Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1898-10-20
HE PROVED>TO.BE =.
49, A REAL HERO.
ADO YOU think that Charlie will

I've not the SllSuleSL Lear rtudl uc
will fall" was the reassuring answer,
which charmed warm light into the
face of the girl who had just spoken.
Charlie Vandegriff was her sweetheart,
and she had set her heart on his win
ming the game.
Mildred West had been in love with
him since: she could remember. They
were ,playmates in childhood. Mil
dred's brother Frank, WHO was so GER
tain that CRarlieE could not lose the
game for the crew, had been his class
mate at school and in college. They
always spent their vacationsstogether,
and it, waste during the Chr is tmas< lloli-
days under the mistletoe:s red: ber-
ries that MILDRED and young Eande-
grif' had pHghted their troth.
The young college man was not ag-
, gressive.- He. Was "a quiet, seasy-golng
fellow, Of whom it was said that he
, had never displayed any courage. He
!; refused TO fight a duel oncest the chal-
/: 1enge for which had been rendered by
a boorish chap from the west, whose
: father was millionaire. Some trifin g
&:dissension between |tfhesstSvo men led
; to words, to which the California mil
l;onaire's son took exception.
TO his friend, Frank West, and the
latter's sister, Vandegriff confessed
that he could not run the risk Of be-
ing killed or wounded because of his
mother. The Vandegriffs had been
rich in their generation, but specula-
ton had ruined Charles father: He
blew out his brains when the newt a bic
came and left his widow and child to
battle with the world alone. Mrs.
Eandegritf sacrificed her jewels and
her pride by offering her services as
seahstress ins the homes where she
had once Been welcome visitor. This
enabled her to keep intact the little
lifeinsurance as capital to be devoted
to her sons education. The Vests
were well-to-do gentlefolk and treat
ed with the same cordial friendship
their impoverished neighbors.
At first young Vandegritf's action
in declining to fight the duel gave rise
to an undercurrent of indignation, but
better counsel prevailed, and Frank
West had much to do with turning the
tide against the boyish and overbear
ing Californian who had offended more
than one college mate by his disagree
able manners.
Forhis skill in football, young Vande
griff had been chosen the captain CT
the "Gentilhomme" crew. which was
to vanquish the "Benares," whose
captain was one of Vandegriff's warm
est friends.
The football game was to be gala
affair at the college. Society had
taken hold of it, and for miles about
the beaux and bellies had talked of
nothing but the game. In dozens of
wardrobes hung exquisite, flmy sum-
mer gowns to be worn on the occa-
sion. The prize, superb golden cup,
Vandegrif hoped to lay at the feet
of his betrothed.
On the evening before the game Mat
Dunstrow, brother of the Dunstrow
who was the captain of the Benares,
called upon young Vandegriff at his
lodgings and asked for a private in
terview. Nothing was thought of it
by the students, who sat about in the
little park in front of the hall, dis
cussing the eventful tomorrow.
The young men were closeted to-
gether for;some time, and when final
ly Vandegrif dismissed his friend at
the door, one or two overheard his re-
mark
III do it, Mat; depend upon it,"
it was taken as a renewed assurance
that the speaker had no doubt CT win
ming the game. / ri. ! :.#:s J.
A more glorious day had not dawned
upon the town of Briarwood IN many
a moon. The sky was blue as an
amethyst, the air crisp, and the sun
shone with the glitter of melting gold.
At two o'clock in the afternoon not a
Seat was vacant in the temporary
grand stand, which had been divided
in boxes and stalls for parties Of four
and six. Many elegant turnouts had
taken up positions in the field, ti.eir
fair occupants preferring to watch
the game from underneath bright sun
shades.
A shout went up from the multitude
when the two crews in their natty uni
forms and led by their captains,
marched into the field and the game
was begun.
Move after move and vantage after
vantage was greeted with deafening
applause by the friends of the crews.
So far zhonors were easy, both parties
playing with equal skill and perse-
verance. Just as it seemed that the
victory would be Vandegriff's, an I'M
foreseen thing happened. The captain
Of the ntilhnmme S,, stun hlad and