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Show ' llioro wut another pause, and then he oaid slowly in an almost lnaudtblo tono: "Hut bow do you know till yon ak tie, Frsnci?" 11 nut Iwr baud ud bin Iwpnl. nit. Hii Aofeat had dono what bin snr-cess snr-cess perhaps never would have. A moment mo-ment later she added, with a bappy little lit-tle laugh: "And you needn't feel so badly. There were lot ready to help you, mil it didn't take Uie judge long decids in favor of the negative, So yon see you won your point and your fiance, too." 1-j 1-j bel Dyrol in Springfield Homnetead, every frame. He got aroused, then angry, an-gry, but it was only the worse for him. Robinson simply played better than ever. At last, after two sets, one Robinson's Rob-inson's straight and the other 6-2, he be-came be-came disgusted and said: "Well, I'm down on my luck, too. I think I won't play uny more. That serve of yours is very clever. Robinson." By the time they stopped almost every one was getting tired, and a group in which Alice Starr was standing had been watching them for some time. Robinson turned to her and said: "Won't you try one, Miss Starr? It seems a pity to stop so soon. Single or double, as you prefer." Alice was by no means averse to displaying dis-playing her excellent work and she was never weary, so they chose a court. To the satisfaction of both, no one else cared to play. Every one watched them, as bm was the only court occupied. To in keeping so long from telling Alice, even by a look, his secret. Seeing her almost every day, and often being alone with her.it was hard indeed to keep silont respecting his love for her. But he was succeeding in gaining at least her unconscious assent to hi constant attention, and that seemed to hi m a long stride toward bis goal. He had convince her of his physical ability, but bow to do so of his mental? The chance came with the October winds. The tennis courts must be abandoned, but must the ploasant intercourse of the Special be dropped, too? Certainly not! The club had a very pretty housn on the grounds, and this could easily be made suitable for winter. It was soon in order. Alice Starr was interested, and as Jamie Wright remarked: "When Miss Starr does take hold of a thing it's got to go!" Once a week the rooms wore to be opened in the evening and twice for -ending and billiards Uv-J had a par- hope to distinguish myself in court. What can I do?" There he had to leave the problem, and for some time it remained unsolved. What could he do? He asked himself again and again. This thought of the law court most naturally recurred to him, since that was his avocation in life. Suddenly, one day, as he was riding solitarily soli-tarily along a by street in Harwinton, his native town, he saw something that gave him his great idea. He reined in his horse so quickly that that peaceful animal was profoundly surprised, and doubtless pondered, with equine gravity, the why and wherefore of it in his stable afterward. after-ward. ., "By Jovel" thought and almost said Francis Robinson, "I have it. I'll win my laurels in one kind of a court, anyway. any-way. She is just devoted to tennis, and if I can't get to be champion of this town in that, with such an aim, I am more of an idiot than I think I am." France felt a little liy". Fairfield openod the debate with a really bright speech, and the applause wa warm at his eloquent peroration. Then Mary Uraves. She was very quick, and, catching catch-ing at one or two defective point in Fiiircbild's argument, turned the tide in her favor. After a paune Alice rose. She, too, liad decided to speak without notes, and her eloquence and fire fairly carried away hr little audience. Francis Fran-cis was naturally quick himself, but aha fairly dazzled him to-night, and wheu she sat down he felt that he had nothing to say in answer to her unique brill-iaucy. brill-iaucy. But then, the great oration that lie had prepared with o much care! Surely that, with its flaah of oouviotioii, would eclipse tho lire of Alice Starr' words. So ho arose and, with an eameslnrM that surprised every one, l)Kn. Hi first few sentences impressed everybody, but suddenly he looked at Alice Starr. Her eyes were fixed on him with a look almost of fear fear lent be should snatch away the laurel she so longed for. At that look ho stopped. After a moment's silence be went on for a aeti-tence aeti-tence or two, but it seemed tliut every idea bad fled from him. Ho looked at Alice Starr again, paused a moment and then said slowly: "I hope every one will pardon me. Tho unexpected turn of my opponent' argument ha jiiht t me all out. I leave the field with the hope that some one bore may (ill the place I cannot." Ho turned and left the room, and for a moment dead silence reigned. Then a murmur of comment arose and half a dozen sprang tip at once to give their support to the negative. Francis Robinson walked slowly out of the building, mechanically parting on his coat and hat as be went through the to the broad veranda. ticularly good table in tne afternoon, a club of older people was started for the benefit of the chaperons and one parlor was given np to them. One was kept for dancing for tho younger ones, while np stairs, besides the billiard room, two dressing rooms were utilized for cards and other games. In connection witli this, at Alice Starr's suggestion, a debating de-bating club was formed. Any member of the club was entitled to tnemwunbip, and two of t'na first names on the list were those of Alice Starr and Janet Gray. This opened the way for other girls, and pretty soon it was discovered that the lbt held an almost equal number num-ber of men's and girls names. The debates de-bates took place once in two weeks and each time the speakers were appointed TENNIS K0MANCEL rancis Robinson had fallen in love, "ne besides himself suspected it, not n his mother, who knew better than one eke how much her son was capa f feeling. No one, you see, thought 're in connection with Francis. He ' "nice," of course. . How he wished crimes he wasn't. Then at least I le would have some definite feeling !' him. He wasn't stupid nt all. he had always learned easily and !' near the top of his classes both in j's and at his university. All his rades liked him well enough no one r thought of detesting him. He had "7 clear mind, approaching brill-J, brill-J, and he could talk fairly well as ! as most of th6 men he knew. He ' just ordinarily well looking, but ,' cares if a man is handsome or not? ' all things deliver us from a pretty li! But Francis Eobinson wasn't "rally a person you would "take to," ;l phrase goes. He couldn't help it, you certainly couldn't either. had fallen in love, I said. He had fn good taste in his choice far more thaii sense most people would have ' For who wants to nourish or en-ra?e en-ra?e a hopeless affection? The girl pretty and she was bright, very at-r"'e at-r"'e in every way. Why shouldn't tjH in love with her if ho wanted to, But why should he? Do you he could hope for a return of his wd? J sat down determinedly one day in Privacy of his own room to decide tter. He put it before himself as arrially as he could. Ho was used mmtraing with and consulting him- fr he had ever had a friend dear "Xh to open his heart to. This is the ' he put the case he was studying 'he bar, so the expression fits: 1 am young. I am not handsome, 1 don't think that need count. I 9 money enough now to support a '3 well and hope to earn more 60on. 3 in sound health, mentally as well Physically. I am not dull. I can will make a mark in the world. I " AWce Starr. Why Bhould I not her care for me? I am certain she 15 for no one else. Very well, I am worthy of her, but no man is or ever and if she will marry me I will my life such that she need never "named of any act in it. How am I ' Evince her of this? If I should tell she would think me mad, and 'y- First I must do something ! Jay of notice, that is sure. I can't I never could eicellthat way. '""J be some time yet before I . can every one's surprise especially to Fairfield's Fair-field's Robinson's good luck seemed to stand by him. How provoking it was! Alice would get vantage so easily, then lose the game. She grew more and more astonished as time went on. If Mr. Robinson Rob-inson had only seemed to try to play ! But he didn't. He stood around as easily easi-ly as possible and didn't even seem to exert himself at nil, but just reached out lazily and returned tho most difficult balls. . , . , 'Jupiter!' said Jamie right, whose chief occupation in life was to make supposedly witty comments on other people's actions: "Jupiter! I never saw a fellow play like that. It looks as if be stood in one place and reached out in all directions-regular octopus, dont vou know!" And that is the way Francis Fran-cis pretty soon became known as Octo Robinson. All the young people walked up town together. Francis felt to walk with Alice would seem rather triumphant to her, so he contented himself with talking talk-ing to her dearest friend Janet Gray. At some complimentary remarket hers he """Youmustn't forget, Miss Janet, that all my life mont I have practiced in ball playing. There's nothing ia the i world like that-especially amateur with I all us tricks-to make a man's wrist as limber as an eel-forgive the comparison compari-son Miss Starr has not had the advantage advan-tage of that practice, but she plays rnag-ntfintly-better than I should have er thought possible without erly Wuen Janet, as in duty bound, repeated re-peated this conversation to her fnend Alice laughed and said: "Mr Robinson s shrewder than 1 thought. Little he knows of the hours and hours George and I have practiced curves in tho back yard. If it hadnt ! been for that I never could have played i SA11 the rest of the summer Francis had chances for games with his star. Har-I Har-I SSSon was in the transition state from ! borough to city, and was not yet so large ! that every one left it in the phest ! Lason of the year. There were kely drives wound it, too. and the yonng peo-S peo-S of the Special often took them toother. to-other. Of course, when Alice saw frands so much at the courts she thought of him, naturally, as her part.c-ular part.c-ular escort on uch occasions, to . . carry fan and tippet, gto aod shawL And yet sh did not think of love. One always stands np for one s Heroes toweVer unpretending they may te, tat snrelv I am juetifled in saying that mine Sowed ereat elf ratfaint od wisdem Which shows that at least ne naa some self confidence. He went to work immediately. im-mediately. He played tennis a little, of course, but had never devoted much time or thought to it. Perhaps this was partly due lately to the fact that he was not a member of Alice Starrs club. "Alice Starr's club" I say advisedly, for she was the leading spirit as well as the best player in it. Francis knew he could get into the club, otherwise known as the "Special," if he tned, but first he must play well. For over a month he devoted hours each day to practice with his racket and ball, at first in a vete-a-tete with the side of the house and then with any one he could lure into his tab. He had a fine court made on his own lawn, the better to entice people to With'his determination he succeeded finely, and when he applied for adimt-Lnce adimt-Lnce to the Special he knew he was np to any member in it unless it were Alice Star He might have waited a little Wer, but he was getting impatient, ami Jeople were getting tired of being WenTHewas admitted to the club easily enough. I have said that no one Sed him,andif members dn twant to play with him theyneednt. It is fact worthy of notice that every individual individ-ual who had been practiced on and of late badly beaten had forgotten to men-Son men-Son the feet It was just beaefly lck anyway, and on his own court, too. bo than was no general impresion of hia eood Plying, as there might have been ff hlspartners had been mere generous n rivin- to tho world their scores. f dav or two after he had beenen-roiteS beenen-roiteS as a member Francis walked into SWnds one afternoon just as play watte height. The five courts were rciupiedgjuSt then, but i. on being left, a man who thought it was rather a shame Robinson shouldn't have dfUtd he btat to adversary a start, and he Deat egs. 32113 wST. "ttleby this toe! and calling to a passing fnend he sai(i: t- --flil don't vou want to ramBobinson's VabnXS: "Well, yss, he would have aT howBmall fry plainly said, W e us wnfo7thePbest men in mg forneww. however, he for the next. Irancia Robinson waited eagerly for his chance. A man and a girl supported each side, and after this an informal discussion dis-cussion by all the members followed, and, from Octo Robinson's swift, brilliant brill-iant little speeches then, much was expected ex-pected when be should tate a leading part. The night came at last when be heard his name. He was to lead the negative with Mary Graves against Alice '' Starr and Henry Fairfield. The subject of debate was thetollowing: RsMlved, That womm should be allowed qil prirlleges with mra at tu io!U and to public ofllce. Francis had one great adviuUge in this a sincere conviction against it; that counts for a deal everywhere arid most of all when one is unused to making mak-ing any givnn point of view one's own. Francis put his whole heart in the work. All the first week he thought about it, racking his brains for novel and convincing con-vincing argument, and at the beginning of the second commenced to write. It was perfectly allowable and very general gen-eral to have a written speech, but he had no such idea as that. How could he impress everyone by his brilliancy if he ! constantly referred to an inglorious I copy? Jnst as if he weren't sure what ! he did think! Alice Starr worked hard, too. Siift hsd never given much thought to tbe subject sub-ject before, not thinking it practical, but as she studied it she warmed to it mors and more, and by the fatal Wednesday night was at a white beat. She herself bad taken a different phase of the idea than she had thought her opponents likely to choose and given the mere usual view i,f it to Fairfield. He, partly throuph devotion to ber and partly throagb dislike dis-like of Octo Robinson, had done his best. There was an nnusually full meeting on that Wednesday evenis.. and Ife stopped a moment, and then bethinking bethink-ing biinnelf f n Ix-cuWr corner of the verunda, wh'-re be would be secure from intrusion, be went there and sat down on one of the benches. He took off hi hat and let the cxil air strike bis fore-heard fore-heard and sat gazing blankly at the courts. Ho tried to think, but it MKjnied almost impofcdible. His last chance wa gone. Alice would even despise him now. How long be sat tlu-re ho did not know, but at lengUi be heard the applause ap-plause that he knew must lie for the an-nouncein'iit an-nouncein'iit of the jti'Ii?f' decision, and be wondered if Ali' o were happy now. He sat with bis face in hi hand snd did not henr a step approaching. Another An-other person had thought of this retired opot and bad ce,me here to think. But the stopped as she turned the corn-r and loosed in silence at the dejected figure a moment. Then she said softly: "I hoptf I do not du-turb you, Mr. Robinson." He started to his ft and hi face showed still more the pain be wa suffering. suf-fering. "I beg your pardon," ho IJ, "I did not hear you. Certainly not-yon Aj not distnrb me. I nfan." An awkward paueo ensued. She broke it. "Yon mart not fn.-l like that. I don't know what to say. but it waar.'t your fault. No ono thinks of it sgain.it yon." "Can't you see it isn't that?" he answered an-swered almost fiercely. "It wa my great rhetor-. I thought if I could make you see I really wasn't sttipid, commonplace, common-place, I might win yonr love. And now now you depio me. or at least yoo think tan a fool. What do I care what others think? It was you I worked for." |