Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-09
WHERE THE LOSERS WIN.
Tennis Players Who Did Not Care Much
How the Games Went.

From the New York Tribune.
Scene, tennis party. Several games are 60
ing on and at one court two young men and
two young women are tossing" to see who
shall be partners.
Now" says Miss Vantage, holding her
racque: so that the others may see her beauti-
fully fashioned wrist, lone, two, three" and
four racquets fall to the earth.
Miss Vantage looks pleased and smiles little
condescendingly. She is a better player than
Miss Northcourt and, of course, desires to have
a strong partner. She gets Mr.. Swiftservice,
who always beats good-natured Jack Playfair
nine sets out of ten. Already she wears a
triumphant look. Miss Northcour. smiles
cheertully at Playfair and he does not seem at
all sorry that he has the jolllest little partner
in the whole field, although there is nothing
handsome about her face, except her honest
eyes and crimson cheeks, and although her
figure is ''dumpy," say what her friends will.
PLAY" says Miss Vantage, and she sends
swift ball into Miss Northcourt's court. Miss
Northcourt tries to return 1t, misses it and
laughs.
I'm glad you got that one" says her part
ner. ~ couldn't have come within mile Of
it," Then they both laugh merriy
Playfair is more lucky with his He gets it
back slowly to Swiftservice. who, rising grace
fully on his toes, smashes IL into the net He
bushes and Miss Vantage looks vexed She
doesn't like losing OF her service.
Miss NOrthcourt Is saying something to her
partner when the next ball comes over. She
doesn't see it until the last minute gives little
shrek, PUSHES blindiy for it and sends 1t back
1t drops at the feet of Swiftseryice who saw
that she could never reach the ball, and was
caught mapping.
Miss Northcourt claps her hands in delight.
''Played!' cries her partner heartily, APP
plaudIng her warmly. Swiftservice's face be-
comes more scarlet.
'Fifteen-thirty," says Miss Vantage dryly as
she prepares to serve again. She sends a keen
glance at her partner but his eyes are turned
the other way.
Playf2ir makes a miserable fasco on the next
ball, but 1t doesn't worry him a bit, for his
partners eyes are merry and careless.
'Well," says the handsome fellow after his
little partner has gained the next point IF
had only done some playing We should have
won This game by this time"
The score Is now thirty-forty and Miss Vantage
presses her pretty lips closely together as she
sends ball streaklng over the net. Miss Van
tage gives a sigh of relief.
Dear. DEAR" cries Miss Northcourt, help
lessly, she fails even to touch it, PIavfair
compliments Miss Vantage on her fine service
thereby gaining grateful glance from his
little partner. Swlftserylce Is not 80 please d
Miss Vantage takes the next two points and
| the game by her very clever service aud with
the excellent assistance of her partner There
Is little bright spot on each of her rather pale
cheeks. Still something seems TO be lacking
from the glory OF the game, for while Swift
service sends the balls over the net and PLAY
fair gathers them up for Miss Northcourts
service, the two latter are chatting gayly and
| cOngratulating themselves on their near ap-
| proach TO victory.
The game goes on. Now and then Playsair
| and his partner make point. Once in "a while
| they win game, but Swiftservice really plays
| admirably and the result Is never for a
| moment IN doubt. The cheerfulness and good
| humor Of the losers, however, are ex-
| asperating.
Just see Jennie Boardman." says Miss
Vantage, nodding her graceful head toward
| the adjoining court. ''She gets red when
| she PLAYS tennis | should think she wou.,i
not play" Miss Vantage has been looking =,
the brightness of Miss Northcourts checks.
oh" says the smiling Miss Northcourt, I'M
| conscious OF the thrust, but she plays beauti-
fully, well-almost as well as you"
| FlayfaIr looks At his partner. Honest red
| cheeks are very attractive" he says to himself.
Game and sci" cries Miss Vantage. That's
| two sets"
WHAT" cries Miss Nor.hcourt. as it all
over?''
"All over" answers her big partner.
| And We didn't win even one set.
| Lost EN- both, he replies, grinning com.
| placently.
| Dear, dear, il was all my fault"
| You made nearly every point"
"Did l, really? That's delicious"
The set breaks up with some little compli-
ments sent flying around. Miss Vantage and
her partner start of, one of them rather
| slowly.
Tennis is something of bore in such warm
weather, she says, aud then bites her lips whel
she thinks what she has said
Playfair and Miss Northcourt have found
couple OF camp chairs in the shade OF a big
! tree Miss Vantage sees them seat themselves
just when it is too late for her and her partner
to turn back to join them. Playfair is "a good
catch" and her voice is cold when she responds
to Mr.. Swiftservices compliment on her fine
| service.
Under the tree Jack Playfair il declaring
that he never played more enjoyable game
LIT was fne," answers his little partner
frankly, tanning herself with her striped car
and sending gentle current Of air across hei
! crimson cheek