TWO AND TWO.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 11, 28 January 1905, Page 1 (Supplement)

TWO AND TWO.

I really was playing well. You se?, I understand croquet.

Jane docs not. I finished a brilliant round, which left me only one hoop to get for a masterly victory. Jane had negotiated one hoop. It seems more polite to let Jane get one. Now she was in an impossible position on the extreme edge of the lawn. The air seemed oppicssive somehow. “There’s thunder in the air,” I remarked, moping my heated brow.

I looked at Jane. “Guess there is a coming,” I said,

There was. Jane was distinctly in a bad temper. I was delighted. She never looks better than on these happily frequent occasions. She makes funny little furrows i-i her forehead, and presses her lips together until the dimple lurking in each cheek comes into view, and her face looks .like an arrangement in crumpled petals.

“Can you keep like that while I fetch my camera,” I asked.

Jane scowled. I love her when she SCGWIs. “You are horrid,” she said, “and—and singularly lacking in politeness. “Suppose we break off the engagement for a bit?” I suggested My remark was ignored. "Is it really necessary to deliberately spoil my game and try to prevent my get ting a single hoop?” asked Jane, with the* particular inflection in her voice that is as I have learned, meant to denote sarcasm, though it i« not in the least sng gestive of it. "One nust play the game, Jaue.” “Now, was I suggesting that you should not play the game?” said Jane, raising hei eyebrows. "Well—you know—it rather looks as if’ “Nothing of the sort,” Jane broke in. shcrlly. "But ‘you might lx? content t< play your own game without spoiling mine.” “I’m awfully sorry, really.” “No, you are not, you know you’re not. You are simply pleased with yourself tremendously for doing it.” "Doing what, Jane?” I asked, humbly. “I have been trying to get the second hoop for over sw long,” she answered, “and every time I Jiave had a chance ol getting it you have knocked me out ol position up to the other end of the lawn." Jane spoke with rising indignation as the picture of her wrongs took shape. “Twelve times you have knocked me away from that" hoop,” she added, pathetically. “Thirteen times, Jane, I think.” “I—l don’t care if it was a hundred and fifty times. It is abominable. It is—hardly gentlemanly." Jane stamped her foot upon the grass and ostentatiously turned her back on me as she went to study a rose at the other end of the garden with great minuteness and interest. I grow reflective. “Shocking thing, a bad temper,” I obGcrved after a few centuries had elapsed.. “I am not bad tempered,” flashed Jane over her shoulder. “My dear girl, I should not dream of suggesting such a thing. I was speaking as it were, generally and at large.” Jane snort 2d—yes, positively snorted! When I told her so, she said it was merely an expression of disdain. But I maintain it was a snort What might have happened had wo been left to ourselves much longer I am too nervous to contemplate. Luckily, just as things were at this pass, Mr and Mre K. Noodle Dovey came into the garden. They are a newly married couple, and Mrs Dovey is one of Jane’s dearest friends. “Oh, do lot us have a game,” she said, after customary salutations had been exchanged. “Noodle plays splendidly.” “You two play partners, then," suggested Jane, “and Mamy and I w’ill do what we can.” The game was an interesting one. Jane went second and I was last. When I took my first shot, Mrs Dovcy wa. in excellent position to get her second hoop. Every one had been through the first in magnificent style. “Oh. don’t leave Clarissa’s ball there,” implored Jane; “she is sure to go through next shot.” I turned to croquet the dangerous ball. Jane clapped her hands softly with delightful anticipation. But I suddenly paused. “I don’t think it would be quite gcntlebanly,” I said, making an aimlcns shot for an absurd position. I spoke half to myself, but the other half was for Jane, and she heard it. For a moment or two she was about as mad as is my wildest hopes I could have wished. Then the humor of the situation began to tell upon her, and she began to smile, at last breaking into a little low laugh that screwed up her eyes more charmingly, and made the laughing dimple come and go in her cheeks until she looked just heavenly. "That’s one to you, Mamy,” she whispered. "I think the storm will pass over after all. was my reply. Jane gave my hand a surreptitious squeeze. Then I set myself seriously to work. I knocked the opposition all to pieces—l can play croquet—and not only went round myself in a most masterly manner, but enabled Jane to do the same. She was in tremendous spirit. The way she condoled with Mr and Mrs Dr>vey was one of the most beautiful lliings of its kind I have scon. Jane enjoyed it amazingly. “My game is improving. I think,” she said, solemnly, to mo later. “You certainly played much better the second game,” I remarked.

“I think I prefer a four-handed gamt/* she said. “What you want is a partner,” I looked at her reflectively. "Sooner you marry me the better, Jane.” “Perhaps it might be ae well,” she admitted. Subsequent proceedings were decidedly interesting, but not of a nature suitably for publication.—Black and White. ■