The comparatively small company gathered near the court were more audience than rooters, and applauded impartially both players, though Isabel never failed to cheer some good play by Cathalina, and Virgie shouted at the top of her Western lungs for Lilian.
“Look at Lil. Good work, Lilian; you have a wicked serve!”
“Fifteen—love.”
So evenly matched were the girls that most of the games were deuce games. Fourteen were played before Lilian won the first set.
The second set was won by Cathalina, who played with brilliance and determination. Her most effective play was what the girls cheered as a “slam”, almost impossible to return, which she delivered with surprising force for one so slight. This she had learned from Philip. But Lilian, too, had a brother, had been accustomed to playing with Cathalina, and was not as much disturbed by this play as were the more inexperienced girls against whom Cathalina had been playing during these days of tournament.
“Do you read my mind, Lil,” asked Cathalina once, when Lilian so quickly reached the particular spot back in the court where she was needed.
“I’m sorry, Cathalina; that was a peach,” said Lilian, as one of Cathalina’s returns went an inch or so outside.
“Great cut, Lilian,” remarked Cathalina, when Lilian’s ball went over the net, hit the right spot, and refused to bounce to Cathalina’s racquet.
In the third set, excitement rose among the spectators. Endurance was not Cathalina’s strong point and she grew tired, but played on apparently as well as ever. She had won four games, Lilian five, and the score of the present game stood forty to thirty in Lilian’s favor, when she returned, backhand, a difficult ball from Cathalina. It dropped over the net and Cathalina was not quite quick enough to reach the net from the back of the court. The game was Lilian’s and wild applause proclaimed her winner of the tennis tournament.
Meanwhile in the bushes two deeply interested spectators had arrived by way of the lane. Having been informed by Jo and June, who were playing “jacks” on the club house floor, that Cathalina and Lilian were finishing the tournament, two masculine visitors decided to go to the courts by the back way and remain unseen if possible while watching the progress of the game. June had suggested it, saying that it might “fuss” the girls, since they were not expecting company.