West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-08-28
BOWSER PLAYS
cROQUET.
He Begins . Gane With mrs. Bewser
and Finishes With
Tramp.


Bowser came up to dinner he explained,
There is no mistake. bough, the out.
6i and ordered IL sent home I"
''Bat you don, mean ihs, ,ou are going
to play croquet 2" she asked in surptise
"Bat do As long as we are not going
away this summer we nigh. as well have
some amusements around home. don't
know of more interesting game than
croque'. To play good game one has
got TO have mathematical eve aud a skill
ful hand. 1t beats golf all hollow. don't
understand your surprise
'1sn't II great game TO quarrel over s''
asked Mrs. Bowser.
"Pish Folks who wat, TO quarrel will
quarrel over any game. Yes. I've read in
the papers that eroque, has separated hus.
bands and wives, broken engagements and
caused ministers TO resign from churches.
but that's all nonsense. you know. There's
more wranglng on Sunday-school excur-
| sion than over thousand games of croquet.
Indeed, what is there to wrangle about r''
al thought there were many things, but
perhaps I've forgotten or am thinking about
something else"
"There isn't one single thing, aud I'll
prove it to you. After dinner I'll set up
the arches and we'll have game. You
used to play. didn't you :"
"Y-yes," she reluctantly replied.
"And I've heard you brag what game
you played. I haven't had N mallet in my
hand for 40 years. but I'll bet l whitewssh
you four times out of 6ve."
Mrs. Bowser groaned inwardly. II Mr..
Bowser had brought home a horse. COW or
dozen chickens she might have lodged a
row, but with croquet-never. She thought
of suddenly twisting her ankle or being
suddenly overcome by the heat. but Mr.
Bowser's eye was upon her and she could
not escape.
"Why, come to think Of H." he said at
the dinner table, .we used to play croquet
when was couriing you, and don't re-
member that we quarreled. No. of course
we didn't"
II was true that they didn't, but il was
because Mrs. Bowser shut her eyes TO his
br&zen tricks TO come out ahead. She didn't
say SO, however. She simply hoped that
by some miracle game or two might he
played without, an outbreak.
"Now, then," he said when dinner Was
finished, 81 will set up the arches and
we will begin business II there is a mis-
understanding Of any soit you will be to
blame for il. wrangle Why. could
play for month Of Sundays and not have a
word. There may be some excuse for
wrangling over golf but cfoqart is soft and
gentle and placid"
Mrs. Bowser was pale faced and anxious
looking as she selected q mallei and ball.
She had determined to play her poorest and
dispute no assertion. She did no, mean 10
win the first shot, but il came to her. She
meant 10 miss one of the arches as she made
her play, but the bal! insisted on going
through both. AS matter Of fact, care
lessly as she tried TO play, she had gone TO
the upper stake and was on her way back
before Mr.. Bowser got a shot. She had
heard him breathing hard, but he didn't
say anything until she made miss. Then
he remarked
81 see have got TO play against bull
head luck and chicanery, butt think can
hold my own"
500 you mean that cheated l'' she
asked.
"Nevcr mind wha, ] mean. You can
settle things with your own conscience. I'm
coming for your ball"
Mr.. Bowser passed through the first arch,
missed the second and got in position to hit
Mrs Bowser's ball aud send il away. There
was glare in his eye as he sent il so feet
away and went back to the second srch.
But luck was not with him. Before he
could get through she came down and hit
the stake and finished the game,
"Do you know what you are doing 2" he
asked as he leaned on his mallet and looked
at her.
''Why, I've jus, whiiewashed you. hayen'l
l." she replied.
"And how did you accomplish in dc
you know the meaning of the word honest,
Have I got to keep my eyes on you all tn,
time TO get a fair deal in this game S''
Mrs. Bowser made no reply. She saw
the end in view. ard hoped that II struck
with MALE. death would be instantaneous
Mr.. Bowser took the first shot, and by go I
luck he made the two arches He was lef
ia bad position though. and before he coul,
pass through the third arch Mrs Bowser over
took him and arranged to carry his ball viii
hers.
"Whai are you going 90 do 2" he asked.
"CaTfy your ball along 10 play on"
"Bu, you can't do il There are rule
in this game "
''Where is the rule that says cant carr,
your ball along TO play on again ,"
''Go ahead, then. knew you'd chea
the eyeteelh out Of me IL you could, but
told you that I shouldn't wrangle."
Mrs Bowser used his bali until she wa
in position for the fourth arch end the
sent II away and passed through the fourl
and Fifth and hit IN; stake. Sh
vas Ceiling ready for the return when h