The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-08-01
CHAPTER v
SYNOPSIS

IdllS In love with Grace WOrCN-
ingtOn, rich. and socially prOmi-
nent, who is willing to defy her
family and marry him-if he
gives up tennis. Fate intervenes.
He Injuries his ankle and the doc
tors say he will never play again.
! He and Grace are married and
live blissfully on the salary he
earns as salesman in a sporting
goods shop. AS his ankle heals he
is tempted to return to the courts,
He has agreed to play in tour
nament on the Sunday Grace's
family invites them both to the
country for a weekend. Grace
goes alone.
He could not sleep Saturday
night. Sunday morning he tried
to read, but Grace's condemning
eyes were on every page. He
threw the book from him and
turned on the radio. But the mu-
sic failed to soothe him. He kept
wishing that Grace were present
so he could have it out with her
and have the subject finally de-
cided. He thought of telephon-
ing her, but decided against; do
ing that would make him appear
guilty. Appear guilty? Good God
he was guilty! Guilty as hell!
! It was an easy victory. Sc
much easier, he reflected as he
took his shower, than would be
his conquest over Grace. With
her, he wasn't even sure
He stayed at home all of Sun
day evening, but she did not re.
turn. Finally he went to bed anc
fell into a restless, troubled sleep
When he arrived home from
work the next day she was there
And Richard Whyte was with her
Hello" Her voice and the lip!
she raised to his were cool. ''Dicl
drove me in from Easthampton
/ I made him stay to dinner"
! Len shook hands with Whyte
"Of course. Glad to see you.
Studying Richard Whyte seated
in the big chair near the window
Len was more acutely aware thai
ever before of the others goo
looks, his poise, his social grace
81 hear you're doing awful
WE'LL" Whyte said. Cracking tn
business world the way you use
to crack tennis ball."
Len could not explain to him
self just why he resented Whytt
There was something in his tone
perhaps. "I've had one or tw
good breaks. I guess" he reptile
with smile.
Grace said: ''But he's still a ter
mis- player at heart and not busi
ness man, Dick. Aren't you, da1
ling?"
Len bit his lip. What the he.
was Grace doing-making spo1
of him before this other man. H
was in the wrong; he knew tina
But he'd been wrong befor
about things and she'd never act
ed this way. Was this her idea G
Furnishing him?
Conversation during the simpl
dinner was for the most par
friendly, but cool and restrained
At last they had cigarettes an
coffee in the living room. The
Whyte took his leave. He Thanked
them for their hospitality, compli
lmented them on the charm of tn
apartment and hoped they'd b
out at Easthampton very soon.
! Grace walked from the foye
back into the living room ant
switched on the radio. She sat il
the big chair which Whyte ha'
recently vacated. For some rea
son this bothered Len. But h
kept his voice level, unexcited
when he spoke.
II want you to know" he said
"why I didn't tell you about m!
being scheduled to play yester
day afternoon. meant to tell yo1
that same evening you told m
about the invitation to Easthamp
ton. I let you know frankly ant
honestly how I felt about goin!
out here. Then later I realized
that if I mentioned anything
about tennis it would appear
She nodded without interest
made no reply.
Cali right" he went on, cal
right. So you don't believe me?'
She leaned forward in he
chair. ''No. Absolutely not"
He felt anger surging through
him and CROPPED for simething tt
say that would hurt her. "You're
leaning backward just because
of your silly prejudice toward
something I once loved as much
as" He didn't finish the sen.
tence, in his own surprise and dis.