Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-05
A TENNIS MATCH.
WRITTEN EICLUsIVELY FOR TIE EVENING
STAR BY RODNEY CLARKE


GAZING modify down the street one balmy after
noon IN early June He seemed troubled about
something, for his brows were contracted into
arrovn, and occasionally he nut;ered an uniu-
einglole word. which, however. plainly indi-
- discontentsd Frame of mind In few
descending to the street. he sauntered
shady thoroughfare, still wearing the
absorbed in the reflections which
rather uryssEsant than othsrvise-of
y study.
Ion Dare wac . ''crsck" tennis p,ayer
'veral years be hai held tie state cham
and bis room a. college was pro-
-, ornamented vith trophies OF his skill
He was gooG-look ag fellow and a general
H-ite wherever T. went He was constantly
~ p!imentsd upon his ine use Of the racquet,
,agreat beau ar ong the girls and young
OF excellent prospects. for his father,
banker, h d for him, soon as he
sHduate place In his bank, which
him far share o: worldly goods.
~nst n. J-e could any reasonable fellow wish to
make him happy? And yet there was mis-
taking that disc, ntented frown. that lazy
sA1ntsr, that bored expression, as he pursued
hi way along the street that afternoon in June
That young AZ whose name was well known
IN all the as is best tennis player by far,
Who wa. yeed and petted by pretty girls
no not so admired his playing, but enjoyed
IS bright ,snversaticn and pleasant ways, and
who was sure Of good living, if not fortune,
ced at his disposal the moment he
forth from the collegiate halls
Sshs5YW young man should be unhappy
seemed range
But Gordon Dare. to tell the truth, was very
tired OF his success at tennis; was very tired in
deed OF being made SO much of. Perhaps this
seems strange, too; but Gordon had been
through so much OF il that he had drunk his
MI OF the pleasures Of victory, and hattery,
which had indeed turned his head at first, now
produced no effect upon him, for he knew how
Meaningless were mary Of the compliments
raid him. ard how irslncere wore those who
Petted him and made of him for their own
amusement Not all, of course, were thus. for
he had friends, good anu true; but such as he
had mt at the watering places where he had
gained mis- great tennis victories. Indeed, he
had Just come from an early tournamen nj, here,
as usual, he had carried of first prize, and he
felt thoroughly wearied of 1t all as lie strollsd
along toward his fathers handsome residence,
which occupied one of the prettiest sites in
Leighton.
What's the use" he muttered, "of keep
ing up this sort OF thing, summer after sum-
mer? I'm sick of il. / want change, and
Im"-he was interrupted, coming into col
Esion with a snile-at least with the wearer
thereof; put the smile did not seem to occupy
Tho mouth alone. but shone forth in the twink
ling blue eyes, jolly face. and-yes, even in the
very walk Of the individual who now looked
up. sh COX him cordially by the hand and cried:
well. well, II here isn't Gordon Dare look
ing as if he had lost every friend in the world.
To think OF. his being so downcast and so deep
in grim reflections that he goes butting into
people like this-well, WELL And the smile
brosdened little a. he Kept on shaking Cor
ions hand.
Tom Marshall" exclaimed Dare, 'you're
Just the fellow | want to see. / am downcast;
I'm Disguised with this summer business and
you're Just the oEe to talk II over with. I'm
delighted &c see you Come. take a little turn
with me up town and I'll tell you the whole
thing"
'.All right" said Tom. "but go easy. Cor
don Dare, the CAV Gordon Dare. Disguised with
this summer business and dOwncast in the bar
gain Well, we'll" And the smile changed
into a sort Of astonished grin as the two walked
on
Il have plan" said Gordon, after making
his friend acquainted with the state of things
generally. (which, if carried out. will be e1-
actly to my taste In the first place i m not
going 10 play any more tennis this summer"
Tom cOuShed slightly to show his doubt about
the truth of such statement, but Gordon went
on. Il want 70 GO TO some quiet place in the
country, where / fish and row and swim
and wear old clothes all the time. Iwant to do
little reading, too. and don twant the society
Of hotel bellies and to be compelled TO 90 ON
swell picnies. moonlight promenades with the
girl you don't care anything for, and all that
sort of thing. You remember old Uncle Will
Carver up at Rangers, don't you! / thought
I'd go up there Tor hall of July and all of
a
here when little shaver, but remember the
ace pretty well-and II disguise nv name
Uncle Will won't know with nv mus
che, and practically disappear for six weeks ~
Look here" said Tom, would you object
q little company!
Object" circulated the delighted Gordon:
ell, should say not Come on and well
up together
''All right returned the other ''it's a CO.
Gordon Dare up at Rangers rusticatingi Well
we'll And uuler another
course I'll change my title. Harry Smith and
Paul Jones. hOw's that? Well. welli'' And
Tom laughed heartily over the idea.
d.. Tom was year or two older than Gordon
and having just graduated from the same col
lege which Gordon attended had been prom
ised tutorship there the following year. He
wa one of the best-natured fellows in the world
and a more cheerful companion could never
be desired. He always wore a smile which
seemed TO say to every person or thing upon
which II beamed the words of Mark Tapley
I'm Jolly" He and Gordon were intimate
friends; the more 50 as both came from Leigh
ton and had known each other long before their
college days Dare lucky to have him for
eo-operator in his scheme, for he could at all
times dispel the frown and bored expression
from the face of his less contented companion
Hangers was thriving village. cOzily nestled
in pretty valley, through which a stream of
hmpid water took its way. In one place this
rivulet had been damned, that it might turn
the ponderOus wheels of saw MILL and as a
consequence, above the dam II had spread into
a little lake. along one bank of which and ex-
tending back to the base of the hills forming
the western boundary of the valley was built
the village. IL was very picturesque little
place. The houses were of the Old New Eng
land type, two stories high, mostly shingled.
and with windows peeping ont from various
corners, as If TO watch the passer-by from al
most every point of observation possible. The
window panes were small and numbered twelve
to the sash. A woodshed and stable or barn
generally stood short distance back of the
house and all the buildings were scrupulously
whitewashed to the roofs, which were painted
red The resident part of the town was back
at the foot of the hills, and the
green trees upon the gentle slope len,
mos. pleasing background to the white dots
OF houses A rocky glen higher up the incline
revealed itself, through which a little tribu-
tary 70 the greater stream trickled and splashed,
now running along peacefully for several yards.
then jumping a few feet and sliding of a rock
into basin. which, overfowing, sent its sur
plus waters through a narrow gorge, then on
;Intll, winding behind the village a creek, il
met the mill stream and became one with it.
Down by the lake were several stores, the post
Office. AMI that building which answers for SO
many pU-Poses-town hall A little station,
just beyoad and nearer to the mill. witnessed
the arrival and departure of two trains every
cay TO and from the great cities many miles
distant
In a room over ono Of the storas NJ Ca~va-