The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-04-03
BY HOWARD FIELDING.
Copyright. 1894.

In the grand stand, meanwhile, the
| enthusiasm had been enormous. The
| vast crowd was upon its feet yelling
like mad people. Pretty girls perched
upon the seats and screamed aloud.
Some of them knew that Yale had won
without being told; but most of them
didn't and they just yelled because
they couldn't help it. Among those
who saw and understood was a particu-
larly pretty girl named Florence
Lorne. She had kept a full score with
her own fair hand and had every point
recorded, with few extra errors for
! the Harvards. For Florence was q
Yale girl through and through and
wore half cables length of blue rib
bon on her dress.
When it was all over she trembled to
think how near she had come to miss
ing that glorious elimination. In her
excitement she would certainly have
fallen off the seat on which she was
! standing if she had not steadied her.
self by putting her hand upon the broad
shoulder of man in front of her. 1t was
considerable satisfaction to her that he
was introduced almost Immediately
afterward for it gave her a chance to
thank him. That was quite unneces-
sary for he had been entirely oblivious
of the occurrence. If she had beer
Chang, the Chinese giant, he would not
have felt the weight at such moment.
''Oh, Mr.. Bangs!' she exclaimed when
the apology was out of the way, wasn't
it perfectly thrilling?"
at was indeed" he rejoined with
what remained to him by way of a
voice after the cheering. "Did you en-
joy it. Mrs, Lorne?"
The question was addressed to
pretty, motherly woman who stood be-
side Florence.
I'm afaid didn't appreciate all of
it," she replied. But I'm glad Yale
won. have son in college"
"Poor Jimmyr' exclaimed Florence.
"He's an enthusiast, but he can't play
ball. He didn't even make the fresh
man nine this year"
perhaps he will develop" said
Bangs, sympathetically. "1've known
men to fail in the freshman year and
do very well afterwards"
"Were you interested in athletics
when you were in college, Mr.. Bangs?"
asked Mrs. Lorne.
"Mother!" The girls tone was full
of reproachful pity. "Read your coun-
try's history. Everybody in the world
has heard of Mr.. Harry Bangs. He
was the greatest back-stop Yale ever
had, and played football, too. He was
the man who broke Harvey Duff's nose
in the great smuggling game of 's6. And
that saved the game because Duff was
the best ground-gainer that Harvard
had. Isn't that so, Mr.. Bangs?'
"Well, in the matter of Duff's nose" >"
said Mr. Bangs, I'm afraid I'll have
to plead guilty. The remainder leave
to the historian"
Mother is just beginning to learn" :"
said the girl, Shut she is doing very
well. You must know, mother, that
Mr.. Bangs family has been very dis
tinguished at Yale. They have done
more for the university than any
other"
Bangs, who had been in high spirits,
became suddenly gloomy.
'Im afraid our day is over" he said.
"My cousin Jack graduates this year"
"Can't he go to one of the profess
sional schools?"
"He's been through 'em all. He's
been In college nine years, but he's got
to go now. And he's the last hope of
the family"
claimed Florence, with sudden recollec-
ton. II heard that he was going to
enter this fall"
The gloom oa Bangs face became a
dozen times darker.
''It's hard thing to speak Of" he
said, ''but I'm afraid my brother is a
total failure"
'.Oh, what pity" exclaimed Mrs.
Lorne. Cant he pass the examina-
tions?"
A grim and mournful smile over
spread Harry Bangs face.
"Mother doesn't understand these
things" said Florence, gently, cor she
would be just as sorry as l am. Can't
your brother do anything at alp"
she won't try" said Bangs, bitterly.
SHED rather read Greek"
sob, what shame. Can't you do
something to influence him?"
"That's my only hope. You see the
trouble is that haven't had chance
at him. Every time he's been home
from school in the last two years, I've
been away. and haven't seen him in
that time. But I've written constantly
and father has done what he could.
It's all no use. Lawrence is big enough,
I'm told, and perfectly sound, but he
hasn't the head for it. He can't do
anything but study. tell you it's o
hard blow to the governor"
There was silence for a moment out
of Difference to Mr.. Bangs sorrow.
Then the young man said:
"It's ungracious to begin an ac-
quaintance by unloading ones burdens,
You must pardon me. On such o day
as this can't help brooding on it. To
think that brother of mine"
He broke off. suddenly, and turned
his face away. Florence was on the
verge of tears, but she compressed her
pretty lips and said;