Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-06-04
4 LOVE GAME
tOriginal.l

III SuOIl, uOIlis every tiii5 pN' p'
inc. At times Tom and Bob will unite
to hammer me numerically; then II
will be Tom and against Bob or BOD
and against Tom.
When Lydia first saw us together
she held her breath, expecting to see
me land q blow plumb between Tom
eyes. Then she expected to see Tom
pick up a poker and brain me. But
when the process was repeated be-
tween Tom and Bob she began to Won
der what it all meant. Finally she be-
came fascinated with 1t.
"rm going to try it with Mae she
said to me.
Better not Women won't stand
that sort Of thing" said to her.
"I'd like 20 know why. They can
stand it just as we'll as men-that is
If they want to-"
That's it exactly; they don't want
to-"
81 shall explain it all to Mae; then
We'll begin"
you'll lose your friend. I tell you
what you do. Begin with man. Spe-
cialists going in for a dangerous ex-
pertinent first try it on dog. l will
be your dog in this instance"
"You don't seem to have very high
opinion Of yourself"
"Never mind that. You wish to be
on what I will call abusive terms with
a very dear friend. After you have
proved that you can stand such treat
ment yourself it will be time enough
to try it on Mae. When shall we be-
gin?"
"Now."
every well; now it is. We will play
a rubber of pingpong. I will treat you
exactly as 1 do Tom and Bob. If l
offend you during two games, you give
up your attempt with Mae"
She accepted the terms and we went
to the table. She served the ball. At
the first serve it struck the line be-
tween the courts.
sect that squint out Of your eye"
remarked, land put the ball in the
court"
I could see the blood mount to her
cheek, but, with spasmodic effort, she
controlled herself and gave me the
next ball properly. I am very expert
at pingpong; when returned it l land
ed it in her eye.
"You did that on purpose" she said
holly.
"Of course did, and I'll do it again
if you give me another such ball.
That's not your side Of the table. Stand
on the other side"
She darted an angry glance at me,
but bethought herself, and, biting her
lip, proceeded with the game. We had
q number of spirited returns, and at
last she missed the ball and it rolled
under a sofa. She waited for me to
get it. Since l was playing with a
woman and it was only in words that
l was to treat her as a man, l COM
piled. But l gave the usual grumblc,
IF you can't do any better than that,
III send balloon at you"
Again she bit her lip, but said moth
ing except to count, making mistake.
"Fifteen-love."
"See here" l said. laying my racket
on the table. IF you can't win the
game by fair count, you'd better give
it up"
81 meant lovc-ffteen; you know
very we'll did You're trying TO az
gravate me. III aggravate you and
see how you like it,
She served the ball viciously, and it
fell clear of the table.
There yOu-you horrid thing
That's fine repartce. You'd make 4
good end man at minstrel show"
BY this time her eye shone with sup
pressed anger, and her cheeks We're
flaming The game had only been be-
gun, and l considered it ungenerous to
push her too hard, so l let her alone
till we stood forty-deuce; then l began
q little prodding She had very lugu-
brious look on her face, partly from
anger and partly from injured limo
cence.
Come, Mrs. Dismal" said. "Why
don't you weep few tears? They'd
blind your eyes and give me the game"
Il don't care. You're acting horri-
bly,. | never heard you talk this way
before, even to Tom or Bob"
"Well, ROW, like that. This would
be peaches and cream to either of 'em.
Vantage out"
She was so clustered that she missed,
though l lad put the ball in the center
Of her court.
THAT was foul" she exclaimed.
"Oh, you plead the baby act, do you.
Nothing of the kind. l say it was
q foul ball."
"Well, call it off, Wen call 'em all
off except those that strike your racket
You'd better ram the handle in your
hair and go to sleep. I'll send the ball
against it and do your playing for
you"
This can hardly be called feather,
but it "broke the camel's back She
threw down her racket, put her hands