Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-12-25
t. get excissu returned the ban into

IF the ladies viii pardon me, will
divest myself OF my coat" said the
Rev. Arthur.
Strip, by all means, If you like"
said Noel. And he stripped.
But it was no good. The game went
on until it became twenty-five. He
made two.
John Lfvesey and Mrs. Ciummel,"
called the umpire.
Our turn again, I think" said Noel
to the Rev Arthur. I'm playing for
John. Your service, Mrs. Clummel.
John won.
Martha Raggetts and-eh-Chumpy
Poe" called the umpire.
II play for Joe," said Noel "I sup
pose you are Martha Raggetts?"
Il am" said the Rev. Arthur, and he
looked like another Martha who was
numbered with many cares"
They played that game until the Rev.
Arthur began to improve. Besides, the
blood of his ancestors boiled in his
veins. But it boiled to no purpose.
Noel won easily.
"Elihu Sands and Jane Lovejoy,"
called the umpire.
Rev. Arthur.
The Rev. Arthur did not like it, but
he played and lost
"Thyrza Thistlethwayte and Tom
Gerridge," called the umpire.
Thyrza did little better, for weight
began to tell.
Sarah Thorne and Martin Clarke"
called the umpire.
Better make the game ten points,
Sarah, instead Of twenty" suggested
Noel cncouragingly, for she was begin
ming to tire.
Certainly, If the umpire allows u.s."
said the Rev. Arthur.
Sarah joined Thyrza with a slightly
damaged nose.
Gamma Jones and Old Coulston," call
ed the umpire.
go it, missile" said Old Coulston.
II see myself a-drinkin' that beer, I
do"
missile went it." but, in spite of all
she could do, the Rev. Arthur made the
game seventeen.
"Time to sponge off, think" sug-
gested Noel to Anna Jones.
"Eh-I beg your pardon?" said Anna
Jones.
Refreshments" explained Noel kind
ly. "I'm going to have bun and GIN
ger beer"
The Rev. Arthur inwardly hoped
n icor
adored Noel, but he carried the money
of the sewing club and was prepared,
If necessary, to die on the field of hon
or. He tossed down lemon squash
prepared by the fair fingers Of Miss
Jarvis. II wear your glove upon my
helm" he whispered.
"Mind that child doesn't knock it
off," said Miss Jarvis sternly. IF you
lose-a mere chit Of thing like that!
ri never forgive you"
The landlord of the Spotted Dog
gave Noel cake of butterscotch to
top off" with, and, a pretty color in
her cheeks, she danced back to the ta-
BILE. Suppose" she said politely, 1--WE
lump all the other games and stand or
fall by this one. Ithink you will then
be''-she looked at the list-"Elizabeth
Halsey, Keturah Banks, Alice Manns,
Jemima Ward and Mad Kitty"
Il think So" said the Rev. Arthur.
"Oh, what duck he is!' said Mad
Kitty, beaming rapturously upon the
poor curate. isn't he duck!"
Miss Jarvis hastily pulled the crazy
girl back into her seat and told her to
be good.
81 WILL" said Mad Kitty; 'but isn't
he duckv'
Noel poised her racket refectively.
'Tm Keeper Jones, Silas Poorbody,
Scranny Eyed Bill, Sawyer Hurd and
Cargo the Shepherd. and l must be
very careful, because they have twen-
ty quarts of beer on me between them"
"Twenty whatT gasped the Rev. Ar
thur
Quarts said Noel gently, land they
have asked me to supper at the Spot
ted Dog if win"
Even Miranda gasped at this revela-
ton. Fortunately she was cutting cake
and did not realize its full significance,
The Rev. Arthur bowed CALAMITY. 81
wish the ladies had SO good champion
Also" he said kindly. He glanced at
Miss Jarvis. and his fine features cloud
ed over, for she frowned. "a slip of a
child" she whispered contemptuously
to her neighbor.
Her disdain stung the Rev. Arthur,
who was generally pretty good at field
sports, and he began to serve as hard
as he could, after previously stipulat-
ing that this final game should be TWEEN.
ty points. Amid tremendous excite
ment they crept up to eighteen all.
There was agony in the Rev. Arthur's
eye, for Miss Jarvis, coldly contemptu-
GUS, applauded Noel vigorously Noel,
seeing his distress, purposely served
into the net. then blushed scarlet She
carried the beer Of the blanket club"
yet had betrayed her trust because she
loved the Rev. Arthur. Her pretty lips
trembled.
| The Rev. Arthur saw and under
stood. With fine chivalry he also serv-
ed info the net mentallv yowinp to ro-