The Portland daily press., 1886-09-17
A LAWN-TENNIB ToURNA-
MENT.
ALI the Year Round.

and gentlemen, seventy OF eighty altogether
were assembled in an enclosure which resem
bled large yard. 1t was surrounded by a
high wall, and in the centre were couple OF
concrete lawn tennis courts, on which the
sun beat fiercely. One of them was not be-
ing used; on the other burly, bronzed, ell
derby man with struggling gray hair and
whiskers, was contending against red
headed, stalwart young fellow, whose un-
doubleday excellent play was marred by
affectation. At each end of the net there
was big barrel, and on the barrel chair,
and on the chair an umpire with an UNI
brella over his head. Perhaps neither UNI
pire could give quite as much attention TO
the game as he should have done, Tor the
groups around kept up running lire OF COM
ments. Most of the ladies occupied benches
placed along the shade side of the yard; but
there was also goodly show of sunshades
opposite, and a row of figures in flannels and
straw hats behind.
On bench apart from the rest sat two la
dies and a lad. One was the wife of the
elderly player, Capt. Wigram; another was
his sister-in-law, Miss Hubbard; the third
was his son Godfrey. AHthree were re-
markably alike-tall, thin and angular, with
pinched features, nearly black hair, and sal
low compilations; not handsome trio by
any means, but interesting looked Sc
lonely and were so snabbily dressed. They
scarcely seemed to breathe as they watched
the game, from which their eyes never wan
dered for moment, and when the Captain,
who had DOTTED coat and waistcoat, and wore
a soft hat with puggaree, made success
full stroke, their faces frightened simultanc-
ously, only to return Immediately to their
prevailing expression of intense anxiety.
1t cannot be said that their satisfaction on
these occasions was shared by other specta-
tors. There was manifest a general DISPOSE
ton to ridicule Capt. Wigram and to applaud
his young opponent, Basil Moore, who could
do nothing wrong, while the elder man could
do nothing right He showed no sign OF an
noyance at the cruel jests leVelled against
him; he was too absorbed in his game for
that; but the three motionless figures sitting
apart quivered at every stab. He gripped
his racket more firmly and set his teeth; he
glared at two or three as if he would have
felled them to the ground, their contemptu-
Gus indifference to him only adding to his
wrath; and the angry light that blazed from
his eyes was dimly reflected in the eyes of
his wife and her sister. Nobody cheered the
captain but they; all the other people
laughed at him, no doubt without knowing
the pain they were inficting. And yet, like
many big men, he was light of foot; he was
singularly active for his years, and he
fought with the greatest stubbornness, shout
ing aloud after each difficult stroke, and in
cessantly appealing to the umpires.
What was his offence? Firstly, he was a
talker without tact; in other words, bore,
to be which is to commit the greatest social
sin. Secondly, he was considered mean and
niggardly, though in truth the most abject
poverty was at the root of the matter, and
only the most strenuous efforts could have
concealed it so long.
The originator of the lawn tennis tourna-
ment which had caused such stir in Over
bury during the last few weeks, and was to
be concluded this afternoon, he had been ell
bowed out of the management because of his
business, which was decidedly objection
able to some other fussy persons. However,
instead of taking offence, he had given way
to the new managers with his usual good
nature, and entered himself and his family
just as if nothing had happened.
There were four competitions altogether
one for wives, another for husbands, third
for spinsters, and the last for bachelors. The
prizes were to be given in money, and as
nearly everybody in the town, whether in
tending to play or not, had thought it a mat
ter of duty to subcribe, the amounts were
very considerable. 1t was possible, of course,
for one family to win everything; and the
ardor with which the Wigrams practised
brought down upon their heads the strongest
censUre 1t was scandalous, unprincipled,
the height of meanness, and much more to
the same purport. However, these good
people did not know how very much few
pounds meant to those whom they censured
so severely.
Capt Wigram, into whose circumstances
it is unnecessary to enter further than the
statement of their woful plight, lived in a
tumble-down old farmhouse, situated at
some distance from the town, and therefore
remote from the prying eyes OF neighbors.
In the wilderness of decrepit trees, tangled
DuSu6S anu lam 5ldoo blih1 culAOuiiNSd Ae3 nv
had made couple of lawn tennis courts.
And here he maneuvred his little crew, roar
ing his orders at them just as if they had
been at the masthead and he on the quarter
deck, and capering about with marvellous
energy, his white puggaree floating away be-
hind. They worked at the game from morn
ing till night, wet or fine; when the sun
blazed with intolerable heat they hoisted torn
and rusty umbrellas, and so deied him.
Now and again some passer-by, peeping
through the matted fence, would see them,
and wonder when they ate. But seldom, l
fear. They knew that what they were striv-
ing for in reality was a respite from starva-
ton.
The Wigrams improved wonderfully, con-
sidering the short time at their disposal, and
the Captain grew very sanguine. Poor old
man! he talked little too loudly and lit
tie too soon about what his wife could do
and what his son could do. For when it was
suddenly proposed that the tournament
should be played, not on grass, but on the
concrete courts which had been constructed
for the new club, his heart sank within him
He opposed the proposal tooth and nail; II
was unfair, and he said so with unusua
warmth; but it was carried against him.
Once more his good nature reasserted it
self Those whom his outspoken words had
offended he tried to talk into a more friendly
mood; he volunteered his services to carry
out many things-his own suggestions
which were declined without thanks; and
finally he and his troupe joined the club and
practised on the ground as much as possible
during the two days which still remained to
them. But it cost them terrible wrench,
for the subscriptions nearly emptied the
family purse This STEP it should be said,
was taken by the Captain against the wishes
of his wife and her sister, who would both
have retired from a contest which they con-
sidered hopeless. However, he stood firm
he used his powerful lungs to breathe cour-
age into them; he rated them soundly for
their cowardice; he predicted their signal
triumph. In the end they yielded, smiling
to order, yet quaking inwsrdly, and so he
led them into the contest.
Mrs. Wigram was soon out OF 1t, but the
others managed to struggle into their respec
tive FINALS" When the Captain stood W
AGAINST RociI Mooro his family had still