CLUBS v. HEARTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 309, 4 January 1908, Page 4

CLUBS v. HEARTS

(By If. K. Caldwell-Smith.) I had never felt so depressed in my life as when 1 arrived, with papa, at the Kagle Hydropathic, in Yorkshire. I had a wire from the dear old man saying that he was ordered to take the treatment, and begging me to go with him. L was rather glad than otherwise; it was only three weeks after I had broken otf my engagement with .Jack Uard'iigj*, and I thought that any change firm the expression of Klizalieth Welwter's face would be a pleasant one. Of course, 1 had to break oil' my engagement, if only to stick up lor the nights of Women, and, anyway, it was an easier way than embracing a policeman. or being sweet to a Labor Member would have been.

Jack had actually objected to niv living in a flat with Elizabeth Webster, and said that when we were married I should have to resign membership of my three clubs—the Lyceum, the Writers', and the Sesame. Well, of course, after that there was nothing to lie done but to break oil' our engagement, which I did, with much dignity, and we had mil seen eitch other since. I)f course, before 1 met Elizabeth Webster 1 had never thought about Women's Rights and ilats, but she "opened my eyes," in her own words, and convinced nie how very foolish it was to go on living in a home where I was not needed when I might be flee.

1 never could make out what she really thought about my engagement., am! attributed her silence on ihe subject to heroic Certainly, when I broke it oil', she alternately considered me a martyr to the cause and a silly little fool; and 1 noticed that when shti came home tired and wet, thinking hownice it would bo to have a married friend to go and visit, the lutter view prevailed. She rather encouraged me to go to the hydro, with papa, si) 1 went; and when we arrived 1 thought T. had never seen such a gloomy, depressing place in my life, it had been ispecially recommended as being lively and cheerful, calculated to keep up papa's drooping spirits. Well, when we arrived we were blown in at, the hall door from tlife cab in a gust of wind and rain. The huge, tiled hall was empty ami badly lit—pools of water, which had dripped from umbrellas and boots, had collected on the floor.

1 wondered if it were part of the hydropathic treatment to let them lie. The apathetic girl ill the office knew little and cared less about what rooms were at our disposal—and the long, gloomy corridors upstairs extinguished my List spark of cherefulness, while the people seemed quite hopeless. Such frumps I never saw! However, at dinner, the head waiter, a charming Dutchman, who was the first

bright spot on our horizon, put us at i table with really liice-looking people--a husband and wife, a peppery-looking colonel, two handsome Scottish widows, anil a nice boy. The dinner was good, and when the ■'nice boy," who was secretary of the amusements committee, told ine that

there was to be a bridge tournament starting that evening, and that they .anted another lady to play with a gentleman who had just come that afternoon, after the ties had been drawn, a I once decided to enter, i'apa had to see the doctor after dinner, and then go to bed, and 1 knew he would be having waters, baths, and massage all the next day. t am very keen on bridge, and I inwardly prayed lor a good partner, but never did i expect to see the partner whom the secretary brought up and introduced: "Air. John llardinge, Jliss Craig!" And there stood Jack! The boy departed, and for a moment I could hardly speak. This was the man who had just arrived! He must have questioned the servants and followed us. X was luri-

" iJid you know we wove to be here 1" I demanded, noting with dismay tint there was a twinkle in liis eye. " Well, I knew your lather was coining, M he prevaricated, " and, of course, his usual companion is Kitty. lam rather fond ot Kitty. And it's quite legal, now. After all, she's almost a deceased wife's sister!" " 1 won't be called your deceased wife —it sounds horrid,' said I, relenting a little, for Jack could not possibly be whimsical and sentimental at the same time, and of two evils Besides, it's a great thing to be amused, 1 had been expecting to be bored, and Jack, when not, making love or laying down the law about his wife's future, was very amusing. " Well, I shall certainly scratch for the tournament," 1 said decidedly. " I couldn't face two days of bridge with you as my partner." "(Jood, then we'll sit it out together: Can 1 get you an ice'i" said Jack. " U e certainly shall do nothing of the sort." i had an idea. " 1 wilt play witn you in the tournament if you will solemnly promise not to address a word to me except about bridge and the tournament, also to depart when it is over." Jack or, rather, I should say, i\lr. Hardinge—puckered his brows for a minute, and then assented. " Done," said lie. " You should say ' Content,' " I said severely. " We'll Dcgin from now." So we went into the long recreation room, where tables were set out. The tournament was on the American system, each couple were to play one rubber with every other couple. "Let's start with the ' Vicar of Wakelield,' and ' I'uzzy-wuzzy,'" suggested Jack, pointing out n benevolent-looking old man and a sweet, shy-looking young thing of about lifty who stood near the wall. Ilis nickname applied to her lmir, but 1 couldn't help tliinking of the Injia-rubber idiot oil the spree, and laughing—it was so unsuitable. So we four sat down. The '■ Vicar of Wakefield " cut and, as he was dealing, " Fuzzy " explained gently that I lie was her father, that he hardly ever, played, but she wouldn't play except witli liini, i-lie was " so shy. 5 ' My hand was a safe " lio-t lumper,'' and 1 was considerably astonished when the " Vicar," in the iimocenee of his soul, went no trumps, and still more so when Jack doubled. Necd.css to say we made a gland slam, giving us a splendid start, with ItiS tricks, and it) by honours. ' l ; u/./.ylimidly apologised for her father's mistake in thinking that "no trumps" was the lowest he could go, but we were able to assure her that no apology was necessary- indeed, Jack referred to the secretary I . letting it stand.

A'ext deal Jack left it and I had to go spades. By the touviumeiil rules we had to play it out, and we lost it. llero Jack's wickedness began. While "Fuzzy", was dealing, lie leant over the table, and said, lixing me with reproachful grey eyes: " 1 thought you would have preferred clubs, partner." "Why?" said the "Vicar" guilelessly. " The lady only had three."

" Curiously, you are quite "right about the number," said Jack. " 1 was referring, Hiss Craig, to the occasion when we iiad a ipiarrel about clubs, and you insisted on returning my diamonds.'' •• I tried to quell liim witli a, glance, but it was quite useless. " Fuzzy '' went hearts. Jack doubled, and I had chicane. " Having no heart, partner?" asked Jack with a meaning look when 1 renounced tirst time ti'umps were Icil. Wretch! However, lie had lots, and we made two, giving us a nice rubber of 37(1. 1' took Mr. liardinge into the winter garden between rubbers, and lectured I him severely, and the poor boy could not make much of a defence in Bridgese. I "It was your own make," was bin only reply, except that I caught a murI mur about, having a big stake on hearts. In a hydro, it seems one lias to bestow nicknames upon everyone, as one seldom knows their real names. Our next opponents we named " Black-eyed Susan " and the "Frumjous Bandersnateh," and the latter certainly lived up to his name by grabbing up tricks ill a most grasping and avaricious way. From this you will infer that we lost the rubber, which wc (lid. He and his partner had a horrid,

ghoulish way of holding inquests at tin; end of each deal, m»n digging up the tricks to refer to tliein. They were puli'ii;-; a " 110-tmnijH'r" to pirn** (their own make) wh«> ;i I unw th" light of hattie rise again in .Kick's—Mr. Harding's I eoiildn t make out at lii< i time.' 1 he remarked pliNisuntly. "whether you'discarded that heart from strength or weakness." Oh. strength, of c.mrse!" I .<aid with k'Loat lirmin'Ss, to the astonishment of the HainleiMjateh. who at onee })e«»an disinterring tricks to prove that he had all the best heartis himself. J| ( . proved it triumphantly, and turned to me. " Then you acknowledge that you were wrong?" I looked at Jack. '' Cerlainly not." said T. •lack hastily began to deal. " It is a curious thing," In- remark -d to the llanderßnatch, "but I used to play with a woman who preferred clubs to hearts on principle. Thought -die got more out of them. 1 was her partner, too." "Hough luck on you." *uid the Bandersnateh sympathetically. "She must have been mad." F think .she was," said Jack in a pleased way. Wretch! They turn all lights out at eleven at the l'-agle, so it was not worth while beginning another rublier. We had to iday four next day, which would finish the tournament.

In the morning papa went oil' to have what he called a " pugilistic hath." and we played one uneventful rubber just after breakfast. We won. and niv partner behaved fairly well. Indeed.' 1 cannot imagine a typical Englishman like lack tiring oil designedly ambi"tiuiis phrases just after a hearty breakfast. Alter the rubber our opponents su<»gested that we should all play teiinfs and went out to book the court, leaving Jack and myself alone ill the winter ga l'den.

May [ talk tennis language during the game, please, madam?" inquired he. " For one hour from now," I said, looking at my watch, ■•you may address me in tennis terms or none. After that, bridge terms once more." I suddenly found both hands seized watch and all. ' " Love," said Jack emphatically, looking into my eyes tilt; way he did when he proposed, and before I knew what was happening, he had kissed me. 1 was lurious—all the more so because I had walked into the trap so easily. I departed with dignity, and got someone else to take iny place in the sett, while I went tor a long walk on the moors thinking how very nice it was to be a free and independent woman. After our next rubber—which we played and won after tea (Jack is really an excellent player)—we went into one ol the drawing-rooms, where someone was singing in a voice that fore the heart out of one, something about a " lonely road." I sat down on a sofa behind the piano to listen, and Mr. Hardinge sat down liesiile me. Set your feet on the narrow track That runneth to the sea. . .

Tliere was a lonely sound about the music, and Jack put his hand over mine. Then turn your face to the Lonelv lload And think no more of me. . . went on the golden voice, 1 wish people wouldn't sing plaintive songs, they always upset me. Jack bent down closer. " What about your clubs, little woman'/" he asked. 1 pulled my hand away abruptly. " i ll double them," I retorted viciously. " I'm very fond of them, and 1 don't see why women shouldn't have clubs as well as men." " You're only echoing Elizabeth "Webster," said lie, " you don't really think that." " Kemember our bargain. Elizabeth has nothing to do with this bridge tournament. She and 1 are always' going to stick together, and 1 should think it very mean if she married and left lue alone, so it is not likely J. should?" " ! heard something about Elizabeth" ■lack began, but 1 got up and went. " Bridge terms only," I reminded liini over my shoulder. I thought 1 heard something about a revoke, but I paid no attention, and after dinner we continued the tournament. Uur fifth rubber was against a "Gibson man," ajid a very smart French widow, who had set her heart on marrying again, and made no secret of it. Once, when she was " dummy," her partner played out two ' hearts from the hand, leaving the queen. "Ah, zere she is, all alone, like me!" said the Frenchwoman, turning her eyes pathetically on the "Gibson man.'' Jack gazed at liie, too, without any reason that i could sec. 1 wasn't alone. Next game I had no trumps and got all right till I had made three tricks over the odd, when 1 had to let "Gibson" iu, and they got the rest. Curiously enough, in the last round but two, dummy's last two cards were a heart and a club. 1 thought 1 had placed two more diamonds iu "Gibson's" hand, and that it didn't matter which I. discarded first, but 1 caught Jack's eye lixed on me with all amused look, and at once discarded the heart—an eight. "Gibson's" next leajl was the seven of hearts, which 1 had completely forgotten, and the other diamond turned out to be in his partner's hand. •lack, with a sweet smile, remarked that 1 should have given up that club. I hate .lack. All the same, 1 am glad he is not a "Gibson man." Our last rubber was against the "nice boy" and Mrs. Parker, the singer. I forgot to say that we were well ahead in the tournament, owing to our good start, and unless we made nothing at all tins time were pretty sure of winning, so Jack would have a prize to take away with him next morning. We did fairly well, and were playing what promised to be. the last hand, when, just as I grasped the fact that I had to choose between keeping a club or a heart iu dummy, a small boy brought mc a telegram.

" Hotter open it now," suggested Jack, and as our opponents assented, I did. Jt was from Elizabeth Webster, and ran thus: " Married thin morning—are you engaged again—forgive.—Elizabeth Jones." The traitress! So that was what •lack had heard about her. And how did she kuow Jack was here? She must have sent him. .lack looked at me underslandingly. I gave up the eliib. Jack and J can thoroughly recommend ' the Eagle, in \orkshire, as being a delightful, cheery, and well-managed place; in fact, a plcasanter spot in which to spend three weeks could hardly be found. The cooking is excellent," the head amenable .to persuasion in the matter of seating at table, and the people charming—in fact, I can't think how ( can ever have found it frmnpv, depressing, or dull.