The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-08-05
TENNIS ROMANCE.
rsprlngfield homestead

OF love in connection with Francis. He
was ''nice," of course How he wished
sometimes he wasn't. Then at least
people would have some definite feeling
about him. He wasn't stupid at all.
Indeed, he had always learned easily and
been near the top of his classes both in
schools and at his university. All his
comrades liked him well enough-no one
ever thought of detesting him. He had
very clear mind, approaching brill
fancy, and he could talk fairly well-as
we'll as most of the men he knew. He
WIS just ordinarily well looking, but
who cares if a man is handsome OF not?
And of all things deliver us from pretty
man! But Francis Robinson wasn't
naturally person you would "take to-"
as the phrase goes. He couldn't help it,
and you certainly couldn't either
He had fallen in love, ! said. He had
shown good taste in his choice-far more
taste than sense most people would have
said. For who wants to nourish or en-
courage a hopeless affection? The girl
was pretty and she was bright, very at
tractive in every way. Why shouldn't
he fall in love with her if he wanted to,
pray? But why should he? Do you
think he could hope for return of his
regard?
He sat down determinedly one day in
the privacy of his own room to decide
the matter. He put it before himself as
impartially as he could. He was used
to communing with and consulting him
self, for he had never had a friend dear
enough to open his heart to. This is the
way he put the case-he was studying
for the bar, so the expression fits:
81 am young. am not handsome,
but don't think that need count. I
have money enough now to support a
wife well and hope to earn more soon.
am in sound health, mentally as well
as physically. l am not dull. | can
and will make mark in the world. /
love Alice Starr. Why should | not
make her care for me? / am certain she
cares for no one else. Very well, / am
not worthy of her, but no man is or ever
will be, and if she will marry me | will
make my life such that she need never
be ashamed of any act in it. How am |
to convince her of this? If should tell
her now she would think me mad, and
justly. First / must do something
worthy of notice, that is sure. can't
write. never could excel that way.
1t will be some time yet before l can
hope to distinguish myself in court.
Wat can dor"
There he had to leave the problem,
and for some time it remained unsolved.
What could he do? He asked himself
again and again. This thought of the
law court most naturally REQUIRED to
him, since that was his avocation in life.
Suddenly, one day, as he was riding soli-
tarily along by street in Harwinton,
his native town, he saw something that
gave him his great idea. He refined in his
horse so quickly that that peaceful animal
was profoundly surprised, and doubtless
pondered, with equine gravity, the why
and wherefore of it in his stable after
ward.
"By Jove!" thought and almost said
Francis Robinson, 81 have it. I'll win
my laurels in one kind of court, any
way. She is just devoted to tennis, and
if can't get to be champion of this town
in that, with such an aim, am more of
an idiot than think am"
Which shows that at least he had some
self confidence. He went to work i'm
mediately. He played tennis little, of
course, but had never devoted much
time or thought to it. Perhaps this was
partly due lately to the fact that he was
not a member of Alice Stars club
eAlice STAIRS club" say advisedly, for
she was the leading spirit as well as the
best player in it. Francis knew he could
get into the club, otherwise known as
the Especial" if he tried, but first he
must play well. For over month he
devoted hours each day to practice with
his racket and ball, at first in tete-a-
tete with the side of the house and then
with any one he could lure into his tolls
He had fine court made on his own
lawn, the better to entice people to
practice.
With his determination he succeeded
finely, and when he applied for admit
lance to the Special he knew he was up
to any member in it unless it were Alice
liz IletfC WdlUCQ lbIlC
longer, but he was getting impatient,
and people We're getting tired of being
beaten He was admitted to the club
easily enough. | have said that no one
disliked him, and if members didn't want
to play with him they needn't. 1t is a
fact worthy of notice that every individ-
ual who had been practiced on ard of
late badly beaten had forgotten to men
ton the fact. 1t was just beastly luck
anyway, and on his own court, too. So
there was no general impression of his
good playing, as there might have been
If his partners had been more generous
III giving to the world their scores.
A day or two after he had been en-
rolled as member Francis walked intn
the grounds one afternoon just as play
was at its height. The five courts were
all occupied just then, but soon, one
being left, man who thought it was
rather shame Robinson shouldn't have
game his first day, you know, asked
him to play. Robinson gladly con-
sented, though he knew Graves did not
do much at it, At any rate it was a
start, and he beat his adversary a
straight set with provoking GOODNESS.
Graves had walked up a little by this
time, and calling to a passing friend he
said:
81 say, Fairfield, don't you want to
play? | am no use today and Robinson's
been knocking me all out"
Fairfield assented: "Well, yes, he
would have a try'-with a smile that
plainly said, "We'll see how small fry
like Robinson will show up on my play
ing" for he was one of the best men in
the club To his surprise, however, he
found himself unaccountably beaten at
every game. He got aroused, then an
CRY, but it was only the worse for him,
Robinson simply played better than
ever. At last, after two sets, one Rob
inson's straight and the other GO, he be-
came disguised and said:
wen, I'm down ON my luck, too. |
think l won't play any more. That
serve OF yours is very clever, Robinson. "
by the time they stopped almost every
one was getting tired, and n oro,,n in
which Alice Starr was standing had
been watching them for some time.
Robinson turned to her and said: "Won't
you try one, Miss Starr? 1t seems a pity
(, stop so soon. Single or double, as
vi prefer
Alice was by no means averse to dis
rIaving her excellent work and she wa'
never VERY, so they chose court. II
the satisfaction of both, no one else carec
to play. Every one watched Them a