The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-29
DOWN TO WEIGHT :.

They ranted and they rayed at him, but
he was impervious. His surname does
not matter in the least; it had long been
forgotten. The coach of the varsity crew
knew him as Six, and the rest of the crew
as Jumbo, though, of course, he may have
had another title. He had gained fame
when his college boat went ahead in the
previous May races, and in the trials he
had been looked on as certainty for the
boat. He was as strong as a bull, and
they had thought training would do much
for him, but-he was so heavy.
the could spare stone if we could get
it off him."
Nothing worries him." said the presi-
dent mournfully.
"Nothing?'
.sWell, nothing that's any use here"
said the president. He confded in me
last Easter that hewas desperately in love
with some one. He had her up during
the May week-said she inspired him.
really believe running after her kept his
weight down. He used to say she treated
him badly and told me lot of rot when
we were going down to Ely to practice in
the autumn
WHAT'S her manner"
sDorothy-Dorothy Derrick. You'd
know it if you'd heard it as often as I
have. All the time the trials were prac-
ticing he used to write hexameters on it
and recite them i'll the showerbath at the
boathouse."
1'And now he's engaged, suppose, and
happy; SO he puts on fesh?"
ttNot a bit of it, it's all off, he says,
and his mind is st rest, confound him! I
don't wonder she could not stand his easy
going ways, CREST lethargic brute.'' And
the president of the G. U. B. G. scrunched
the gravel under his heel as he turned to
go in and have bath and dine of beef
steaks and strong ale.
Mr.. Parsons was grave looking young
man, and he looked portentously solemn
as he sat readinga brief in the temple that
night. When he had done, he went out to
supper with some of the cleverest of his
friends. He was clever himself, too, in
his way, and considered humorist by a
few friends and editors of magazines, so
they had a merry time. When he came
back, he turned grave again and sat down
and wrote a long letter about Six and
his sins to the president of the G. U. B.
c., who read it in solemn silence at break
fast, casting baleful glances at Jumbo, but
Jumbo seemed to have nothing more har-
assing to think of than how to screw
enough sustenance out of training diet to
make him feel comfortable inside He
must have SOLVED that question, too, fairly
well, for an ounce or two over his weight
of the day before was recorded after he
had done breakfast. Then he went out.
There was a garden to the house where
they were staying, and he said there was
a man opposite who smoked. He could
watch him if he could do no more The
rest Of the crew were talking in the hall
when he returned. They grew suddenly ST.
lent when he had entered and they saw
his face.
GOOD heavens, you chapsp' he said,
"look here!" He was holding a sheet of
paper in his hand.
"What is it?" they all said at once.
"Idon't quite know" he said. IA small
boy asked me my name and put it into my
hand and made face and hooked it. I
don't understand it, but it reads awful.
Her name and mine, and Victoria by the
grace Of the devil, there's something on
the back!" If he was white before, he was
green afterward, as the president looked
OfCI LIS SAOulucE anu ICttu Oub ttlOuQs
"The plaintiffs claim is for damages for
breach of promise of marriage"
cts awful for me, isn't it," said Six
disconsolately.
cts worse for the varsity said the
secretary in awestruck tones.
"Let's go out in the garden and talk it
over before Tubing time" and the presi-
dent and secretary linked their arms in
his and drew him gently but firmly
through the front door.
IT can t row today" said Six in help
less way. "Can you excuse me? Put
Simpson in, Or some one, just while I go to
town and call on Dorothy and put things
to right; she can't really mean to ruin me;
she knows never really said would, be-
cause she never would give me the
chance"
81 think the matter had better be put
into solicitors hands," said the secre-
tary.
ooh, if Jumbo really going to go up
to town and be SUI bpenaed and written and
summoned and caveat enptored and all
that kind of law stuff three days week,
wire to Caius to see if Higgins is still
up" said the president.
dash it, old chap don't kick me out
for this, . said Six almost tearfully. "I'n
do anything, pay anything, not to lose MY
blue-unless, of course, you think Pm not
good enough"
Here the secretary looked puzzled and
seemed to have forgotten something. He.
took off his light blue cap and scratched
his head, and the president, reaching
found sinewy leg behind Jumbo's back,
kicked his trusty henchman. The kick
had no inspiring effect.
Cant you suggest anything2" said the
president.
"Oh, yes" said the secretary, with an
effort; "who coaches us today -Smithsonf
wish it was Parsons; he's a barrister
and could tell us what to do
Can't we wire?" asked the president.