This,
she told herself was but In the natural
course Of things; the peculiar bond Of
tWinship, strengthened as 1t had ac-
cidentllly been by the circumstances
Of Cyrils terrible illness, could not
be expected to outlive eAr,y youth.
Her brother had now found other ties ;
he was tasting the fullness Of life.
The old childish associations must
fade in the full stress Of manhood,
and they must now be only as brothers
and sisters commonly are. 1t was
only natural, and yet 1t grleved Lillian
with an unspeakabe grief. In the
sore trouble which had fallen on her,
she needed her brothers. close friend
ship as she never had done before.
AS Marion had predicted, they saw
nothing more of Cyril that night; but
the next day he appeared among them
with n cloudless brow, and set them
all laughing with his droll anecdotes
and observations, the drollcry of which
was so greatly enhanced by his grave
face and almost pathetic voice. He
never laughed, and only rarely smiled,
and although his very smile was sad,
1t was as sweet as only rare smiles
Client to win II friend for life, as he
well knew. There had been time
when he was wont to laugh a. happily
and heartily as only young manhood
can.
There was great croIuet tourna
mcnt that afternoon ut Mr.. Marvyn's,
and there the Maltlands, the youngest
CARROTS and Swaynestoncs assembled,
to measure their powers one against
the other with all the serious ardor
which the pursuit OF croquet In the
pnlmy days OF It's youth cxacted.
WIN no bard arise to pour forth ly.
rlc song in honor Of that noble but
now extinct pastlme? Can no historian
be found to chronicle the decline and
fall of croquet? 1t descended. like
other gifts Of Heaven, unexpectedly
from some far celestial cmincncc, and
took captive the hearts of the sons.
and stlll more of the daughters, Of
mon, ut one stroke. In those who
were young at that golden period, the
peculiar sharp yet dull click Of the
balls still aWakeS II thrilling comblna
tlon of delicious and romantic feelings,
NJ 1t Is evoked by the hand of some
careless child, who has routed out the
dusty mallcts and balls from some
forgotten corner, and imagines him
self a new Columbus In consequence.
Mr. Marvyn, who, 1t will be remcm-
bcred, was curatc of MAlbournc and
lltlbI w wv NtllllS MNlllUINlS III SUI
ccssion, had been very severely bitten
by the croqnet mania. He had ruth.
lcssly lcvcld his wlfes flower beds to
make u fitting ground for the noble
pAstlmc. and this he moved and rolled
and wAtcred himself, and upon 1t he
permitted no unlicensed foot to stray,
When the players arrived, they
found every hoop and stick exactly
placed, after careful and accurate
measurement, on a lawn newly shavcn
and tested 10y Il spirit-levcl, and n host
and hostess too much hurdenct with
the responsibility of leading the new
club rules to go through the conven-
tional forms of welcome.
An lnterlude of tea was grrdgngly
arquiesccd in; and Mr., Marvyn. lay
ing aside his own favorte mallrt with
II deep Sigh and carefully noting the
position Of each player in his pocket
book, followed his guests to some ia
hles in the shade of two fine elms and,
taking chair by Mrs Cyril Maitland,
began to scold her seriously for the
hlunderS she had made, and laughed
at, which was worse, while playing on
his side, But there were some people,
and among them Ingram SwayncStone,
who took his tea on the grass at Lii
ian's feet, who thought the tea inter
ludc by no means the least agreeable
part of the tournament, and responded
with little alacrlty to Mr.. Marvyn's
summons to continue the combat
Night fell all too soon upon the eager
contest, and the light Of the mellow
August moon was supplemented by
that Of two carriage l,mps which
were carried from hoop To hoop, to the
great distraction Of nervous people:
while the lcss-ardent players. resign.
ing their balls to others. Joined the
non -comhatants In the drawing room.
and yielded themselves to the frlvolity
OF conversation and music.
Poets are made of precious queer
stun" Ingram Swaynestone observed
TO Lillian, rs they stood on the lawn.
waiting their turn to play, and listened
To Il song which Miss Swayncstone