, 1897-09-29
WHY HE LOST A RACE.
The Romantic Sorry OF a Quarter-Mi.e
Dash.

NASA
drake Inn.
Yes" | said. When l last saw you
in the spring OF hat year you were
running in magnificent form, and We
all banked on you to win for the red
and whke."
well" said my friend, "rhere are
precious few people who knew anything
about the reason, but l don't mind tell.
ing you.
You know. OF course, what the feel
ing at Cornell was, and still is, for that
mater toward Yale. When | first struck
the college back in 80. the feeling was
very strong. On the night ! was mi
tiated into nv frat, the second toas: pro-
posed al the banquet was the cid, IA
miliar one, to he'll with Yale TIE
first time ! went into Casey's down On
Safe street, where the college crowd
used To do their drinking. ! saw a CANA
of fellows in the back room. with Joe
Colnon in his shirt sleeves. standing on
the table leading the singing, and at the
end OF every verse old Joe would wave
his chuper and cry, To he'll with Yale.
To hell with Yale was the reply from
a hundred lusty Threats, and then ev-
cry one took a drink.
well. when / began to show a little
speed, the seniors would come dow TO
Percy field and watch me. and talk
about 1t among themselves. Along in
"a l began to move SO fas; that ] sur
prised myself, and then the trainer was
beside himself. Well beat Yale with
you. me boy. ne used to say, and ! could
see the whole crowd was watching me
and depending on me to do it. And ]
had determined to do it il there was a
possible chance.
well, ! knew some New York peo-
PIE, and had been down at their house
for a week before the games were 20
cone OF. But ] had KEPT UP my train.
ing. and used to take long runs. and
finish with a few short dashes along the
beach of the sound, on whose banks
their country house STOOD.
Il might mention, incidentally. hat
there was q ~19-year-old daughter Of the
family in which ] was deeply interest,
ed, and who had led me to believe that
she luoked upon me with favor. Shell
don. the great Yale Splinter, also knew
her, but he didn't seem to be in the
running.
We'll, the day before the match, when
i was taking my last run along the
beach. ] heard cries for help coming in
from the beach. The source OF these
cries was hidden by q point. which ran
out into the waters OF the sound there.
but recognized Majorie's voice, and /
began 10 sprint for the place.
u never ran SO in all my life. 1t
seemed as though my legs were India
rubber and steel, and i fairly flew owe
the ground. AS 1 rounded the point j
saw her. She Was struggling. out in
the waters of the cove. Well, ! was
chad in my huncing SUIT and in / went
I was n o the best OF swimmers, was
tired from my long sprint, n there
was a strong current, but ] finally got
her ashore. almost senseless. and fell
painting by her side. 1t took me IN hour
to come around SO tina ! could walk,
and for the latter part OF the time she
was hanging over me, crying softly and
wringing her hands.
~ went down to New York that even
ing and showed up the next morning at
Manhattan field. ! seemed to feel un
right, and so went 10 the mark in ny
trial heat. which i won all right, Though
there was no one very good against
me.
We'll, in the afternoon, 1 toed the
mark for the final. Right next TO me
was Sheldon, Of Yale. and he was the
only man l feared.
Set said the starter. and We
crouched, tense. quivering, every mus,
Gle and nerve in readiness. on went
the pistol, and away we sprang. ] felt
confident Of my own powers OF endur,
nce l would win all the way.
within so yards of the wire l be-
gan to feel weak, hut | KEEP on, bound
to lower Yale's colors. Brown! Brown
shouted the Cornell crowd, and the old
cheer of Cornell, / yell. yell. yell. Cor.
nell! began to sweep across the field.
Nearer and nearer to the wire. and
closer and closer behind me | heard the
footsteps Of plucky Sheldon, as he pull
ed up foot by loot. And then he passed
me. and a mighty cheer OF Eli, Eli, Eli,
Yale!' went.up. ! saw his white, drawn
face as he slowly passed me, and with
a mighty effort. / summoned every en-,
ersy. and again passed him. But it
wss useless. Overtaxed nature REBEL,
ed, and with q sweep Of green and psir-
pie lights circling around me. l fen
across the line, beaten. not by Sheldon
hut by my efforts Of the day before.
when l rescued Marjorie.
The boys got me out to the club
house, and after working ON me an
hour. got me 90 / could walk. And I
went back to the grand stand leaning
on the arm Of my chum confident Of p
tender reception from 0diss Marjorie.
found her hanging to Sheidon's arm
with a radiant smile. and they both had
the nerve to ask me to congratulate