The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-09

call. as dat long-green hunter got busy wit Widdy. I no sooner was passing de next bottle dan he had a seat by her side; and if ever dere was gailly-gailly in a mugs gig lamps, den it was in his. It takes strong jolt of dat kind to break AIiddy's guard. for she's handy at de game, herself, when dere's rotting else to do; but she was wondering what had hap pened, for de mug acted like he wanted to land a knockout in de foist rally. But, berore a round could been timed, Duchess goes to Widdy wit a wrap, and says, Madam is chilly, and leans over her and passes a void to her ear. Den Widdy seems near dying, try ing not to laugh.
 She played ball as hard as de felly did, after dat; and l seen Whiskers looking like he had a pain in his temper, and noting to take for it. He tried to butt into de center, and Widdy wouldn't see him, and Whiskers got as red as his whiskers. But de old gent is stayer when he wants to be, and before lunch was over he had spur and whip bote in action, and him and de mug was neck and neck. l offers Duchess even money, take her choice, and she picks Whiskers.
 Duchess interfered. After lunch she goes to Widdy wit a parasol, and when she was behind her she gives de wise eye to de poodle bargainer, and he says he will look for seats out of de sun, and folleys Duchess to a quiet part of de deck, where she says to him, Pardon, M'sieu, but when you asks for Madam Harding was it de wealty Madam Harding you was speaking off"
 "Ah-er-well-to be sure-I heard dat she was wealty,' he says.
 Oh" says Duchess, "dat Madam Harding didn't come to- day. De Madam Harding on board Is not de wealty one. would not wish to confuse M'sieu"
 Say, he goes away back stern, and sits down, where dere is no one to talk to; and he looks so up against dat I opens a fresh quart, and leaves it along side of him. and he didn't open his face to anyting else all day.
 Whiskers looked around at him, now and den, like a grafter watch ing for cops, but never strayed again from Widdys idle.
 Do you fancy dat wrap you brought me dis afternoon?" Wid- dy says to Duchess when she was landed.
 "Ah, Madam, confection ex- quisel" says Duchess, rolling her eyes like she'd been rapped on de coco.
 If you tink it as handsome as dat. you may have it" says Widdy.
 q win." Duchess says to me dat night.
 'Is Whiskers under de wire foist?" asks.
 No, but he had such-what you say?-such a scarce trun into him dat he'll never stop riding hard until he win. Pay your bet, Chames."
 Its not soivants' business to be mixing up in affairs of deir bet ters," I says, for when Duchess touched me for de bet I saw dat we'd done wrong to be so fresh wit Whiskers' business.
 Yield up, Chames, and look cheerful" dat saucy goil says. Be a willing loser. It's good for your temper. If ladies maids, and gen. tlemen's men never took hand in match making, cooks would forget how to make wedding cake. De likes of you had me. Chames, sees tings from de inside, and we knows what is good for de folks we solve, better dan dey knows. We'd be wicked if we didn't use our knowledge for to promote bus mess. Smood out your manners, Master Chames, and yield up gracefully. If you're good, I'll let you see me in de robe I'll buy for what I'll sell de wrap Widdy give me. She appreciate my kindness in keeping de cool breezes off her"
 'Dere was no breeze. You're a meddling maid" says.
 Tut, Chames," says she. Would you be de only one not to appreciate your wife? You have a treasure in me, Chames. And it is wicked of you not to say so