Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-14
Berthe
COurtenay
The Stranger Who Took PAN
In a Baseball Game.
BY MARTHA B. MONROE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association

sou IL good enough"
How about hltter:"
Don't want any hitter either"
This dialogue was spoken between
Charles wilkins. captain OF the Roslyn
Athletic clubs baseball team. and his
cousin. Kate Hathaway. Kate was an
enthusiastic baseball girl-tbat Is. she
was infatuated with the game and a
member of girls team that coca.
sionally played on the diamond OF the
gymnasium club.
There was more between wilkins
and Miss Hathaw than common
interest in baseball. A lawsuit OF long
standing between their respective fam.
lilies over property acquired by VIII
klns three generations before was TO
he settled by their union-ihat Is. II
was hoped by their parents that the
interest might be united In them.
The match referred TO was TO take
place between the Roslyn club and the
Ringolds. a champion game. Both
teams were training hard. and both
managers were testing and picking up
the best men they could lind. Ned
Paddock, manager OF the Ringolds.
would require an infielder and wilkins
an outfelder. This was smooth sail.
Ing. But when both men wanted an
outHelder and there was just one good
man In that line to be secured the
friction emitted more sparks than
skyrocket.
There had come 20 Roslyn that spring
an invalid named Albert Courtenay.
lie was suffering from bronchitis ana
had been recommended TO come to RIOS.
Ign on account OF its dry air. For
couple OF months be went about cough.
Ing and hawking, looking rs though.
having one foot IN the grave. he was
struggling to keep out the other. Then
he began to get better and the flesh
to come back on his bones. One could
tell OF his improvement By his clothes
the better his health the tiner his gar
ments. At last when lie was quite re-
covered he bloomed into u first class
dude. He manifested an interest In
the society of Roslyn. Joined the Ros.
Ism Country club and showed mild
interest in the young ladies Of the
place. They were inclined to make
fun Of him. calling him "Bertie."
Berthe Courtenay seemed more In
cllned to bestow his attentions on Kate
Hathaway than any other girl. Charlie
wilkins didn't object to his preference.
for he considered him altogether too
contemplate for rival. BESIDES.
Charlie was too much absorbed In
preparations for the great game soon
to come of to take any interest In
anything else. But one day when
Courtenay, who drawied his words.
was sitting chatting with Kate and
watching a game Of tennis wilkins
came I'D. Courtenay drawled on. VIII
kins "butted in." mimicking Courte'
nays speech. Courtenay imperturb'
ably changed from English TO Latin
Neither Kate nor wilkins understood
a word he said until Kate caught the
meaning Of "carissima Katherine"
dear KatherineI and blushed. VIII
kins, with a growl. turned ON bis heel
and left them.
This incident when repeated-that Is.
that BERTHE Courtenay could speak Lat.
in-occasioned n halt in the opinion the
young people OF Roslyn were forming
Of him. Then one day. having ap'
peared In a flannel tennis suit. white
as nm angels wing. 10 play a game
with a member Of the Country club.
he soon collected a crowd by sending
the balls from bis racket as n they
had been cred from a roman candle.
Here was a second gain. BERTHE
could not only talk Latin. but he was
a marvel at tennis.
From this point Kate Hathaway be.
gan TO show an interest In him. As
soon as wilkins noticed that the
dude" as he called courtenay. had
found any favor whatever IN Kath.
crimes eyes he ceased his own atten'
tons, indicating TO her that girl who
could see anything interesting In
"chump like that" was OF no use TO
him. As for Courtenay himself. WI.
kins treated him with supreme con
tempt.
He's one OF these college men," said
wilkins. "they make professors ola
great capacity for taking In knowledge
and never making any practical use
OF H."
But he's remarkable nj tennis" sug
gested one who had seen Courtenay
make fireworks OF the balls over the
net.
"Oh, that's sort 81 slight OF hand
like billiards. There's nothing manly
in the game"
By this time nobody seemed to know
what TO make OF Mr. conriemay. lie
didn't seem TO be fool. though he
sometimes acted like one lie WASH;
exactly effeminate. though he appear
cd so. What cough was left TO hin
was certainly affected. Some said he
kept 1t up TO gain the sympathy due
an invalid. Then his dress was toe
s;egant for anything. his neckweai
now representing the blue field OF
heaven studded with bright stars. now
a snow squat. now the green waves OF