CROQUET

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 334, 20 April 1928, Page 5

CROQUET

CUPS PRESENTED SOUTH SUBURBAN ASSOCIATION (From Our Oxen Correspondent) PUKEKOHE, Thursday. Representatives from Clevedon, Remuera, Papakura, Waiuku, Buckland, Tuakau and Mauku Croquet Clubs attended the “At Home,” held on the Pukekohe croquet lawns on Wednesday. Luncheon and afternoon tea were provided by the members of the club. At the luncheon adjournment, Mrs. Fitness, president of the Pukekohe Club, on behalf of the members of her club, presented Mrs. C. C. Munro, president of the association, with a beautiful bouquet. At afternoon tea time, Mrs. Munro called on Mrs. Fitjiess to receive the A grade inter-club cup, won by the Pukekohe team for the third year in succession. Mrs. Munro congratulated the winners on their success, and also the Buckland Club, which was the runner-up. Mrs. Fitness also received the miniature cup, which becomes the property of the club. The members of the successful team, who each received a beaten copper bowl, were: Mesdames Nosworthy, MeCrae, Laurie, Cooper,, Miss Ramsey, Mrs. Gill; emergencies, Mesdames Fitness and Inkpen. Mention was made of the untiring efforts of the secretary of the association, Mrs. R. Forbes, who for the past four years has filled that position, and done yeoman service for croquet in the suburbs. During the day a very enjoyable progressive tournament was held. The following claimed the trophies:—A Grade: Mrs. Ward (Buckland). 1; Miss Munro (Clevedon), consolation. B Grade: Mrs. Whyte (Manurewa), 1; Mrs. Whitton, consolation. PAPATOETOE CLUB (From Our Own Correspondent) PAPATOETOE, To-day. . I The lawns of the Papatoetoe Croquet Club presented a gay appearance yesterday afternoon, when the club tendered its annual “At Home” to the surrounding country clubs. Representatives were present from the Papakura, Manurewa, Otahuhu, Mount Wellington, Mangere East and Mangere Central Clubs. A progressive croquet tournament was held, and the following were the prize winners: A Grade (visitors): Mrs. Pearce, Otahuhu; B grade, Mrs. McEntee, Papakura. A grade (Papatoetoe members), Mrs. Geo. Runciman; B grade, Mrs. F. E. Carr. CLUB COMPETITIONS The following are the winners of the various club competitions held during the season:—Championship, Mrs. Par-ker-Hill; runner-up, Miss Gane. A singles, Mrs. Brown; A doubles, Mesdames W. J. Nicholson and T. R. Smytheman; B singles, Mrs. Smith; B doubles, Mesdames Civil and Smith. MANGERE CLUB (From Our Own Correspondent) MANGERE, To-day. An enjoyable flag 500 tournament was held by the Mangere East Croquet Club in the Mangere East Hall on Wednesday evening. There was a good attendance of members and friends, and some keen games were played. The prizes were won by Misses Key, Wallace, and Mr. R. Prangley. Mr. W. Knight was in charge of the tournament. During the evening the members of the committee served a daintv supper. AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE GARDEN PARTY TO-MORROW Twelve hundred invitations have been issued for the first of two garden parties for employees in the prinicpal industries of Auckland, which will take place at Government House to-morrow afternoon. A similar number of invitations has been issued for a garden party to take place on the following Saturday. The function to-morrow will commence at three o’clock. Their Excellencies the GovernorGeneral, Sir Charles Pergusson and Lady Alice Fergusson had no public engagements to-day.

“BON VOYAGE” VISITING ENGLAND A large number of her friends foregathered on Monday evening to say "bon voyage” to Mrs. S. A. Taylor, who is leaving next week for a trip to England. Mrs. Taylor was the recipient of many good wishes and was presented with a writing-case. Mrs. Taylor was also the recipient of a very useful travelling outfit. you, and betrays the fighting spirit.” "How did you know that I—that "That is very simple,” he answered, anticipating the end of her unfinished question. "I was making a call cn my friend the parson, and he told me that I should have to excuse him for a short time, as he had a wedding on. I will own that I wasn’t even interested, and that I was a little annoyed that a wedding should interrupt the chat we were having. When, after a little absence, he returned, I chaffed him, thinking that the ceremony was ended, and then he told me that it had not taken place, and that he had doubts whether it would to-day. When he told me the circumstances I was a little more interested and went so far as to ask the names of the couple.” He broke off for a moment, then he added, "I was very interested when Hunter gave them me, for the name of the man was the name of one whom I know very well, and I was sorry for the girl whom he was to marry, even though I did not know’ her.” Jocelyn Ambrose did not immediately ask why he should feel s n ry for her; instead she asked, "How did you learn that it was I?” "I saw you,” he answered simply. "I was standing at one of the windows in front of the house, and watched you cross the garden and pass to the back. I recognised you instantly the more easily because since the night of the railway accident

you have been in my thoughts very often.” As he made this revelation the girl glanced at him quickly. He was looking straight ahead, as if he found his task of driving all-absorbing. “I do not know why I should have been,” said Jocelyn simply. He laughed as for a moment he took his eyes from the road and flashed a whimsical glance at her. “It was inevitable, Miss Ambrose. Just recall the situation. A charming young lady—l hope the description does not annoy you—a charming young lady to whom I was able to render a slight service ” “You saved my life,” she said, quickly. “You saved me from the horror of burning. . But for you ” “Please! Please —Miss Ambrose!” he cried in expostulation, then hurried on. “But suppose it was so, suppose I did save this charming young lady j from a threatening horror, it was all the more inevitable that she should come often to my thoughts, and the situation "was all the more provocative inasmuch as I did not even know the young lady’s name. It was natural that I should think about her, that I should wonder who she was.” There was a flash of colour in Jocelyn Ambrose’s face. Though her companion spoke railyingly, there was an undertone of earnestness in his words, and she was quite sure that he meant every word that he said. “You might have learned my name at the time, Mr. Lancaster,” sh« 3 | laughed—“if you had really wanted to. But you departed in such i haste ” “And in such fear of the pennv-a-I liner, Miss Ambrose. Don’t forget | that! I have an absolute horror of : being written up, no matter how pic- ; turesquely; and there were business reasons why my name should not ap-

pear in any newspaper at that par- ; ticular time, since I was supposed to j be in South Africa. Therefore I • scooted —scooted hard in a hired car, | and in the end had to pay my jehu’s fine for exceeding the speed limit.” Jocelyn laughted and he joined in her laughter. Then he continued, “Too late —that is the stock phrase of the romancers, isn’t it?—too late I remembered that I had not ascertained vour name and position, and 30, in the approved manner of the presentday novelists, I have been compelled to rediscover you, and that we should grow better acquainted.” “And you have your hope realised, I trust you are content, Mr. Lancaster.” The girl answered lightly fencing with the note of seriousness which ran through all his w^ords. “I am easier in my mind,” he admitted, smilingly, “though I will own I | never dreamed that we should meet again in such a—er —unusual circum- ! stances.” He saw her flush painfully, and he hurried on. “But this afternoon, when | I saw the girl who had been waiting l ! in the church crossing the vicarage garden, and realised it was you, I was ! very glad, and I thanked God for whatever had detained Dorian Pax- | ton. ; “You thanked ” began Jocelyn 1 feebly, but he interrupted her. “I did, because I know Dorian Paxton. I think if you had died the | death that threatened you in the disI aster that befell the Flying High- i lander it would have been a mere merciful thing than life as the wife ; 1 of such a scoundrel as he is. That ; is the first reason why I am grateful ! I to heaven that you were ‘left at the ■ : j altar’ —that’s the correct phrase, isn't ! it? —this afternoon.” ; “I did not know that Dorian Paxton - . was a scoundrel,” said Jocelyn quietly.

I “But he is,” answered her comj panion quickly. “1 know him very well, and what I say of him Is enj tirely true. And it is in keeping with ! his character and practice that he should ask a girl to marry him secretly in an out-of-the- way country place ” “How did you know that?” “Guessed it, Miss Ambrose!” he answered promptly. Jocelyn nodded. “You are very ! clever,” she said, trying to smile, “and very kind to worry about my welfare. But, believe me, when I say that, so far as Dorian Paxton is concerned, ; there is no need. I shall never marry him now.” “I am very glad to hear you 3ay that, Miss Ambrose. Very glad! Because it makes my second reason for feeling grateful appear less unreasonable to myself.” “Your second reason. I had forgotten that there was another. What it is, Mr. Lancaster?” (To be continued.)