Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-05

caused the two worshipers at Jessies shrine to
pass each other with compressed lips and
Jealous looks. 1t was generally conceded that
the championship lay between these two, and
eaen resolved to play on the following day as
ne had never played before. Each practiced az
much as possible and made secret resolutions
TO beat the other or die in the attempt. Whis-
pered criticisms on the skill of the two players
were passed among the spectators, and Jack
will beat" or mo, Will has o surer serve"
and like comments were heard from time to
| time. Gordon himself. with q peculiar ex-
| preston on his handsome face hung around
alone-and silently marked the strong points
| in the playing of the two. The entries for the
! tournament had closed. and although it had
excited little thoughtless ridicule at the time
"Mr. Smith" had enrolled his name among
! those who were to play. Every one in the vii
| lage was talking about the coming match and
| little groups of people stood hero and there
| discussing the piece of news. what a girl
Jessie Is, said one of her intimate friends to
another while walking up the street. Il
always thought she was pretty lively but
never imagined her doing such c thing as that.
| The idea CT her promising to marry the winner
OF tomorrows match just think.
"And of course it will be either Will or Jack"
returned her companion. "A nice way to set
tie the question as to which she will have of
those two, but to think of her throwing over
that city fellow after he had been so nice to
her. There never was any accounting for Jess,
anyhow
1t was true. Jessie had startled the village
by announcing her intention to marry the sue
| cessful player in the tournament, and she had
rejected Gordon. A few DAYS before, in the
afternoon, he had asked her 10 stroll with him
to the glen. 1t was just the kind of an after
noon that young lover would choose 20 make
known his passion to his lady love. The air
was warm and gentle zephyr, hayden with the
scent of wild flowers, played at hide and seek
among the trees. The birds we're singing
vesper song, accompanied by the music of the
little brook, and the western horizon free frcm
Clouds saving narrow streak. which severed
In twain the suns disk, now almost disappear
| lag behind the darkening hills, was tinted with
| rosy hue. which found its rival in the color
| suffused through Jessies cheeks. Here and
there squirrel would fee at their approach
and scurry away into the woods through which
they were passing. He spoke of the beauty of
| the day and chatted gaily, but if ever he at
tempted to bring the conversation to a tender
theme, she, fair rogue, would always lead him
| OFF upon another subject, remote, oh, SO re-
| mote from love.
! At last, after what seemed miles and miles OF
walking to poor Gordon. they reached the glen
and sat upon little ledge of rock. 'Jessie,"
sad Gordon, 7" Miss Jessie, very gently.
| Jessie. he repeated, ignoring her correction,
| Il want to tell you what is in my heart.
| love you. You know something of my former
| life and how hate it. You know that in you
| L have found one different from any l have
met before, one true, sincere. I'm Young but
| L have seen much of the world, have met wo-
men who, though thinking themselves beauti-
ful, are only SO In feature, and whom you
would put to shame by your sweet ways.
offer you a pretty home and all that can make you
comfox;able in life but that do not hold out
| to you as an lnducement, poor as it is, | offer
you my hearts true love- Say that YOU will
\ take 1t, say that you can love me Just a little
bit, that you will be my wife some day Will
you. darling?" MOI she cried. Ii was al. she
said, and jumping up she ran down the patch
he will
aston1shed, SO disappointed, SO crushed that
he did not attempt to follow her, but statue
| like sat upon the rock, almost too stunned to
think. Presently his feelings assumed definite
| form, and leaning forward, his head upon his
| hands, he wept aloud.
He had found his ideal which had hitherto
| been only in his thoughts, and sought to win
| 1t, not without success he had hoped and now
thinking to be rewarded for his patient search
| by the possession of that ideal, he had only
met bitter disappointment.
| 1t was hard to bear. SO hard-poor Gordon
| Nearly two hours had elapsed before he OBJ
tanned sufficient control of himself to return to
! the house, and then he went straight to his
| room. They wondered what had become of
! him at tea, and poor Jessie was a little fright
| ened at what she had done. especially so when
| she saw him come in looking very pale and
haggard.
| Next morning Gordon told Tom that he
| thought seriously of going back to town that
i
troubles. Tom was very much cut up at Cor
| dons grief. There is some thing very strange
| about 1t, he said. Il thought she loved YOU
don't understand it, Believe me. old man there
| is something wrong" "Oh Tom" moaned
| Gordon. Il wish l could think as YOU do. I
don t know what has happened, but it's all over
now, all over now" AT any rate" returned
Tom-''don't go today; take my advice and
don't go today. Stay over for the tournament.
| You will get cheered up bit BY the excitement
l of the and 1 feel hat cbop 60
the better will occur. Something is wrong,
sure" Il don't know" said Gordon Per
haps I'd better CO.
But Tom finally prevailed upon him to re-
| main.
little later as they wandered toward the
| courts they were overtaken by one of the as
pirants for Jessie hand hurrying in great state
OF excitement to the same destination. Tom
hailed him and asked the cause of such rate
| of speed. At first he gave eyasve answers but
seeing Gordons face, could not refrain from
| giving his tormentor of so many weeks a part
ing shot, and cried as he left them, Miss
Jessie is going to marry the winner of the
| tournament, and l need little practice YOU
know" Gordon started and muttered You
| will need some practice. by heaven" Then
| turning TO Marshall, said: Tom I shall win
her yet II she Is going to do that fellow
said l shall be the winner
| WELL WELL" gasped Tom. and Gordon pulled
| him along by the coat sleeve until almost
| Gordon found the secretary of the club and
entered his name among those who were to
play.
In the evening after tea Jessie said a little
aLxiously: Il am SO sorry you don't play tennis,
| Mr.. Smith. 1t would be SO nice to have YOU 90
| into the tournament" II do play a little. ~
stanmered Gordon, land I've entered nv
Lame. And then, excusing himself on the
plea of headache, he retired to bis room
But, Oh. how Jessie little heart leaped for ioy
| at Gordon's answer! She had been so afraid
that he would go away or as she expressed it,
do something desperate and not play in the
| tournament that she was becoming very
nervous. She had told her two admirers the
| evening before of her strange decision and
how she was to let Gordon know of it had been
a great source of anxiety to her. She felt sure
| that he would enter the tournament because of
his love for her, and she knew now that her
plan had succeeded. and that he was going to
play for her, and she was very happy; but her
| conscience reproached her a little for having
made her lover suffer so.
The great day had now arrived on which the
question as to VINO was the champion of Ran
gers should be decided. The sun shone down
IN all his glorious radiance. and the air was
cooled to just the right temperature by a gentle
breeze from the north. The courts were in
perfect condition, there having been slight
rain during the night to lay what little dust
| there happened to be upon their surface. All
,1....