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Show JRJction o, flight seemed more like 20 minutes what with Jane's and Walter's nap. At the field they were met by Carter, a dignified man who looked' a trifle odd in the Indian jacket, V, i. trousers, and moccasins he wore. "Wonderful to see you both!" Carter bubbled, relieving Jane of the overnight bag and giving her hand an extra squeeze when he shook it When the Campions were seated in the station wagon, Carter nodded tp the driver, and they started for camp. Jane could see Walter The wool-gatheri- two-ho- ur ng o relaxing as they drove past shadowy pines into beautiful country. But he was quiet, as he. had been before on Award Nights" Jane knew how hard it was for him to watch other boys receive cups for athletic distinction when his own son's name would never be called. IAIhen they reached camp, Ralph was waiting for them at the di-- V rector's cottage. "Mmmmm," Jane said, hugging her only 'child while the slender boy grinned shyly. "Walt, doesn't he look grand?" Ralph's ordinarily pale face was tanned and his teeth shone. "Hello, sport," Walter said, taking the boy's smallish hand in his mammoth paw and giving it a hearty shake. They smiled at each other with a kind of embarrassed love that contained in it the understanding that Ralph could never give his dad the special pride that the boy knew would have meant so much to him. After chatting with Ralph's counselor, the Campions went off to the guest lodge to clean up while their son rejoined his group. At six o'clock, all the parents and boys met in the huge, dining room and listened to Carter recite the pledge of Seminole brotherhood. After shrimp salad, roast chicken, mashed potatoes and stringbeans, they waited for the customary orange sherbet. But it turned out to be raspberry. "Well, well," Jane said gayly, "this could be an omen." "Omen for what, Ma?" Ralph asked. "Who knows? Maybe you'll be named winner of the marksmanship award, or something." "You know better than that," her son replied, looking at his father, : then turning away. r When the dishes were cleared, Carter mounted the dais and announced that the peak of the Summer had been reached tonight. The boys who had been outstanding performers would now be asked to come to the platform and receive silver loving cups with their names and skills engraved orr them. Each name had been arrived at by secret Vote among the counselors, in the ancient Seminole tradition. As the first name was read for the best athlete, Walter composed his big face into blankness. The names continued and one by one the chosen made their way to the platform to be congratulated and handea" the precious cup. Ralph clapped modestly as each of his more-giftfellow campers was called. "And now," Carter was booming, "the cup for the outstanding tennis playej at Seminole this Summer goes to Ralph Campion!" He didn't mention that there was only one other ld tennis player at Seminole, a boy in the "midget group" who could barely hit the ball. Nor in the excitement did anyone remember that a cup for such a unique skill had never been given before. As the dazed boy mounted the platform and received the secret handshake from Carter before being presented with the two-fo- ot cup Jane watched Walter's face. At first unbelieving, dawning recognition had given way to a tremendous smile, then a cheer anda wild clapping of his big hands. As Ralph stumbled down from the platform in a dream, Walter was on his feet leading the applause and going forward to embrace his son. Jane looked over the heads of the crowd at Carter, and their eyes met. A personal checking account was indeed a lovely invention. It could establish, among other humanitarian benefits, a small fund for tennis players at boys' strictly impersonal awards to ' , Summer camps. low-ceiling- 6 " c i is o ed -- all-arou- nd ed left-hand- ed left-hand- ed five-year-o- left-hand- J O V : J "yii--t ,'JT T ed OB Family Weekly, April 13, 1958 ( P 1) 33 |