"You are to be congratulated very heartily, Mr. Boyne," he said. "Our club has won a famous victory, and it is a proud thing for you that your associates fix upon you as the noblest warrior of them all."
With more cheers and congratulations, the assembly slowly dispersed, the booming of an anvil salute falling on their ears as the men, women and children of Catalpa descended the hill to the town. And in the records of that proud community was written this score:—
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 total.
Catalpas 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 2 =6.
Calumets 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 =3.
Runs earned—Catalpas, 3; Calumets, 2.
Base hits— " 10; " 5.
Errors— " 3; " 4.
Umpire, Mr. John E. O'Neill.
All these things happened years ago. It would be difficult for any inquiring stranger to gather the threads of the narrative herein set forth. Even the name of the Calumet base ball club disappeared from the roll of the League, after that once-famous organization had been reconstructed, merged, and re-reconstructed. The title of the Catalpa Base Ball Club has survived time's changes, but the founders of the club are now sedate upholders of the dignity and credit of their city, with little time or inclination for athletic sports. Their successors cherish with just pride the traditions of the early achievements of the club, and the titles of the original nine are carried with due respect for those who first wore them. The visitor in Catalpa would note many changes in the busy western town from which the famous base ball club went forth to conquer. Judge Howell has left the bench; and he and his daughter Alice have taken to themselves a partner, whose name appears on a signboard bearing the inscription—
Howell & Boyne, Attorneys at Law.
Of a summer afternoon, when the cares of business may be laid down for a while, 'Squire Boyne, as he is called by his fellow-townsmen, may sometimes be found seated in the outer rim of the well-appointed amphitheater of the Catalpa grounds, with other battle-scarred veterans around him, watching the mimic combat in the field below, and telling once more How our Base Ball Club won the Championship.
THE END.