Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-08-15
A FOOTBALL HERO.

the football field: then he dropped light.
~ on top Of him and lay there motion.
less. while the two trains Numbered
past on each side Of them. and the
crowd stood waiting spell.bound.
In much less time than II takes 10 de.
scribe the episode 1t was over, and
what might have been a tragedy had
proved to lie only bit Of melodrama
after all: yet as Roger Jumped up and
pulled the old man on TO his feet. ap.
plausc and cheers louder than any
that had greeted him on the football
field rang In his ears.
Abaslied and quite overwhelmed by
such an ovation Roger made haste to
elbow his way through the crowd. and
In - doing nearly overthrow his own
brother Fred. who happened to be
standing directly I'm his path.
For heavens sake was that you,
Roger" he cried. confronting him In
astonishmenf.
DO let me get out Of this" his
brother responded impaticntiy. "they
needn't make such fuss because I
knocked the old dufYer over" and he
bolted In the direction Of the gymns.
stun.
Saturday night generally brought the
scattered members Of the Bartlett fam.
lily together. as the cOllegians always
made a point Of coming home to spend
Sunday under the parental roof tree.
On this particular Sunday evening
all were assembled before Roger came
In. Fred was all agog to describe the
scene that he had witnessed, but he I'm.
seltishly held his tongue. '"l'll not
spoil his story for him. but will give
him q chance to do Justine to It," he
mentally calculated. as no watched bio
brother swallowing his soup with un.
ruined composurc.
But Roger said nothing about the
vital subject. and Fred looking at him
with increasing surprise NJ he Judi.
cially set forth the respective merits
Of the opposing football teams, and
called attention to their most vulner.
able points.
I'll turn In early tonight. I think"
he yawned. as he Withdrew from the
dining room. II put pretty solid work
into the last half Of that game" and
he leisurcly wendell his way upstairs.
II wish that Roger would put little
solid work into something else" his
father volunteered, as he disappeared
from the room.
At this Fred. who had In times past
repeatedly scofied at his brothers ath.
letic proclivities. instantly fred up.
"F'ather." no burst forth, "you're
making . big mistake about Roger.
He's got more genuine stun Ia him
than all the rest Of us put together. and
II It's football that's done II. the soon.
er We all 70 10 for the game the bet.
teri" and then he proceeded to give
Q graphic account OF the afternoons
experience. which caused bis father
to blow his nose loudly and repcat teddy,
while his eyes glistened with happy
pride. and sent bis mother weeping In
search Of tho sleepy athlete. who
couldn't understand what he had done
that was worth making such q fuss
about.
A few days later Mr.. Bartlett 70.
ceived q note from his old friend vii.
kinson Bnalley. which ran somewhat
% follows:
Dear Bartlett-I hear that your
Roger II going In for the law. and II 90,
I want him. When he gets through,
with the law school you can hand hin,
over to me. for he's Just the ma terial
that I'm on the lookout for. aud you
may we'll be proud Of him.
HE scared mo out Of q years
growth the other afternoon. at the
station. the young rascal. but In spite
Of that, wish You would tell him to
come round and take dinner with me
some night. for I want to talk to him.
"With kind regards to Mrs. Bart.
lett. believe me. ever your friend.
"WILKINSON SMALLEY."
When Roger came home the follow.
Ing Saturday. his father handed him
the note. romarking: I'm afraid
haven't appreciated your football. old
man. but Tin going to do better In III.
ture; and. by the way. Roger, hear
that you're to play In the game q,
Springfield next week; 10 that SOP
Roger nodded.
Every we'll. then" Mr.. Bartlett con.
tinued. "your mother and I would like
to have you get 10 the best seats that
can be bought, for we've set our hearts
upon going up to see you make the hrsi
tOuchdOwn."-TOledO Blade.
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