Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-08-31

the artist, and was busy with the du
ties Of the same. He did not lose sigh
of the signorina. however, and thos'
that watched them both felt that IL til,
artist was unwise enough to carry hi:
pique beyond the bounds of politenes'
he would be in danger of losing the
prize he had evidently set his hear
unon gaining.
The game which was now in progress
had for opponents: Miss Clinton and
NIr. Dcgraw against Miss Aspinwall
md Mr. Ferra1l. 1t was an evenly
matched and bitterly opposed contest,
At one moment the former couple ap,
uearcd to be in the advance. and then
~ some lucky stroke the latter came
to the front, only to fall back again
lnder the others iudicious play. So
lively was the struggle and so skillful
he opponents that the attention Of the
whole surrounding party was finally
1rawn to the sport, greatly to the re-
lief of the signorina, who, If she had
1ot betrayed her consciousness Of the
scrutiny to which she had been sub
jectcd certainly showed her pleasure
at the momentary respite from it by 4
telling play on the part Of Mr.. Ferrall.
Rousing herself from the attitude of
! coQucttish languor which she had as
| sumed under the talk Of one of Miss
Aspinwalls declared admirers she cast
a quick look across the ground 10
| where the artist stood beside his more
! or less distracted hostess. 1t was but
| A fash, but he saw it, and taking 1t for
an invitation, forgot his anger, forgot
his resolves. forgot everything hut her
and only waiting to see that his rival
was Just poising his mallet for blow
he bowed his adicu to Miss Aspnwall
and started for the bench upon which
sat the pcrplcXing object of his adora-
ton.
But scarcely had he taken three steps
before he found himself confronted BY
Mr. Fcrrall.
Take my mallet, Dcgraw, | cntrcat
you, and finish this game, | have just
received a telegram which demands in.
Stant attention. No one can beat chat
Cleveland chap but you. Go in, then,
and don't forget that Miss Rogers eye
is on you
Before the artist could reply the NAL
let was thrust into his hand, voting
Ferrall was off and dozen voices
We're crying:
l,nt Of nj ~.
if YOU can"
He gave the signorina one glance,
graspcd his mallct and took his stand
hy his ball. The play alluded to had
been made by his rival and seemed to
determine the game. But he was 4 fine
player, too, and after having taken in
the location of the several balls he took
his aim and made the most brilliant
stroke Of the season.
\ chorus OF acclamatonS arose. then
silence followed, broken only 10y the
click of the mallct and balls. When il
ceased he had separated his opponents
balls by the full width of the ground
and croGueted his own and his part.
n'r's through the last two arches.
Miss Clinton now advanced to thC
rescue. Could she but hit a bail the
game might be saved, otherwise it was
irretrievably lost. Would she hit one,
Many on the field thought so, but tht
artist did not. He had "wred' hpl
too oficctually. And so ii proved. In
making her stroke she drove her hail
against an arch and confusion was the
result. She had but to hit her part.
nec's ball, put 1t out, and then drive
her own to the stake. But she was
nervous, and only succeeded in put.
ting her own ball out.
The odds We're now entirely in favor
of the stranger and Miss Clinton. But
when Mr.. Dcgraw came to play some
unlucky twist of his mallet sent his
ball on one side of the wire instead of
the other and his opportunity to re-
tlieve the game was lost.
So now 1t was the artists turn again.
and as he had but to hit the stake with
his ball many thought the result as
good as decided and prepared to clap
'
amazement of every one he dallied
with his luck. and, instead of driving
his ball carefully to the stake sent il
Whirlin@ across the field in search of
that Of his adversary. lie did not hit
the mark he had set for himself, but
he accomplished n purpose that WAS
dcarer to him than any game. His
ball stopped not three feet from tn"
slgnorina, and though his watchful ri
val evidently understood the motive
which urged him and sent his own ball
Immediately in the same direction he
had the opportunity to whisper:
Love me and drop this fellow. His
! admiration diShonorS you and madden5
| ne. will not see you yield to it,
| That was all, but it evidently was
enough. Her face showed first aston
| jShment, then chagrin and then some
! thing like despair. But the scene was
one of mrth and she found herself
forced to join in the general laughter
which hailed the stranger as victor,
the artist having sacrificed the game
for whisper
Had he sacrificed more? There was
svcry reason TO believe So for the sig,
norina had become rigid after hey
augh, and then impassivc, not liftin"
her eyes from under her broad
orimmed hat. and only answering
questions after being startled by the
silence which followed them. And yet,