Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-11-01

Arthur Dales eeven-were all greatly disap-
pointed by the play of Noel Evesham the first day.
This batsnans average for his county last year had
topped the record and he had done so well again this
summer that the best hopes had been entertained by
Sir Arthur that Noel would prove the mainstay of his
side; yet he had been clean bowled for four and
had massed catches in the long field during the first
innings.
This failure of Noels had been the subject of the
conversation of Audrey Dale and her brother Bobby,
aged respectively sixteen and fourteen and both sanch
friends and admirers of Noels
"Its simply sckenngP' said Bobby Noel had
marched back from the wicket disconsolae and disap
nonted greeting his two young friends with nod and
scky smile he passed the place where they lay on
the grass-as disappointed he-but avoiding CONVEX
sation with ALL Bobby knew all Noels scores Tor the
last wo years by heart Its absolutely sickening he
repeated Il .1nt think what's up with him-he played
like beginner. Something must be the matter with
Noel"
"Of course there is and anybody but you would
know qoat said Audrey her sweet face clouded with
angry frown
How dyou know? And what is it, them" asked
Bobby.
"Its that cruel little beast Marjorie!' said Audrey
"She has been horrid him for the last three days
Oh I've it clearly enough; and it's breaking his
heart and | hate her!
"RotI' said Bobby. "As if anything Marjorie could
do would interfere with his rayF
"Of course it would. It-gets on his nerves and he
can't think of anything but that A hrst-class player
must always his attention on the game he
told me so himself; if he doesn't he won't do any good
Well, Marjorie has been simply horrible to him. and
81 don't" Bobby interrupted How should l! lie
hasn't told So"
"Your eyes might have Mine told ages ago.
Well naturally her unkindness has spoiled his play
"Rot AS if he'd what girl said or did, IN
comparison with his cricket" said Bobby, with
profound disdain. you must be little idiot, Audrey,
think that of chap like Noel Eveshan lie wouioh
thank you if he knew.
THAT night before retiring to rest, Marjorie Soulsby
i IF Sir Arthur Dale into AudreyS room.
Audrey was wde-awake and Marjorie entered and sat
down upon her bed for a talk.
you've been so unpleasant to me- kiddie, for the
last few days that thought would find out what it,
all about and at the time seal our reconciliation
by telling you very, very great secret
81 don't want to make friends said Audrey, blinking
at the candle her cousin had brought in; land dont
want to know your secret-probably know it already
"My dear Audreyr' exclaimed Marjorie. What IS
the matter? What have done to offend you?"
"You know perfectly we'll. You know how awfuly
fond am of No-Noel, and you've done your best to
break his heart these last days. Oh, yes you have!
No trying to look shocked, and all that you've
been flirting abominably with Major Crawford and
suppose your horrd secret is that you're engaged to
him."
Marjorie smiled but flushed uneasy. "Noe Eve
sham has claim whatever upon me- she SAID ana
Major Crawford is the incest that ever breahed
Don't talk about things don't understand Audrey:
and try remember that you're only baby OF sixteen
you've told and over again that you mad
never seen a man you liked much Noel; you know
you have. You told me last year, and you told me
fortnight ago. when he came. You said you were sure
he cared for YOU and that if he proposed you would ac
cept him you know you did. And when Major Craw-
ford came"
81 was quite mistaken about Capt. Evesham He
never cared for after ALL
"He did =! exclaimed Audrey half sitting up in the
indignation of the moment "How can you say such
thing Marjorie? Everybody could see it. Why do you
suppose he played badly to-day? Simply because OF
YOUR disgraceful conduct him. He is miserable and
it's all fault"
"If he wanted me he should have said so. He has
never so much as limited it to He might have seem
at one time that ready to take him if he had Of
fered himself Well, he did / wasn't going to
bother about him year after year if he couldn't make