The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-10-17


corners in the place could not be ex-
pected to understand "the dear people"
as well as she did. OF course when she
got nasty" like that Miranda nightly
prayed that the blanket club players
would smite the feminine Amalekites
Of the sewing club hip and thigh.
Noel was so popular in the village
that the landlord Of the Spotted Dog.
as she Informed me after the tourna-
ment was over, put his last shirt on
/ her" phrase which. | understand. in
sporting parlnnce means that he risked
all his spare cash on the event.
wasted good deal OF time teaching
Noel how to Serve" into the double
edges OF the big mahogany table which
We borrowed from the vicar. II was
Just the right size mine feet by five).
but the double edges gave sort Of
plquancy to the play which | thought
would be lacking in mere ordinary
| able from professional place. Miriam
da was TO look after the tea, and was
TO lead OF against the vicar, who, in
stead Of practicing went TO the British
museum TO hunt up ancient authorities.
He said that before undertaking so Sc
rlous task he wanted to see whether
the Athenlans had ever played the
game under another name. But, in
spite Of his putting It in that way, he
grew just as keen about pingpong as
anybody else and actually made his
wife practice with him one evening
They quarreled for the first time in
their lives because she would serve into
his walstcoat. and he said II was TAX
ing a mean advantage.
When the eventful evening came, we
had the old sewing clubwomen on one
side OF the room and the blanket fund
old men on the "Montagues and
Capulets," the Rev. Arthur called
them. Burridges and Hindleys would
have been nearer the mark. Then the
vicar opened the proceedings in his
usual absentmlnded way. as II he were
at a penny reading. and from mere
force OF habit announced that "Mr.
Recitation would give a Smith" Be
fore he could be prevented young
Smith began on 1T was at Flores, in
the Hazores." and Noel was the only
person present who had the pluck to
stop him. He has hated her ever since.
We started with myself and the vic
ar. and he didn't play badly for a be-
ginner, although between serves" he
frequently stopped to explain that he
had seen picture OF prehistoric Ping
pong in Punch and that II any one
would give him Mr. Reeds address he
would communicate with him on the
subject, as even prehistoric animals
had their feelings and could doubtless
be influenced for good II treated with
kindness When he lost. he became
little testy; so we played II all over
again. and | let him. as Noel said,
''romp home an easy winner" That
dear child is learning the most eX-
traordinary expressions from her hos
ON friend the landlord Of the Spotted
Dog.
After Miranda had won her game
against the churchwarden no one else
In the village professed to understand
plngpong or TO have the hardihood 10
play II In public. so about o o'clock we
came TO the Capulets and Montagues.
the Burridges and the Hindleys. the
blanket fund and the sewing club.
Noel told me afterward. with n scraph-
&c smile, that she and the landlord OF
the Spotted Dog had arranged with
the villagers that they were not 10 in
terfere. The landlord had a dim sort
Of idea what Miss Jarvis was going to
do. and he worshiped Noel to such an
extent that the child believed that II
he could have got at" the Rev. Ar
thurs modest glass Of table beer he
1.-THE landlord would have "hocused'
the poor curate or painted his bit"
whatever that may mean.
When old Mrs. Burridges name was
called, she smiled at Miss Jarvis and
said, do e tell the gentry. dearie, as
his reverence is goln' to play for me,
and God be good 10 us all" She went
to sleep again. and old Hindley got up
and said, Little missile be a-goin' to
play for I, and I've got four quarts on
herr
Then this seraphic child. with eyes
OF heavenly blue (she's only twelve),
her golden hair flowing down her back
ADiue TlDDOult NhiAt Atiiiio AhAhkSi haeo
sash round her dainty waist white
doeskin shoes and another blue rib
bon at her pretty throat. fioated up to
the table, produced lucky penny with
hole IN II from her pocket and held
II out to the Rev. Arthur, with a smile
so sweet. 80 pure. so holy, that old
Mrs. CANNED burst into tears and said
"the pretty creetur' is a mort too good
for this world. and It de seem savage
like for a grit big man TO worrit her
So"
"w-whats that FORT" asked the Rev.
Arthur, taken aback.
Toss for service, please" said Noel.
Your call"
The Rev. Arthur called. Head"
Tail, / think" said Noel politely.
yes, tail It is. l serve"
"Cer-certalnly. by all means, Miss