THE HAPPY BOWLER.

Shannon News, 29 December 1922, Page 4

THE HAPPY BOWLER.

The bowler, like an old war-liorse, sniffs the battle from afar. Each day that has gone by since the shortest day has been a milestone passed on the road to Glorious Spring, tho happyeyed. The rose may put forth its buds, but he’ll never see the bloom. A baby may be boxui in his but he’ll never know it’s got a tooth till the season is over. Bowls to him is all. Wife, children or wealth are as nought to him who has been bitten by the Bug Bowleritis. Tho game is on. Mother will do the gardening, chop the morning wood and clean the fowlhousc. She w : ould also mow tho lawn, if the mower were not too hard for her to shove. After tea he rushes off for a game and plays until he cannot see the divot. It is not a game. It is an excuse.

And it is only because women are unorganised that such, state of things continues.

One bowler had a hard lesson. He was newly married to a tender-hearted young lady—a woman .made, 4 to be petted and loved, a creature so sensitive that a stern look made her shrink and falter. She did not know he was a bowler, but when October came she learned. At first it was just Saturday afternoon and three nights a week, but soon it was every night. She was too timorous to complain, but soon the roses %tt her checks. Then came a cough and when he.came, home from his bowls her coughing would keep him awake. wish to goodness you'd get some medicine for that cold," he said savagely one night. Meekly she pi'omised, but next night when he came home for tea he found her lying on the couch, her face flushed and her breathing uneven and fast. He hurried homo as soon as it was too late to play and helped her to bed. In the morning she was still ill, and as soon as he arrived at his office he rang up for the doctor to call. ;Hc hadlunch in town to save her getting a hot dinner for him and in tho aftornon he found himself continually thinking of her. In fact, by three o ’clock ho was thinking more of her than of his bowls. He thought of their marriage day, of how beautiful and wonderful she seemed to hint, of how ho had promised 'to cafe for hex. “I've been a brute," ho said sadly, ‘'l have deserted her these last few months. How lonely she must have been." He got off early and rushed home. With heart almost stopping he opened the door, and found Kef sitting by tho fire. He kissed her again and again. Then his eyes foil on the clock.

“By jove.!" lie said, grabbing his hat,'“l've just got time for a game before tea."