The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-04

me on again. At any rate it was my
only chance. and / took 1t.
let myself CO. I said then and there
all sorts of things TO Gentian that / had
meant to reserve until after / had won
the County Cup. And / was about to
take her in my arms and so complete
the homeopathic cure, when she starte5
back and drew herself up very stiff and
erect.
Sir she exclaimed in frigid tones.
you do me a great honor. But I can
never think of you in that way-neveri"
I started at her amazed, hardly be-
lieving my senses.
That she cared for me and wished me
to care for her I had until this moment
been convinced. And to be refused thus
curtly almost contemptuously when I
thought I had stretched a point, under
the circumstances, in proposing at ALI
1t was as if the solid earth had sudden
ly been cut away beneath my feet, or as
if the welkin had fallen about my ears.
Il thought you-you cared for me"
stammered.
Il am sorry. You have made a great
mistake she replied.
And then. while I was still quivering
and half stunned under this unexpected,
paralyzing blow, some one came run
ming after us to say that Gen. Horncas-
tie had arrived and was awaiting me
upon the croquet lawn.
Into the details of my match with him
I prefer not to enter 1t is enough to
say that while he was on the top of his
game I was considerably below the bot
tom of mine. If I had had week. or
even a day. in which to recover from
the effects of the Notifying shock to
which 1 had just been exposed things
might have been different. But, as 1t
was my condition was hopeless.
The fumes of intoxication, indeed. had
been effectually dissipated. and l was
/ left sane enough in all conscience but
as nerovous and PROSTATE as a
drunken man suddenly sobered by i'm
mersion in ice cold water.
/ Tried to pull myself together. told
myself that croquet championships were
still croquet championships even though
girls were tickle and faithless: and that
challenge cups were still challenge cups,
albeit woman had given me slap in
the face. But il was all in vain. l was
/ temporarily bowled over. There was no
getting away from it; and after making
such melancholy exhibition of myself,
as heaven preserve me from ever doing
again upon croquet lawn, succumped
+ to the victorious general by the over
whelming aggregate in the two matches
Ghere was no need to play three), OF
| Al hoopsi
AS soon as I could get away from the
scene of my disgrace, / started to walk
| homeward-angry, sore, detected, moru-
fed beyond expression. had not pro-
eeeded far when some one rang a BIZ
cycle bell close behind me. turning
round l saw Gentian. To my surprise,
ana. unO6T the ClICulDSldllSCSs ~
small annoyance, she dismounted ana
walked alongside me-
L am very sorry" she began, in nan
apologize tones, 'but-but-I am AFRAID
that it was partly my fault that you
were so badly beaten"
s.sWeu! You could hardly expect me
to be in good form, after what had Just
occurred, could you?" I replied, glumly'
No" she said. Il neither expected
nor intended that you should be. That
is why I gave you a shock. Because,
you see. if you had beaten papa-you
know what his temper is-he would
have been so furious with you that II
would not have been safe for you to &C
near him, much less" (she blushed and
averted her face in sudden confusion)
for you to ask his consent toto GER
tain arrangement. But, as it is. having
beaten you and won the challenge cup
he is in such an angelic humor that, al
this moment, he would consent TO any
thing; So
You mean -" I began, renewed
hopes beginning to surge up wildly
4 mean she smiled. "And you as a
croouet player VIII doubtless under
stand me. that it is of no use to make
lust one hoop, when there is nothing to
follow But that. under such circuna-
stances. the right game is to eschew the
/, hoop altogether and simply Toto"
no what2" l demanded with eager
ness. as she paused provokingly-
ITO do as I have done-play for. the
leave'' was Gentians demure reply
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