The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-07-10


tossed sor going in. and he found him
self bowling vigorously at Capt. Elton,
who, armed with rake handle, was 1T
the wickets.
1T is very hot" he gasped; and, look
ing round guilty, he quickly flung his
black coat on the grass and few to
try to catch a bail which Capt. Elton
had returned to him. Then he stood APP
palled, for the bishops voice came to
his ears, and, turning, he saw the bish-
OPP and his wife standing close behind
him. "Cricket!" The bishops pale,
intellectual face was full Of laughter
as he saw the dean. coatless and breath
less, flying for the ball. "Ithought this
was strictly forbidden"
20, my lord, come and umpire; we
want one badly" called Helen. quite I'M
abashed, and the dean who had stood
still, horror-stricken, picked up the
ball again when he saw the lenient ex-
preston on the episcopal face, and saw
the bishop move in to umpire; while
Mrs. Howard sat down on a bench and
absolutely shook with merriment
Cricket In the deans garden, it was too
amusingi
by dint of what Helen called poking,
the two soldiers had made Is runs and
then Helen took her place at the wick
cts. She was really . fair lady cricket
er, and, as feIders were scarce, she ran
up the score to IL in q few minutes, re-
firing with a cry Of disgust as Capt. FL
ton caught her out c~leverly with his left
hand.
"Now, Mr.. Dean, the bishops Wits
called out impatiently, as the dean
stood he~sitating; Ego in; there's no one
to see"
And the dean went in. Arakehandle
is not the best Of bats, but the dean
made a mighty smite, caught the ball
on the half yolley, and away it went
over all the heads into a clump of
bushes. Once, twice, thrice did the
dean fly to the stick and back his
breath was gone, his face scarlet-four
times.
81 can't go again" he gasped pit
eOusly.
"You musti"-Helen had set her
heart on winning. Zone more and we
win; run, Uncle Jos, RUM But the
delay was almost fatal, for, as the dean
turned to run back, Capt. Elton flung in
the ball.
Run on!" cried the bishops wife.
"Oh, do hurry!"
Quit" cried Mr.. Ely, banging down
a walking stick.
20, mo-; in!" said Helen.
The dean had no breath to argue
with.
'In or out, my lord2'' the rivals APP
pealed both together to the bishop,
who was holding his sides as he
laughed; but then; what q sight met
their eyes as they turned! The whole
of the deans large party stood looll-
ing on, on the edge of the ground, led
by Mrs. Holroyd; and what had they
seen as they came up? The dean, their
dean, flying coatIess and hatless, up
and down, playing cricket on the sacred
precincts of the deanery, and the bishop
cheering him and laughing. How
could the select everhold up their heads
again, and before all the county, too
the county which they had so often
lectured on it's advanced ways? Mrs.
Hclroyd looked round in stony despair,
words that were 700 bitter to utter
trembling on her lips.
The dean hurriedIy picked up his coat
and hid as much of bis breathless per-
son inside it as was possible. The bisll-
op had decided that lie was fairly i'll,
so his triumph enabled him to face
without finching the glare in the eyes
of his circle and his wife's piteous face.
my parasol, Mr.. Dean?" said Lady
Damer, smiling; you appear to have
forgotten it."
II am so sorry" stammered The dean:
cit wasn't here, and II"
Lady Damer put up her pince-nez
doubtfully. 81 really believe" she said;
yes, indeed-why, you were using it
for a wicket" and she fished the middle
stump, which was adorned with lace,
out of the ground.
Mrs. Carberry groaned audibly.
at was my fault" exclaimed Helens
81 never looked at it,
"Never mind, my DEAR" said the old
lady, laughing; you must come out
and play cricket with my grandchil.
dren. Wen get up a match, Mrs. Car
berry, as you don't object to cricket
now. Let me see, shall we say next
week-Thursday?" and Mrs. Carberry
said: "Yes."
'srhe fall of the select was complete,
for they picked sides and played mora
cricket that same afternoon (minus
the dean); Mrs. Holroyd accepted her
defeat, and wa silent even when Alicia
Holroyd announced openly that she
must come up to try a ride IN Helen's
bicycle. Only Louisa Holroyd sat away
and spoke no rebellious words, but she
was deciding what color her new habit
would be. and whether she would buy
brown top boots or black.-Sketch.
seG0ne to the DoRs.s
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