Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-08-01
A BASEBALL ROMANCE.
How Gertrude O'Brien and Meyerhasm
Were United at Last.


CHAPTER
Gertrude O'Brien was tho fairest Of
Washlngton's fair women. He was Meyer
hasm, the great ball tosser of the home
team. They stood in the conservatory OF
the villa De O'Bricn in q fashionable
quarter of New Hampshire avenue while
tho deepening shadows of the March even
ing closed soberly yet softly around them.
They needed not tho perfume of those
priceless exotics which had cost Boru
O'Brien so many doubloons; they were
lost in the fragrance of a deep, mutual
love.
"When we are welded, dearest Ger
trude, he murmured, "life with me will
be one perpetual home rum"
The lovely girl blushed to the tips of
her shell-like ears.
"And do you really love me, Meyer
hasm" and her tones had n soft, cooling
inshoot that set his soul aglow.
"If my heart is not wholly yours" no
said, "may / never get base on balls
again."
The lips of Gertrude O'Brien and her
lover met In long, clinging kiss.
"That was three bagger, dearest, F" he
said, smacking his lips following tho soft
and dulcet ceremony, and his voice, which
was as the roar of lion to tho tSmultu-
GUS bleachers, was as gentle as the note Of
dove.
"Let us go back to the parlor, love-"
said Gertrude O'Brien, disengaging her.
self from his embrace. "It is becoming
overdark in the conservatory, and Boru
O'Brien, my father, will call strikes on
our intimacy unless we conduct ourselves
with circumspectlon."
CHAPTER II.
1t was jocund June. The season was
only a third played through. Washington
had put up sad and wretched ball The
club stood disgusting tenth on the
League list. Only such failures as st.
Louis and such utilities as Louisville
ranked lower. As for the great Meyer
hasm, no had played yellow ball from the
first Gertrude O'Brien's heart was bro
ken.
II will never marry now," said Ger
trude O'Brien, bursting into tears. II
could never bear to have the world point
to my husband as one of an aggregation
Of tail enders."
At last, however, her sorrow settled into
stony resentment
CHAPTER III.
"All is over between u.s." observed Ger
trude O'Brien to Meyerhasm when the
home club returned from Its tour. Her
tones were cold and hard. "Leave me,
false muffer, butter fingered wretch.
Never dare to look upon my face again"
rhoc dy,tk hoIfor,n hio Ila
laughed nervously and attempted to ravish
kiss from her lips Of dew. She swiped
him on his sun Drowned cheek with her
open hand with force enough to splinter
bat and evaded the caress.
"Villainl Don't try to steal base on
me-" she said scornfully. "If you attempt
that again, I'll make you think that
you've been struck by pitched ball"
Gertrude o Brien stepped to cabinet,
and selecting catchers mask adjusted 1t
to her beautiful countenance.
Before l drive you from my presence
forever" she said, land now that I'm safe
from your loathsome endearments, l will
ask you what excuse you can make for
your conduct"
"What conductp' demanded Meyer
hasm, while his tone showed pain and ag-
grieved amazement. when I left you,
woman of the marble heart, you declared
you loved me. I return and am told my
dream is o'er. Our engagement is broken
off in the first half of the third inning ns
1t were, and the game decided against me
8 to 0. 1t is of you, per1ured woman, an
explanation should be demanded"
"You ask an explanation" said Ger
trude Brien bitterly. william Meyer
hasm. will give you one. How long is 1t
since you made first base? How many
times have you famed out? When have
you held fly or stopped a grounderf
Oh, Meyerhasm, you have forgotten the
way to first base. You have broken my
heart with your rotten ballP' And the
sorFowing girl burst into torrent Of tears.
Meyerhasm was speechless, for he felt
the justice of Gertrude o Brien's position.
Hesitating, yet tender, he drew near to
console her and promise amends.
"Wretched fumbler, do not touch me-"
cried Gertrude O'Brien. IAN l to be
called queen Of the rooters and then link
my life to man who couldn't hit q bal
loon or catch ball in olothesbasketf
Never! Como no more near mo, Meyer
haSm, untll you are redeemeu.
CHAPTER w.
II will win her yet" muttered Meyer
hasm as he turned from the villa De
O'Brien after the interview. II will win
her and wear the pennant as champion of
her heart or call life's game forever on ao-
count of darkness. Gertrude o Brien shall
yet be my wife, or my next home plate
shall be q tombstone, my next umpire an
undertaken"
CHAPTER v.
1t was cold, gloomy day, the last of
the season. The homo club, by steady
skill and team work like the perfect &C
tion of clock, had attained place side
by side with rival club in the League
lead The world said it was through the
matchless work of Meyerhasm. Gertrude
O'Brien thought SO, too, and her heart
went out to him in forgiveness and love.
1T was for me my darling batted and
felded the home team into the front
rank" thought Gertrude o Brien, and her
soul melted in longing for his return.
when can stand before her the
crowned monarch Of the diamond, then
will come" thought Meyerhasm and
waited the close of the season In stern ST.
lence
CHAPTER vi.
Today was to decide the League cham
pionship. The home club and its rival had
lost and won an equal number Of games
"Play ballp' said the umpire, and the
game began.
Inning after inning went by without
run for either side. At the end Of the
eighth inning the score stood to O. The
ninth inning began. The grand stand was
tense and nervous, while the rude bleach
ers fairly sobbed with pent up excitement.
Gertrude o Brien sat in the grand stand
whero she could confront tho batter. Her
face was pale and set like marble. She
needed not what transpired about her.
When foul tip struck Boru O'Brien in
the abdomen and he was borne gasping
from the grand stand by the ushers, Ger