The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-04-10
CHAPTER VI.

agreement, he did not open his mouth.
CHAPTER VI.
ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE CROWD.
1t is usual to preserve considera-
BILE degree of reticence regarding the
performance of candidates for an ath-
letic team. Boastfulness is the least
common of all offenses at colleges.
The works of the athletics praise them
and not tfeir own lips. The captain
of the nine always says modestly that
he will do his best, and that his men
will do their best, and he leaves the re-
mainder to the official scorer.
But the performance of Paddy O'Toole
had been so remarkable that it could
not be kept quiet. 1t was all over the
college before morning, and the name Of
Lawrence Bangs was more common in
conversation than the definite article.
When he appeared at prayers he was
the object of alteration which was very
nearly sacrilegious, considering the os-
tensible purpose Of the gathering.
On the grounds and in the class room
many fellows took occasion to be kind
to him. He was a freshman, and he
looked like one, but several upper class
men spoke to him in way that was
calculated to make him think that he
had been in college several years.
Lawrence was less susceptible to fiat
terry than most young men, yet he
could not help admitting to himself
that this consideration would have
been agreeable if it had been honestly
acquired. 1t grew and grew in the
succeeding weeks till it became posi-
lively narrowing. Lawrence was we'll
in the lead of his class, but everybody
forgot it. When the nine came back
from its practice tour in the spring re-
cess he was the ball player and moth
ing else. 1t was as impossible for any
body to think Of him aside from his
connection with the nine, as it is to
separate Capt Kidd from his piracy.
OF course, Lawrence remained hid
den during that recess and Paddy had
the character all to himself. He did
very we'll with it, thanks to the con-
tinual prompting of Harry Bangs, who
travelled with the nine.
To Lawrence such a period of retire.
ment from the world would ordinarily
have been no hardship. He was always
glad to be alone with his books. But
on this occasion it happened that Miss
Lorne was in New Haven, and Law
renee knew Of 1t. Now Lawrence had
been powerfully impressed by Flor
ence's beauty, and he counted the days
which must elapse before Paddy could
return and set him free. When the
distinguished pitcher at last appeared
Lawrence made it the first business of
the existence which had been restored
to him, to go and call upon the young
lady.
She received him Ia an entirely new
way. She had appeared to take an un-
usual interest in him when he had first
met her, but 1t had been tempered by
the shadow of her displeasure. She
had argued with him severely on the
question of his duty to the university.
She believed that her arguments had
given to Yale the greatest pitcher that
the shade of old Eli had ever looked
down upon with approval. And she
received Lawrence as one whom she
had saved from oblivion, and set upon
the pinnacle of fame. There was no
concealment about 1t. She asked for
his gratitude and he gave it. Bewil-
dered by the light of her eyes he told
her that he had no other ambition in
life except to shut Harvard out without
a base hit, and she replied that he was
her knight and must wear her favor in
every contest They talked baseball
for three delightful hours and Law
renee, who had committed to memory
on her account the newspaper accounts
of all Yale's games, acquitted himself
almost as well as Paddy O'Toole could
have done 1t.
This meeting was but the beginning.
Florence was making long visit In
New Haven. Their conversation
glowed with the sacred fire of hostility
to Harvard. Lawrence described the
feelings which inspired him when he
went upon the field. He swore that he
thought of nothing and nobody but
her from the instant when a game
opened, and he declared that If by any
possibility he should neglect to think
of her at such e time, If, in short, her
influence should be withdrawn for q
single moment, Yale would inevitably
lose the game, Whereupon she inn
plored him to be very careful
not to cease to think of her,
because she could never for
give herself if Yale should lose
game in that way. And especially she
conjured him TO think of her much
harder than ever before in the game
with Harvard, which would be played
on the following day. Then Lawrence
lied some more and promised TO- 90 that
which only Paddy O'Toole could per-
form. Indeed, the exigencies Of the
case had made Lawrence so expert
liar that it Is no wonder his love suit
prospered. 1t was, by the best ac-
counts, in this interview on the even
ing before the Harvard game that
Florence promised to give him a good
square kiss with all dodging, squirm-
ing and unnecessary haste strictly
barred out under the rules, In case
Harvard's colors We're trailed in the
dust,