THE REDEMPTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17013, 11 April 1923, Page 3

THE REDEMPTION.

A TENNIS STORY. (Written for the “ Star.”) My soul is like an enchanted boat, , That like a sleeping swan doth float, Upon the silver waves of thy sweet singing. And thou doth like an angel sit Beside the helm conducting it. While all around with melody is ringing. Sam Spedders quoted this to Alaisie as they drifted down tile Avon one moonlight night. He had been reading j Shelley, and was very much in love", j and in this story ] will tell of his re- I generation through tennis. There is much love mentioned in the 1 country of tennis, but very little in the game itself. On the courts boys and girls seldom flirt. Perhaps it is that tennis' makes for fairness, and love is not an honest thing. At its best | it is mere selfishness and subterfuge, a fraud accepted by both parties—a good fraud in its way, maybe—but still a fraud. It will not stand scrutiny, when once the eyes are opened, and this Sam and Alaisie found. I knew them both before I knew their names. They shared the tram with me each morning. Sam got in where I do, hut her stop was nearer tunn. Eagerly he watched for her. and w'hen she got aboard they whispered together till the town was readied. To each, there were no others. The rest of mankind were vague and quite unnecessary phantoms. What made them want to play tennis I do not know. 1 hey interviewed me when they found l was the necessary secretarial wraith for that purpose, but while they were talking to me they were feeling for each other’s hands, and while I was telling them what a noble game tennis was, and how well J played, I found they were wirelessing endearments to each other. I took their names, and gently shooed them away. A fortnight after they sat in our pavilion, and gazed a.t each other till the captain grabbed them for a set. T have seen some dud games, but this one could give the worst thirty. They were put on opposite sides, and he was continually rushing round the net to help her bold her racquet, while every time he missed a ball she went • round to hold his hand. Several times ; the game stopped while they whispered together. “ He can’t stand the heat,” she confided to her partner. He blushed guiltily. He fancied she had read his thoughts.

After that Sam was only allowed to play in men’s fours and Maisie in ladies’. Separated they did much better. Being young and active, we soon knocked them into ?hape. At one of our committee meetings a lady member had an inspiration. “ AYe’ll hold a- Yankee tournament next holiday,” she said enthusiastically. Instin ct-i velv I shied. “Who Will’?” I asked. “ You will.” “ T knew it.” T said bitterly. “Oh. it’s easy ” she explained. “Ladies and gentlemen partners, and each pair play every other pair, and it’s decided on games.” Well, on the day. T received the entries, and Sam and Alaisie entered a-s partners. T was handicapper, and gave the lovers a good start. I did not. expect them to win, a-s I thought it. possible they would make love in the middle of their sets.. Til this I was mistaken. They were now inoculated with the tennis, germ., and once

bitten by that it cause® a fierce light to beat on partners’ mistakes. T soon found 1 had given them too much start. They won the first, four games, and, being h an di capper. I won mine too. 1 could see it was my partner and T. or- the lovers, for the trophies. They were both playing a fierce game- 1 could see no signs of love. 1 was sitting next to them at lunch, and I heard Alaisie say : “ We’ve done all right so far. but you will have to keep your eye on the ball more, dear. You are a bit inclined to show off.” There was a decided edge on her voice. Sam’s reply sounded bitter, too. “ I’ve told you a dozen times, it’s you that have made most of the mistake® so far. It’s been me pulled the games through.” By three o’clock they were still winning. but not speaking. My partner and I met Sam and Alaisie in the final. had both won the same number of games, and tliis set would decide it.

Th© lovers wei*e now glowering at each other, so I said to my partner: “ J think it would be a good move if we drive down the centre line between them. They will both try for it-, or else both leave it.” Soon we bad our opponents rattled. After bumping j heads a few times they both left the j stroke to the other. I was not' surprised at all after the game to hear Alaisie calling Sam a fool, and telling him sho did not want to speak to him again. “ You haven’t got that on your own. ’ ’ he retorted. And after that they both learned to play good tennis, and never made love to one another again. One day I said to Sam : “I don’t see you making love to Alaisie nowadays.” “No.” said Sam cheerfully. “but I’m getting a. decent backhand drive, and alter all it’s a decent backhand drive that really matters in life, isn’t it? I clasped his handH.T.