Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-09-10
A BASEBALL ROMANCE.

A BASEBALL ROMANCE.
How Gertrude O'Brien and Meyerhasm
Were United at Last.
CHAPTER l.
Gertrude O'Brien was the fairest of
Washington'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'Brien in u fashionable
quarter of New Hampshire avenue while
the deepening shadows Of the March even
ing closed soberly yet softly around them.
They needed not the perfume of those
priceless cxotics which had cost Boru
O'Bricn SO many doubloons; they were
lost in the fragrance of deep, mutual
love.
"When we are welded, dearest Ger
trude," he murmurcd, "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
HASN'T" and her tones had soft, cooling
inshoot that set his soul aglow.
eff my heart is not wholly yours, y he
said, "may never get a base on balls
again.
The lips of Gertrude Brien and her
lover met in long, clinging kiss.
THAT was three Dagger, dearest, )" ne
said, smacking his lips following the soft
and dulcet ceremony, and his voice, which
was as the roar of lion to the tumultu-
GUS bleachers, was as gentle as the note OF
q 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 circumspection.
CHAPTER II.
1t was jocund June. The season was
only 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, he had played yellow ball from the
first. Gertrude O'Brien's heart was bro
ken.
81 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 us, 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"
Meyerhasm couldn't believe his ears. He
laughed ncrvously 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.
"Villain Don't try to steal base on
me-, she said scornfully. eff 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 it
to her beautiful countenance.
"Before I drive you from my presence
forever" she said "and now that I'm safe
from your loathsome endearments, will
ask you what excuse you can make for
your conduct"
"What conduct" demanded Meyer
hasm, while his tone showed pain and ag-
grieved amazement "When l left you,
woman Of the marble heart, you declared
you loved me. return and am told my
dream is DER. Our engagement Is broken
off in the first half of the third inning, as
1t were and the game decided against me
8 to O. 1t is Of you, perjured woman, an
explanation should be demanded"
"You ask an explanations" said Ger
trude O. Brien bitterly. civilian Meyer
hasln, will give you one. How long is 1t
since you made first base? How many
times have you famed out? When have
you held q fly or stopped grounder'
Oh, Meyerhasm, you have forgotten the
way to first base. You have broken my
heart with your rotten ball!'' And the
sorrowing girl burst into a torrent of tears.
Meyerhasm was speochless, for he felt
the Justice of Gertrude o Brien's position.
Hesitating, yet tender, he drew near tc
console her and promise amends.
"Wretchetl fumbler, do not touch me, v
cried Gertrude O'Brien. cam to be
called queen Of the rooters and then link
my life to man who couldn't hit bal
loon or catch ball in clothesbasket'
Never Come no moro near me, Meyer
hasm, until you are redeemed"
CHAPTER ".
~ will win her yet" mutterod Meyer
hasm as he turned from the villa d.
O'Brien after the interview. II will VIII
her and wear tho pennant as champion O
her heart or call life's game forever on &c
count of darkness. Gertrude O Brien shall
yet be my wife, or my next home plat'
shall DO tombstone, my next umpire al
undertaken"
CHAPTERv.
It was a cold, gloomy day, the last o
the season. The home club, by stead.
skill and team work like tho perfect &C
tion of clock, had attained place sid
by side with a rival club in the Leagu
lend. The world said it was through tn
matchless work of Meyerhasm. Gertrhd
| O'Brien thought SO, too, and her hear
went out to him in forgiveness and love.
at was for me my darling batted an
| felded the home team into the from
rank" thought Gertrude o Brien, and he
soul melted in longing for his return.
"When I can stand before her til
crowned monarch Of the diamond, then
will come" thought Meyerhasm an
waited the close Of the season in stern 81
lence.
| CHAPTER vi.
Today was to decide the League cham
pionship. The home club and Its rival ha
lost and won an equal number Of games.
"Play ballp' said the umpire, and til
game began.
Inning after inning went by without
run for either side. At the end Of tn
eighth inning the score stood to 0. tn
ninth inning began. The grand stand wa
tense and nervous, while the rude bleacf
ers fairly sobbed with pent up excitement
Gertrude O'Brien sat In the grand stan
where she could confront the batter. He
f,oo xroa vna1e and set like marble St