The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-07-18
4 IN IT, ~ s1 3
i 1IAA}CVlnCent Richards w

/ tennis places" she said brokenly.
1t is the only think l ask, but that
i doesn't seem to make any differ
ence. First thing you know, in
stead to two nights a week it'll
be four"
He laughed unconvincingly.
''That's utterly ridiculous, dar-
ling. My ankle wouldn't permit it,
even if I did want to play that
many times in one week."
Then you do admit that if
your ankle could stand it you'd
be out more often, playing ten
mis-? If your ankle ever should
become normal I wouldn't mean
that to YOU" She snapped two
slim fingers weakly.
He laughed. I'll show you how
much it means to me. Tomorrow
I'LL tell Mr.. Richmond I'm
through. You don't think l care
particularly about h a n 6 in G
around a damp, bare armory
after work, do you? much pre-
fer coming come here to a good
dinner"
"Couldn't you," she asked with
wan smile, "have said come
home here-home?"
Inuuisition. "That's exactly
what I mean. Home hereto
YOU"
She raised her lips to his. CT
- suppose we're all made up
now, aren't we? And tomorrow
you'll tell Mr.. Richmond" she
snuggled closely to him.
eyes. Tomorrow I'll tell him"
y
Len gave up instructing young
Richmond. But with the arrival
of mild weather he faced a new
and more difficult problem. The
men at Talbot's wanted him to
play on their tennis team in the
bushes league.
He was undecided for days
whether or not to speak to Grace
about it. He didn't dare play
without telling her, and he was
afraid that when he mentioned it
she would object. But finally at
the theater one evening-it was
Grace's birthday he corralleo
his courage, and did.
The curtain fell on the first
act and they went out to the lob
by to smoke. "Gracie," he began
after they had discussed the play
'they have organized some sort
of industrial tennis league at the
shop" He paused, cleared his
throat nervously. ''Then men al
Talbot's asked me to play with
! their team. told them," he spoke
slowly, trying to keep his voice
Indifferent, that I wasn't in
terested; that I was busy"
She sighed. 'How often will
you have to play?"
"Once a week. On Sundays"
"And it won't hurt your an
kle?"
"No. I'm sure it won't"
evil you promise that if we
ever have something important
to do or somewhere important to
60 you won't feel you have to
play?"
Surely. There's no obligation.
You know I won't let it interfere
! with anything important"
Gall right, then" She knew it
would be useless to forbid him
to play. After a year of marriage
/ to Len Rollins she realized fully
that he had only one interest out
side her and his work-tennis.
And that was all right. Tennis as
hobby was fine. AS life work
(which he once considered it
it was all wrong.
The nearest courts were those
on Riverside Drive not far from
where Len and Grace lived. AS
he donned his familiar white
clothing all the tense, familiar
excitement returned. He practi-
ced with the three other men of
the company whom Durkins from
upstairs, the manager, had chosen
for the team. It was. as he had
been sure it would be, mere
child's play compared to the COM
petitive game he had known. 1t
was not necessary for him to
move around much and the ankle
took practically no punishment.
Darkness finally came and the
session was over. In the locker
room they discussed the first lea
que matches which were to be
played Sunday. with you, Roll
lins," Durkins offered, 1--WE should
have no trouble at all taking
them. For that matter, we ought
to clean up the whole league. The