The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-02-15

| anu CnfOWn MIN nat upon the ground
between the two tracks, for all the
world quite MS if he had been an OPP
ponent on the football field. Then he
dropped lightly on top of him and lay
there motionless, while the two trains
| Numbered past on each side of them,
and the crowd stood waiting spell
| bound.
In much less time than it takes to
| describe the episode it was over, and
what might have been Il tragedy had
proved only a bit of melodrama after
| all, yet as Roger jumped up and pull
and cheers louder than any that had
greeted him on the football field rang
in his ears.
Abashed and quite overwhelmed by
such an ovation. Roger made haste to
elbow his way through the crowd and
in so doing nearly overthrow his own
brother Fred. who happened to be
standing directly in his path.
For heavens sake, was that you,
Roger" he cried, confronting him in
establishment.
do let me get out of this his
brother responded. iInpatiently.-
"They need not naake such a fuss be-
cause | knocked the old duffer over
and he bolted in the direction of the
gymnasium.
Saturday nights generally brought
the scattered members of the Bartlett
family together, as the collegians al
ways made a point of coming home to
spend Sunday under the parental roof
tree.
On this particular Saturday evening
all were assembled before Roger came
in. Fred was all agog to describe the
scene that he had witnessed, but he
unselfishly held his tongue. "I'll not
spoil his story for him, but will give
him chance to do justice to it, he
mentally calculated as he watched his
brother swallowing his soup with I'M
ruffied composure.
But Roger said nothing upon the
vital sub ect, and Fred looking at him
with increasing surprise as he judicial
ly set forth the respective merits of
the opposing football team and called
attention to their most vulnerable
points.
"I'll turn in early tonight, Think
he yawned as he withdrew from the
dining room. Il put pretty solid work
into the last half of that game" and
he leisurely wendell his way up stairs.
II wish that R2ger would put a little
solid work into something else," his
father volunteered as he disappeared
from the room.
At this, Fred, who had in times past
repeatedly scoffed at his brothers
athletic proclivities, instantly fired up.
Father" he burst forth, you're
making big mistake about Roger.
He's got more genuine stuff in him
than all the rest of us put together,
and if its football that's done it the
sooner we all go in for the game the
BETTER" and then he proceeded to
give IL graphic account of the after
moons experience, which caused his
father to blow his nose loudly and re-
peatedly, while his eyes glistened with
happy pride, and which sent his
mother weeping in search of the sleepy
athlete, who could not understand
what he had done that was worth
making such a fuss about.
a few days later Mr. Bartlett, re-
ceived note from his old friend,
Wilkinson Smalley, which ran some
what AS follows:
DEAR BARTLETT-I hear that your
Roger is going in for the law, and if
so | want him. When he gets through
the law school, you can hand him
over to me, for he's just the material
that | am on the lookout for, and you
may well be proud of him. He scared
me out of a years growth the other
afternoon at the station, the young
rascal. but in spite of that wish you
would tell him him to come round
and take dinner with me some night.
for | want to talk 10 him. With kind
regards to drs. BARTLETT believe me
ever your friend,
WILKINSON SNIALLEY.
When Roger came home the follow
ing Saturday. his father handed him
the note, remarking, I'm afraid |
haven't appreciated your football, old
man, but I'm going to do better in the
future, and, by the way, Roger, hear
that you're to play in the game at
Springfield next week. Is that so?''
Roger nodded.
Very well, Them Mr.. Bartlett con-
tinued, your mother and l would
like you to get, US the best seat that
can be bought, for we've set our hearts
upon going up to see you make the
first touchdown. "-BOstOn Transcript.