Arizona republican., 1895-01-09
one in, was out of the

the secretary; land who is so likely to
do it as the president, Sir Henry
Portliman? Is he not always eager to
entertain any illustrious stranger who
visits the neighborhood? L propose
that deputation be appointed to call |
on Sir Henry"
Sir Henry, who was NJ. P. for the
district, was only too delighted to do
anything which promised little eclat
and popularity, and an invitation was
accordingly sent and graciously &C
cepted by the great Smasher.
At last the day before the great
tournament arrived. The champion
was expected at noon, having signi-
fed his wish to see something of the
picturesque part of Muggleton before
settling down to the serious business
of the hour.
Once more Miss Jones had the de-
lightful task of telling her bosom
friend the latest news.
81 have just seen him driving up to
the hall He is entrancingly hand
some and looks so strong and active l
could have told he was player, and a
great player, if l had not known it
was he"
What luck you havem exclaimed
her friend. is he at all like his por-
traits in the illustrated papers?''
1.-The portraits do him no justice at
all, my dear. He is perfectly delight
full, and l am to play with him in the
doubles. They are to be drawn this
afternoon. only hope he won't look
at me as much with those lovely dark
eyes, or I shall never be able to play"
Next morning the local papers were
full of the great event. The thought
full secretary had not forgotten to send
a detailed account of the draw to the
county papers and others of wider
circulation.
1t would seem, in fact, as though
every member of the club had read
all the accounts in the papers, for
they appeared to be swelling with
pride and Importance as they assem-
bled on the ground very early, arrayed
in all the glory of spotless fannels on
the part of the men, and on the part
of the ladies the smartest costumes
that female ingenuity could devise.
There had been dinner party at the
hall the previous night.
''Ah, Mr.. Howisthat," said Miss
Jones, with such modesty, you can
not tell how trembled with fear and
delight when l found it was my lot to
sit next to him at dinner. 1 felt that
all the burden of the conversation
would fall upon me, for Lady Portli
man could not be expected to know
much about tennis"
well, l could not hear much of his
conversation, seeing l was right at the
other end of the table," rejoined her
companion, in rather an aggrievod
tone. But I was told he did not
talk much about tennis"
NO, think he imagined we should
have enough tennis during the week,
so he turned the conversation into an
other channel, and talked most de-
lightfully on every subject An, there
he is!''
1t was rather a shock to the Mug gyle-
| ton tennis players when the mighty
champion appeared on the ground, for
he was arrayed in a faultless cool gray
suit, carrying his gloves and a stick,
and with no suggestion about his cos
tune of playing tennis.
He, however, talked very affably
! with his acquaintance of the night be.
fore, especially with Miss Jones, and
displayed great interest in the draw, -
from which he learned that he was to
play Mr.. Howisthat in the first round
that afternoon.
''Ah. my dear Bertha said Miss
Jones to her friend, when Mr.. Smasher
had left the ground and gone up to the
hall for lunch, ''he is the most perfect
! gentleman l ever met
Did you notice how grave and po-
lite he looked when we were watching
that dreadful Mrs. Knocka bout MAX
| ing such an idiot of herself on the
court? How married woman of her
age and size can play in tournament
as she does, l cannot think.
| 'She is d disgrace to our club, and l
am sure any zone with a smaller mind
than Mr.. Smasher would have laughed
outright when she fell down and went
through the net-one of our new nets
too, just bought for the tournament. -
The afternoons play at last com
menced in earnest. The wind, which
had troubled all the players good
deal in the morning, and mare par
ticularly the energetic Mrs. Knock
about, dropped completely, and left
the blazing sun in full possession.
In spite of the short notice, the news
of the champions arrival had spread
round the country side, and all the
country squires, with their wives and
families, assembled in force, totally
| ignorant, as most Of them were, about