The Portland daily press., 1886-09-17

were most eager to Dack mn 1ol OouhIIeSS
pairs of gloves, and when the 1alr but pru-
dent sex takes to plunging, you may be toler-
ablv certain they have got hold OF foregone
conclusion. And so it proved. The score
was called "one-love," two love, three
love y s.four-one" (the Captain having at
last won a game "fve-one;" and then
came long and desperate struggle, ending
rs most of the others had done. While
noisy group of friends gathered round Moore,
who gave himself as many airs as if he had
performed an act of lofty heroism, his van
Quished opponent put on his shabby old
blue coat and skunk away to his wife's side,
where he sat down without word.
Moore presently followed, under the pre-
tence of consoling him. There are some men
who derive the most exquisite pleasure from
this part of their triumph, and he was one of
them.
Upon my word, captain said this insult
able puppy, 'you played uncommonly well;
you did really, though. Don't you think so,
Mrs. Wigram?"
You have the advantage of age, Mr..
Moore" she replied quietly.
"Ah, yes, that's something, certainly. But
with little more practice, Captain, you
would be good match for me. Upon my
word l think you would, really
"Confound you, you cad,' shouted God
frey, springing to his feet and shaking his
fist "There are ladies here, but come out
side-just come outside-and I'll knock bet
ter manners into your red head"
Moore gave the lad cool stare, and then
turned his back on him.
800 41aH In Il riraer
| his son back into his seat. Cant you trust
your father to fight his own battles? I'm
very sorry indeed, Basil, that he should have
| been so rude
"Oh, don't mention it, said Moore coldly.
| ''By the way, as the afternoon is getting on,
| the committee have decided that the two re-
naming competitions are to be played stimuli
taneously" With which he walked off.
The Captains face darkened at this news;
| for he meant to superintend the play OF his
sister-in-law and his son, and feared that if
they were engaged at the same time each
would be embarrassed by anxiety for the
other He went to the committee and stout
| ly protested against the new arrangement,
but in vain. Two additional umpires
mounted the chairs at the second court, which
were summoned to take their places.
Courage, Louie" said the Captain ''you
can beat Edith Keed into cooked hat, if
you only keep COOL"
With a shiver and piteous look at her sis
ter Miss Hubbard rose, racquet in hand In
order to reach her place she had to pass in
front of the whole line of spectators and as
she did so, white-faced, trembling, jerky in
her walk, and with certain pitiable air Of
pride. there was a general futter of fans and
sunshades, and much whispering and litter
ing behind them. As there is no kindness so
kind as a womans, so also is their cruelty the
most cruel This unfortunate girl WINGED
and quivered beneath them; she stumbled,
and nearly fell, but recovered herself and
went on again. She knew the meaning of
that smothered laughter and those cutting
remarks very audibly uttered, but the men
behind did not. They saw that her very
short and shabby dress hung like limp rag
upon her thin and angular figure, and they
afterwards Doticed that she ran about with
singular freedom. but how should they know
the reason? Whatever it was that excited
so much comment, the responsibility rested
with the Captain.
a
never pretty sight; it was positively pain
full today Notwithstanding the encourage
ment of her many friends, Edith Reed,
saucy little girl in big hat turned up at the
brim, looked almost as distressed as her OPP
ponent; they confronted one another with
smiles on their white faces, and who shall
say what feelings in their hearts? Godfrey,
who was opposed by George Carmichael, a
muscular little bull dog of a man, with UNI
failing nerve, was at the same end OF the
ground as his aunt, and close to her. The
Captain stood behind, their only supporter,
except his anxious wife, sitting over yonder
by herself.
A slow twister to Miss Hubbard opened
the game. She advanced to meet it.
"Back Louie, back" roared the Captain,
gesticulating wildly. "For mercy's sake
girl, get further away from it. There, of
course, it has done for you" added he, as she
made frightened scoop at the ball, which
darted at her like snake. didn't l tell
you to keep back? Right on the edge of the
court"
Captain Wigram,'' said the umpire,
would you be good enough not to interfere
with the players?"
There was an instantaneous silence. Would
he show fight, they wondered, this mean old
fellow, who was trying so hard and so UNI
fairly to get few more pounds to add to his
hoard? He looked desperate enough. But,
bowling his gray head to the umpire, he drew
back and leaned against the wall, where for
some time he watched the progress of both
games in silence.
The score was called "Iove-one" against
Miss Hubbard, who was playing very badly.
She seemed quite to lose heart when the
second game also went against her; and no
wonder, considering the value of the prize to
her. The heat and glare from the concrete
were trying enough, but not so trying as that
battery of unfriendly eyes or the cheers Civ
en- to her opponent, who was improving
every moment. They rose to quite a shout
of triumph when Miss Reed gained her third
consecutive success.
The Captain could stand it no longer. At
the commencement of the next game he
seized his hat by the brim and rushed for
ward, waving it in the air and crying;
"Well played, Louie, well played indeed.
Get back from that one-back, back, for
heavens sake, back! Good, Louie, very
good! Now, over in the far corner with it.
Well done, my girl, bravo!'
Upon my word, Captain Wigram," called
out Basil Moore who was now officiating as
umpire, cts too bad; it is really, though. |
must request you to go away and keep quiet
''Must you? Then why don't you see fair
play? If the other side is allowed to cheer, I'll
cheer; by heavens will. Go ahead, Louie,
you shan't lose for want of shouting, any
way"
"But- ahem-what do you mean about
fair play? Cheering is one thing, but dane
ing about the court and giving advice is
well, it's another, you know"
'If you choose your way of giving encour-
agement I'll choose mine. If you don't like
that arrangement, let the game be played in
silence"
every WE'LL" said the umpire.
So the Captain crushed his hat ON his head
and once more withdrew to the wall. But
Miss Hubbard continued to play SO badly
that he had to turn away lest the temptation
to speak should become too powerful. lie
scarcely knew when she was beaten, so quiet
had the spectators become. There were not
l-..4