The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-09-10
"A LOVE GAME
norlrIna1.1

Tom Allison. Bob Turnlee and my
self. we are forever chatting one an
other, poking fun, ridiculing, abusing
in short, doing everything but prais-
ing. At times Tom and Bob viii unite
to hammer me numerically; then It
win be Tom and against Bob or Bob
and / against Tom.
When Lydia first saw us together,
she held her breath, expecting to see
me land q blow plumb between Toms
eyes. Then she expected to see Tom
pick 20 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 it.
'1m going to try it with Mae" she
said to me.
"Better not. Women won't stand
that sort Of thing l said to her.
I'D like to know why. They can
stand it just as well as men-that IS,
If they want to-"
1sThat's it exactly; they don't want
to"
Il shall explain it all to Mae; then
wen begin"
you'll lose your friend. I tell you
what you do. Begin with a man. spe-
cialists going in for dangerous ex-
pertinent first try it on a dog. ! win
be your dog in this instance"
'sYou don't seem to have a very high
opinion Of yourself"
Never mind that. You wish to be
on what l win call abusive terms with
a very dear friend. After you have
proved that you can stand such treat
ment yourself it win be time enough
to try 1t on Mae. When shall we be-
gin?'
sNow"
''Very well; now 1t is. we viii play
a rubber Of pingpong. I will treat you
exactly as do Tom and Bob. If /
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.
Get that squirt out of your eye" /
remarked, "and put the ball in the
court.
I could see the blood mount to her
cheek, but with a spasmodic effort, she
controlled herself and gave me the
next BAH properly. I am very expert
at pingpong; when / returned it land
ed it in her eye.
"You did that on purpose she said
hotly.
"Of course did, and I'll do it again
IL 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
a number Of spirited returns, and at
last she missed the ball and 1t rolled
under a sofa. She waited for me to
get # Since / was playing with a
woman and it was only in words that
was to treat her as a man, 1 COM
piled. But | gave the usual grumble,
IF you can't do any better than that,
I'll send a balloon at you"
Again she bit her lip, but said moth
ing except to count. making a mistake.
"Fifteen-loye."
''See here" / said, laying my racket
on the table. IF you can't win the
game by a fair count, you'd better give
it up
Il meant love-fifteen, you know
very well / did You're trying to ag-
gravate me. III aggravate you and
see how you like II"
She served the ball viciously and it
fell clear of the table
There you-you horrid thingn'
THAT'S fine repartee. You'd make a
good end man at a minstrel show"
BY this time her eye shone with sup
pressed anger, and her cheeks were
flaming The game had only been be-
gun. and | considered it ungenerous to
push her too hard, SO let her alone
till we stood forty deuce; then l began
a little prodding. She had a very lugu-
brious look on her face, partly from
anger and partly from injured inno-
cence.
Come, Mrs. Dismal, l said ''Why
don't you weep a 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. now, like that. This would
be peaches and cream to either Of 'em.
Vantage Quit"
She was so fustered that she missed
though / bad put the ball in the center
Of her court.
That was foulF she exclaimed.
"Oh, you plead the baby act, do your
Nothing of the kind say it was
foul ball."
wei, call it off. Wen call 'em all
off except those that strike your racket,
You'd better ram the handle in your
hair and 20 to sleep. III send the ball
against it and do your playing for
you"
This can hardly be called feather,
but it broke the camers back" She
threw down her rae1xpt mt her hands