The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1903-06-25

again and again the little cellulold ball
fell OF the table, as point by point
Geraldine brought the game up to her
self. Frequently she was applauded
for her strokes; and Mr., Mapleton, UNI
able to keep still i'm his excitement,
walked in and out between the specta-
tors, unable to conceal his evident de-
sire that she should succeed.
Even as the games were, each of
them almost brought to deuce and
vantage, for Miss Borthwick was Ger
aldlne's most dreaded combatant, the
latter succeeded in winning; and. with
the clapping of many hands, she sat
down to rest for the final game Of the
tournament.
The other girl who had, by being a
bye, been left for the final, was short,
unprepossessing, plain to a degree, and
wore glasses TO add to her lack of In
terest. 1t certainly was scarcely her
fault, but, as is the way of the world,
her supporters were few in number;
moreover, she was poor player, and
for Geraldine every one knew il to be
q foregone conclusion.
Many more visitors had come in
since the tournament had begun, and
as Geraldine stood up to play the final
game a pair Of black eyes from the
back OF the spectators ga2ed into hers,
and she read in them despair, pride,
but deepest Of all, the great love that
she had seen there once before. In
that moment, as she took up her racket
to begin the game her mind had de-
cided, and her course Of action showed
more plainly than words could have
done what that decision was.
At times she played brilliant strokes,
rs though to show the assembled COM
pany that no power Of hers was failing,
Occasionally she would drive the ball
SO near the edge of the table that its
reaching at all was a stroke worthy Of
applause and moment by moment
cvcT- ono n tho room realized that in
tentlonally she was throwing away the
game which had almost been placed In
her hand. Only twice during the three
sets that were played, Tor she lost the
first two and won the secopd, did she
look up, and each time the same eyes
were silently regarding her. now with
admiration, and now, as she played a
brilliant stroke. with fear.
Her. mother, though she scarcely IN.
derstood the game at all, and thought
that deuce was an improper word TO
use before ladies, was almost crying
with vexatlon in the corner where she
was sitting for they reported to har
that her daughter Yves losing.
Geladine played the last seit betrer
though she never forgot, when. having
won a stroke 10 ler her opponent win
the following one ard accordingly the
setts stood at one ALL ana the games
four-hve; the next would grant her an
other chance, or los her everything
One incident entirely decided her.
Mr.. Napoleon brought out the diaIaond
ring and placed 1t on the mantelpiece
in the room where every ones eyes
Geraldines included-could see 1t The
action Disguised her, as 1t was so OBJ
yiously n species of bribery that she
threw away every stroke, ana lost the
last game Of ALTO love!
1t was soothing TO her vanity that
the uninteresting girl thought she was
the better player With the best grace
that he could muster, and 1t was but
poGr, ME- MapletoR handed the little
velvet case to her. as Geraldine retired
to vacant seat
1t was a few days after the evening
OF the tournament when FenchesteT
was beginning to rest from the Dreati'