PING-PONG,

Otago Witness, Issue 2504, 19 March 1902, Page 74

PING-PONG,

Ting! 'Pong ! Ping"! "That's 30 — love, I believe," said Fu

.Hichard Pork Lam. with an unpleasant leer

"in his little, shifty eyes. "No. Fifteen— 30, if you please!" reanarked Dolly Charteris, rather sharply. ■ ; She felt that Sir Richard had laid undue jstress upon, the third word of his remark, converting a technicality into an endearment. She felt, also, with that inWinct which in woman is knowledge, that Captain Saumarez had entered the room by ihe door behind her just in time to catch ihe sense of Sir Richard's iemark. y .She was aiso possessed by an uncomfortfe.'ble sense that the words had reached tlu

'■Ears -of Major Golightly and Captain Crawford, of the Black Hussars, who had Bropped into Mrs Charteris's afternoon ' party to see how 'the preparations for the Great Garrison Tournament >vere getting on. >, 'In this surmise she was perfect'y ccrrec f . '•* "WJio's that bounder. Crawford"; ' growled Major Golightly. "That's Porkham.'' replied Crawford, wh> had been in the ganison for some time lemger than the major, who had only recently arrived from South Afnca. 'I see you've got the length of the beggar's halter nbout right !" he added. '"Wlu/ Porkham, anyway?" persi-ted the Jnajor. who, from mixing freely with war ce"rrespondents, had acquired an inquiring turn of mind.

•' "Well," muttered Crawford, "he's a diiect result of a Royal visit to the city. His vc/veinor was there, and somebody had to have a title. So they gave it to the old man, who, by the way. w.h a very decent Eort. I guess they'd only Lave given h'm '>, knighthood if they'd had any idea as to 'the soil of descendant the tit'e was going to jb? transmitted to. That's the itsuU. ' He nodded L the direction of the baronet r« he spoke. Miss Charteris caught the nod simultaneously with a difiicult serve, and, neiveel by annoyance, played it with a winirng stroke.

■ "Game and set. Sir lliebaid. I b.-lieve," jhp said coldly. "By Jove! "yes. Miss Dolly." answeied the baronet, with a glame at Saumaiez "Awlully jolly set, too. You'ie bound lo .■win the tournament. What shall I make Ithe lir-t prize — a bangle or a ring?" 'jvliss Charteris did not answer.

"Won't you have another set, Miss Charter's?" the baronet proceeded, turning to .that lady, in whose eye theie gleamed the fading of a smile. . '"Thanks— no. Sir Richaid." she replied j^lmly. "The fact is. I piomihed Captain "Saumarez to ride with him at 4 o'c'ock, md he is waiting." "Perhaps I may be peimiiUd to join rouV" suggested Sir Richaid, with his customary lack of tact.

*'I am afraid you would not enjoy it Sir Richard. We'ie going across Lountry," replied Saumarez. with almost lmnecessary cruelty, for Sir Richard's horsemanship was well know n to be on all fours with his tact.

"Yes, you'd better stick to ping-pong. Sir Richard,*' added Miss Chaneris meicilessly. "Here comes Miss Stanhope for some practice. She is dying to play you! Good afternoon." Sir Richard scow'.ed again as the door closed upon her and hei e.-cort. "I'll make you smart for that, my lady, pne of these days," he mutteied to himself.

''In the meantime. I'll wain old Ch.irtt-ris Against letting his daughter ride about w >th

a penniles- popinjay like that chap Saumarez! Hang me if that i«n't the way with all the women ! A black coat hasn't got a chance gainst a red one ! And as coon as they see a soldier, dowi they go ,*nth scarlet fever. " I'm tired of the whol lot of 'em. Baick-up. useless, swaggering idiots, only jit foi what they are — food for powder! By Jove ! 1 wish I was a Boer, to 'aye the 'andlin' of some of 'em, and that chap Sauraarez in particular!" Crawford, in the baelcground. laughed ilniosl iindisguisedly. "He got it in the "Deck that time, major," said he. "Old story, I s'po-e? " lemuked th • incclligent major. " Gotjd-lojking young man — no bra-s. 111-favoured young man — all brass. Parent — loving parent — hoit of brass. Beautiful rtamse! — don't know Whether to go for the brass or the love affair."

"You're dead on the bull's ey^ ." answered Crawford. " iSaumare/, has £400 a $rcur besides his pay. Paikham has £20,000 ft, /ear and Coningham Towei-, the show»l«?e ot the county. Old Charteris i« Sipped up to the ey-*. a>id i? inclined to encouraga Porkham — whom he hates — and to discourage Saumarez — whom ho likes. The girl is in love with Sauniprez, and Vorkham is in love with the girl. 1 Bet jhe'l! go for the brass." "I'll back the love afViir," answered the piajor readily "Igo by the cut of her lower jaw. A man's chaiactcr l- told by liis eyes. A woman's like a hoi«e. One Judges by the mouth " "Shall we call it a fiver? inquiied Ciaw«ord. i "Right you aie! Bet* off if the denouc- ' inent don't take place »iithin the next three Ipionths." „ "Seems to be a good deal of excitement 'about this ping-pong tournament, ' he continued. 11 " Yes. The women are mad on it. Porkiam got it up, and is giving the first prize. Ele's great on ping-pong. A chap don't get iurt if a ball hits him, you see, explained Crawford. "Perhaps you'd like to have a little hioney on the tournament?" he went on. V I'm backing Miss Charteris, who's bound 4o win. I'll Rive you ten to one ag-ynst tie field— bar S£jsg StanJipjje."

" No, thanks. I don't know the form of the runners. But I hope I'm going to take your money over the love affair. That girl i& far too nice to get thrown away on a riotous, devastating outsider like that fel- j low Porkkam !" answered the major, twist- ( ing his moustache thoughtfully. I "'l'm not with you there, said Craw- j foid heartily. "If you win I shin't regret my fiver, though I have my doubts, he added. : "I'll buy 'em a wedding pre.ent with it," said the major comfortably. j 11. I Ping! Pong! | Ping! Pong! Ping pong : ! Tb.3 Great Ganison Tourament was drawing to a close, and. as all the keener critics of the game had prophesied, the final struggle lay between Dolly Chartc-ns and Claudiana Stanhope. An appreciative ciowel was gathered around the centre table of the flag-draped messroom in which the conte.-t was held, and many weie the wln*peicd comments concerning the game and the prize. "Of coursp, the boundei couldn't give anything but a half-hoop ring for a pr'/e— ju>t as though the girls were paying for him. I should like to shove it through the beggai"s nose!" remaikcd the major viciou.iiv. Mis»s "Charter^ had just neatly placed a ball on che corner of the table beyond her opponent's reach. "Quite a novelty, is it not. my deai . ; said Mrs Major Maffyn, of Hie Black Hussars, to her bo<=om friend, Lady Shrapnel, of the Horse Artillery. "A ping-pong contest for a Lu«band is an event one doei not witness ev.-ry day. They say that Claudiana Stanhope is wild to win ihe nng" becatue, if Sir Richaid d^es not piopose then, she will sue him for bieach of piomise, and biing the ling in as evidence. Atrs Major Maftyn did not like M.ss Stanhope. . . „, "I should think Do'lj C!iartcrj<= is wild to "et him, too," replied Lady Shrapnel, who did not like- Dolly. "She is playing with more tlnn her usual biilhancy tonight." , Ping-pong! Ping-pong! Ping-pong. The monotonous twang of the flying ball beat like a funeral knell in the e;-r-; of Dolly Chaitens. Sir Richaid had casually informed her thnt diy that he had obtained her fathei's full sanction to their engagement. He was not pleaded with her attitude towards "that begsar Saumarez"' ; if she won the nng. she"was welcome to wear it as her engagement ring, provided she warned ''that upsurt ragamuffin of a redcoat off the cr.uisc!" In any case, l.c was ready to preside her with a ring 10 times as fine if she would consent o marry him. lhat day, too. he. fathei had pointed out the many advantages that a match with Sii Richard would bring to hei and to her family. Saumarez, said he, was undoubtedly the more taking charactei of the two; but, as things went in the army, l«e vas a poor lmn, and though he might be a peer of Great Britain some day, there were three lives between him and that position. As she played, Dolly Chaitens was making up hei mind. Ping-pong! Ping-pong! Ping-pong! "Deuce games!" announced Sii Richaid, who was acting as unipue. In the next game Miss Stanhope giew neivous and by faulty service gave the game to hei opponent. "Vantage in 1 " shouted Sir Ricbaid joyfully, .is Miss Charteiis took the ball. "By Jcve! What ever is the girl up to?" he muttered under nis bieath, a- that lady deliberately served fom balls into the net or off the table. „ "Vantage all. This g;r.ii i Inn lie" it whispered Crawfoid U the major. And, fiom what one car cc, theie i- moie hanging t< it than that nng — anothci s O i I of nnj, altogethei The circle of onlookeis closed in lound the table. Theie was a slight wait in the game, foi Claudiana Stanhope had asked for a g 7 ass of water. "Poor thing! She feels faint." said Mis Major Maffyn. "1 do not wondsi at it eithei. It If no joke, my dear, to have one's worldly piospects hanging on the vagaries of a ping-pong ball, and they say he is safe to marry the gir 1 who win.- that ring." 'That gnl Chait us is playing fan, at „ny rate," admitted Lidy Shrapnel. "She would not take advantage of Claudtana's fit of neives. She quite gavt that game away." Ping-pong 1 Ping-pong' Ping-pong 1 The ball flew backwaid- and foi wards m lengthening l allies, which twice ended n favour oi Miss Charteri*. "Love — 30!" announced Sn Riebud Mis-, (Stanhope made a fake .-eive, so agitated was she by tin- announcement. The e\es of Dol'y Charttux turned upon Sir Richard, who leered triumphantly Tlien her g.i/e turned to p pale, lepiouehful face in the back of the ciowd Saumaiez was trying to appear as though he lejoiced in tL«i victory tint was wnhiu hei gia^p with but indiffeient success. "Lo\e — 40!" announced Sir Richard Miss Clmi tent's mind was made up fo'hei at the eleventh hoin by the sight of that pvle face in the ero-wd. She slashed the next bal l on the cable, and the next, and the ne\t "Fifteen— 4o ! Thii ty — 40 ' Deuce ! Vantage in!" announced Rich.nd, turning pale. He began to undei stand th.it Dolly, m he. play, was giving him his answer.

Saumarez's face lighted up a 1 - he caught a. glance of Dolly's eyes. The next ball she cut from the table with an unaccountable twist of the racquet, and it fell at his feet.

"Game — and set !" said Sii Richard ''L:t me congratulate you upor your vie lory. Miss Stanhope." he added, turning his back ostentatiously upon Miss Charteris. "And let nic congiatulate you upon your , Miss Chai tens,"' whispered the m ijor, mostly to himself, as Dolly Chartens moved to receive the ciondolenc^ of Ca^uaiu Sau DiareZi

"I think I'll hand you lhat fiver now, major." remarked Capt. in C: aw ford. '"From those last few strokes, and the look m Mus Dolh's eyes, I think the love r.ifair has it. Gcod enough to pay out on. anyway.