The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-14
RAIN CHECK
BY CATHERINE cRANmER.

Too bad you don't take an interest
in baseball. Eleanor" said Robert one
morning at breakfast. a year after
their marriage Since the big leagues
got down to machine work this year,
they are doing some stunts. believe
mel"
lust imagine any ladylike woman
being interested in baseball" said his
wife decidedly. I've always felt sure
that Anne Tompkins just pretends
to like it because Jack Farley is such
a-what do you call it-fan?"
mot on your lifei Baseball is about
as free from followers who merely
pretend to like it as anything under
the sum-"
Before Eleanor had time to reply,
Robert was fumbling in one after an
other of his pockets. Finally he
smiled in relieved way as he drew
out small piece OF blue cardboard
which even to Eleanor was recogniz-
able as the portion of a ticket retained
by seat holder. Il had an anxious
moment then, for | didn't remember
where ! put my rain check"
What is a rain check? Let me see
it, said Eleanor, holding out her hand.
so you got rained out yesterday,
did your
NO; the day before, and rye Just
got bunch that there'll be some
great hurting and hitting this after
noon. I'm sorry you don't take any
interest in the game" AS an after
thought, apparently, he added. "A lot
of women do"
After Robert had gone whistling out
Of the front door, Eleanor stood by
the dining-room window and gazed out
at the gay nasturtiums blooming in
window boxes, but she was not even
conscious of their brilliant colors. She
was thinking that Robert left her with
the air of one who goes out to find
what he likes rather than of one who
leaves behind that which he likes
most, and she didn't relish the posi-
bility.
Then she picked up the morning pa
per and went into the living room.
With a determined air she turned
through the paper until she found the
sporting page.
After plodding through many pare
graphs Of which she understood moth
ing, she finally found comparatively
lucid paragraph giving the place, the
starting time and the personnel of the
players for that afternoons game. She
remembered that Roberts rain check
had borne this inscription: BOX No.
80, 81"
That afternoon. about the time the
game began Eleanor, timid but trim
in blue serge suit and sailor hat, re-
quested the ticket seller to assign her
to seat slightly in the rear of box 80.
All fear Of being conspicuous in that
crowd left Eleanor, for she soon saw
that the slouching giants out on the
field were the only individuals who
were being noticed She discovered
Robert and three other men seated
directly below her a few rows distant.
Something decisive must have hap
pened on the diamond just then, for
thousands of enthusiastic young men
and hundreds of dignified older ones
rose to their feet and yelled like
Comanches, waving their arms wildly.
Robert was standing and cheering and
talking excitedly to his companions.
Presently big fellow at the bat
knocked ball that shot like a great
white bullet up into the air and then
seemed to take Its own time to fall
into the eager hands of the outfielder
at the farthest side of the grounds,
and while 1t scared the big fellow ran
as IL life were the stake, and the
crowds yelled frantically until he
stopped on third base. Eleanor
clenched her hands and sat tense, as
she felt thrilling SILVER in her spine
and realized for the first time that the
yelling fans about her were not |
maniacs.
One morning at breakfast, month |
later, Eleanor was daintily pretty in a
lavender negligee, and Robert looked |
admiringly at her.
viii you be my beau today, sir?" !,
she asked, with a smile.
For luncheon With pleasure, !
madam"
Not for luncheon only" she replied,
but for the whole afternoon?"
What is It? A country club blow
out? Couldn't we make It some other
day? There's a peach OF a double
haadar 40 novna ofg ttta oeko.-a... %
Il know It, and that's where | want
you to take me-"
But. Eleanor, dear, you'd be bored,
I'm afraid, sitting there for two or
three hours when you know nothing Of
the game"
But do know something of the
game, for I've been going to the games
and posting myself on points for a
whole month. When saw that things
outside my rather frivolous interests
were the things that reused your great
est enthusiasm, thought I'd better
investigate. So began with baseball.
1t was your rain check that set me to
one morning" she explained,
Why, how was THAR"
1t had become evident that before
our game Of life together was even
well begun we were getting away from
each other, and It struck me that
morning that we must make our we'd
ding ring a sort OF rain check-good
Tor new beginnings until the whole
game Of life is played. Do you under
stand, dear?'
Yes, little philosopher" said Rob
srt, as he drew her down into his
arms, "and I'll not only be your beau
his afternoon, but I'll be your fellow
an Throughout the 0anna OF Itfa