CAPTAIN MARJORIE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 74

CAPTAIN MARJORIE.

(For the Witness.)

• By Goalkeefeb. Although, unfortunately, heavy rain had fallen during the previous night, making Jfche paddock wet and muddy, the auspicious day itself was cool and calm, an ideal day Sor playing hockey. As this was the "first occasion, in the little town of Hardyiyille, on which a ladies' team had played against men, a considerable number of spectators assembled to watch the novel match. ! Very trim and neat looked the chosen feleven of the Victoria Club, in then- brown knd cream costumes — dresses and "tammys" of the 1 former colour, sailor collars and ties ( of the*latter. As theycrowded round their toaptain, pretty Miss Marjorie Reynolds, for 'final instructions, they were surrounded by lan excited, chattering throng of Victorias, each 'anxious to offer her dwn- particular '.piece of good advice. • "Don't play selfishly, whatever you do, Commanded the captain! " Pass, for the cake of- the club!" In order to handicap the men somewhat, it had been arranged that they should play (with ane hand only, and that they should pear skirts. So, while the girl players assembled on the open field, the men skulked away behind a convenient old cowfched, anxious not to be seen in their borrowed plumes one moment before it was necessary. One non-player kindly acted as lady's maid, and as all of them had obstinately refused to "try on" the obnoxious skirts, there were a few minutes of anxious bustle while he pulled and twitched the eleven into their unaccustomed

garments. When the referee's whistle sounded, there .■was a hearty burst of ' laughter at the figures that appeared from behind that cowshed ; and certainly the long, wide skirts, of all colours and materials, looked very Strange below jerseys and skull caps. It soon became evident that the game .would not be such a complete victory for fthe men as the girls had feared. The Wictorias played as they had never played before, so Captain Marjorie was heard to 'declare; and though any one of the men tould probably hit much harder and run much faster than any one of his opponents do, the skirts proved a very decided handicap. The faster a man ran the more suddenly and surely did he find himself tripping/ over his unnecessarily, long, skirt. [Then it did not lessen the merriment of the .spectators, most of whom were in your of the girls' club, if the unfortunate man chose one of the boggy places in which to lose his feet. When half-time came, the men had won .two goals, the others only one ; still, the jgirls were delighted with even so much success. The players and their Mends exfcbanged notes and jokes over dainty cups lof afternoon tea, provided by the president )of the Victoria Club. Marjorie Reynolds chatted gaily during the five minutes' interval with the captain tof the Hardyville Hockey Club. The latter was a tall, broad-shouldered New Zealander, by name Hamish Munro, banker. Though generally somewhat shy of girls, he Jfound this bright-faced little girl very pleaWant company. , "'We must have another chat over hockey tnatters, Mr Munro," said Marjorie, as the weferee's whistle called them back to their Ijplaces. And as Hamish Munro took a fauick, parting glance at his companion, he jhoped in his heart that that chat would not J>e long delayed. During the second spell of 25 minutes, jtiio girls found themselves often rather hard pushed to defend their goal. The Hardy yllle's forwards, of whom the captain was Ithe centre, seemed to be always through temong the opposing ba,cks. Marjorie, as • back, had had two or three hard tussles, /•when" she realised, as she fought against Mr Munro, that she was becoming exceedingly tired. Perhaps this * was the reason that an" some . inexplicable way she tripped over iiis stick and fell heavily to the ground. "Surely our captain's not hurt," cried several of the girls, as they rushed to her Assistance. - With Mr Munro's help, she Itried at once to rise, but she had sorrowfully to confess that her ankle was Jbo painful that it was impossible for her to ntand. " I am afraid I won't be able to play any Jmore to-day, girls. Get one of the emergencies to take my place."' | " No, no ! We can't play without our ■aptain," cried the girls. ■ Indeed, all the players felt that, as it was Miss Reynolds who was hurt, the game onust be stopped. So after a cab had been procured for Marjorie, the others quietly (returned homewards, lamenting that an acfcident should have clo&ed an afternoon of 'cuch unusual fun. ■ ' Mrs Reynolds and her daughter were Comparatively newcomers to the town, having settled there after the death of Dr JReynolds, when change of scene and quietpess were necessary for his heart-broken >ridow. Hardyville is one of the loveliest of the Smaller towns of New Zealand. Although lacing the sea, it is so sheltered on all other sides by . low-lying hills, that its climate is m>ld/ even during the winter months. Its streets wander away into the (valleys ; all but a few of the business ones 'iaving but . hawthorn or barberry hedges separating them from the gardens of sweetscented, brightly-coloured flowers that lie on either side. Through the town winds a alow-flowiug river, whose quaint bridges and willow-fringed banks give a pleasant finish to the whole. On the evening of the day following the accident Mr Munro called to inquire for Miss Reynolds. Truth to tell, he felt somewhat dubious about his reception, as he did not know to what degiee the young fcidx held.bjm, jejflojj^ble for. h<ii ACCidfiflk

However, she greeted him pleasantly and introduced him laughingly to her gracious, stately mother as "the rival captain, Mr Munro." In reply to his courteous inquiries, Marjorie said: "As you see, I am a prisoner on this sofa. The doctor says I have given my ankle a nasty sprain, and I must not think of using it for some weeks. I do hope it won't be as long as that before I can go about again." "I sincerely hope not, Miss Reynolds." Then he added nervously, "I am so very sorry if it was through any roughness on my part that " But Marjorie interrupted him hastily. "It was not in the least your fault, Mr Munro, but entirely due to my own carelessness and tiredness combined. I feel so silly," glancing at him with a merry smile, "when I think of the absurdity of the whole affair. Fancy the renowned captain of the Victorias tumbling down in a mud puddle in that ignominious fashion !" "Yes, Marjorie," interposed Mrs Reynolds ; "I think you must have picked out the largest puddle to fajl into. You were splashed with mud from head to foot, and looked a regular fright when you came home.". r " "Or rather when I was brought home!" Hamish Munro hastened to assure her that her mother exaggerated very much when speaking of *a "fright." He was far too shy to even hint at the picture he carried in his mind's eye, of a girl in a trim brown dress, with shining brown eyes and golden hair somewhat loosened by her vigorous play. That evening was only the first of many that the young man spent in that quiet home. The elder lady, finding that he had few friends and no home in Hardyville, told him that he might always be sure of a welcome. Mr Munro was a little amused at the eager interest taken by Captain Marjorie in her beloved game, and at how ready she always was to discuss any rules relating to it. However, they soon found j ether tastes which they had in common, j the chief of these being the love of reading light literature. " ' Improving ' books don't seem to improve me at all," said naughty Marjorie. j So their friendship grew, until, by the time Marjorie was able to go to liockeyagain, it had grown into something more than friendship. The girl herself was surprised to find how much she depended for companionship on this quiet, grave-faced man ; while he — well, he knew how much sunshine one of her sunny smiles could bring into a dull day of work.-* When Marjorie left the paddock one day she found Hamish Munro waiting for her. He took her stick from her, and together they walked home through the quiet streets, with the darkness falling softly around them.

"Dearest, " said Hamish, after she had promised to be his dearest, "you won't lose your rank, though your club will lose you. Now you will be mt captain, Marjorie."

The wedding iras intended to be a very quiet one, but the members of the Hardyville and Victoria Clubs attended at the church iv a body, dressed in their respective costumes. Though the girla bitterly lamented having to part with their captain, still they thoroughly appreciated the romantic side of the situation.

"You cannot have a bodyguard of soldiers, but at least you have got one of hockeyites," whispered an excited bridesmaid as the bride joined them at the church door. The bodyguard smiled, well pleased, as they noticed that the bouquets of the bridesmaids were tied with the combined colours of the bride and of the bridegroom.