The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-06
With Cupid at the Bat
BY CATHERINE NJ. PATTERSON.

and by just side the edge that .eparatea Amt
1o.aons garden from that OF neighbor carothers
sow. IN that sef-sam. yard most interesting game
~ DaA had Deem In progress for some time. Phyllis
,oVeu baseball. both a spectator and m 4 n,ax.r
~ - nome with her brothers she had learned 70 play
the game and play it well
s,as LAT was long time ago. she thought with a
'ish when she was child Now she was vo,,s
woman and. according to auntie,. ver.,on 80 -.
a., tnose two words entailed ali sorts ~ aresa
whatever IL was that Phyllis must give thought
those inc summer In the neighborhood especially
Carothers VINO were visiting neighbor
merkab, .he latter person Aunt Jane was not on re-
various disagreements plus oceasfona, at. cause
thers. IN 1rIn. James Tabby and neighher Caro-
sonae CD ING oramaus per-
ardent over the hedge Phyllis possessed of an
fhe uere 10 Sur up something by way Of varying
h tas monotony, was debating whether or not ~ hiS
evening the next time he looked her way sooo
rernsrtsS 10 DC nothing more than neshboriy. she
the hum Of her frock. Just e''i'ie oehea'h
y ana req her an occasional tidbt from her plate
Ssd s' a, this point the whom Phyllis had de-
!, was who looked oftenest at that fair audienes 81
tn tine tIok MS turn at the bat Determined to dis
o,.s hlseiI, ne gave mighty swing 10 his hat
I sS, the hedge came the bali After it. with ths
no mean time came the batter '"' "'sh n"f'es IN
INV ha PARDON roc ne said as he landed have you seen
writ large upon his countenance ''''
"ha ne saw was the girl, who but a moment before
ed on the ground and rubbing a much swollen nsten
Ses,de her sat the cat, evidently participant
a. .ne accident as she bestowing considera bic
attention and much licking an injured paw
stopped In the performance long enough how
ever. TO favor the cause OF all the trouble with n
splitting splutterng address that had he been able to
run cold AS IT his CHIEF concern for the moment
rh for the girl and the cat was unnotieed
Should say did it. also felt H." with an nm
successful attempt at laugh.
han bwyt
and worried to be polite You're hurt aren't You
And by Jupiter. so is the cat" added as he looked
ST. said the now enrased Phyllis do you put that
mis- al cat ahead Of me in Importance? Evidently
feel highly honored think that you favor me with
Rising to her feet with difficulty. net detgnnr T.,
see lhe hands held out to her assistance abe attempted
pain from Phyllis she staggered and would hav.
fallen had not those despised caught and held
iy alarmed. bent over the girl
You are more seriously hurt than thought" said
house. Miss Kariton' ''1 ~ Wv
DO you really think I'm damaged more than Tabbv 80
asked Phyllis with wicked CLEAN in eyes as shs
looked looked down at the cat who linpins along JUS.
theirs. isn't ft?'
purs. for Phyllis exactly feaherweight ana
Aunt James house the other end of the gaelen
here day. And please say anything more about
that wre'ched cat 1t has already stirred up quite
You Pete, your uncie's dog has caused .rou-
bic enough said Miss Kariton defantiy from Caro-
II said s.o and meant it .ha, aunt. ma.
fatty.
Put me down, please" said Phyllis haushtily
Il certainly shall with pleasure. when get you
into the house" gasped the heavily breathing Mr.
carothers as he stumbled the veranda steps.
"Msadsmoises you are heavy Blu. enough OF this
self and his ws env getting ns
the door swing to Just In time catch the tip end
anguish Immediately announced a fresh calamity
suffering cats what have done now?" asked the
laughter
wrong in only particular. There only suffer
ing cat, you It's horrid of to laugh | know
but can't help 1t. Indeed /
leaned forward in carohers and running her y nn
gers along the wall pressed buttons turning on
Put me on the couch please v .aa them the girl
Delighted to oblige you" said Mr.. carothers dspos-
ls ns the victim Of hts ball and bat with sigh of
T know I'm not fairy: but you needn't be rud.
Phyllis petuiantly.
"Out Visiting neighbor. Otherwise" with a laugh
Il should not have dared be down in that of the
garden"
oh see." said her companion with grin tina.
seemed to make the footing Of these two sti that
mad'"
out" the brief reply.
looking neighbor the all this and
could himself OF hts present difficulties
assistance from her
Great Scott what next7" asked John Carothsrs.
he mopped his perspirns brow. Where Is the teIs-
phone7 call the doctor at least"
'On the table at the far end OF this ROOM
Mr.. Carothers his extreme relief, found the
and he promised to the at once.
Dr. Billings and Miss Gordon arrived at the garden
at the time, and II excited and alarmed
Aunt Jane who rushed into the house. She
agtated. when Carothers was presented to her.
anything but civil TO him. and later when she sud-
denly realized who he Was It was too late Tabitha
seeing Mics Gordon. made painful descent from her
refuge and went her mistress. who, when she saw
the predicament her pet was In left her niece
tender mercies of the doctor.
IT told you that the cats injuries were more Inn
porfanf than yours. said Car0thers with grim
DR. Bilines had fnfshed hts examination OF Phyllis
foot by the time Carothers had returned living
room to learn the patient suffering from MOTH
INF more serious than badly bruised instep which
would compel her to remain on her couch for a week
or ten days Phyllis had made wry face at the
verdict And as for Tabitha, she would recover
A. Carothers bent over Phyllis to say good night
abe whisypered:
arya 80 Aunt James mind at rest I've told her-~