Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-07-15

out another word, and that the ground
seemed to be heavlng under me. What
had / done7 Jeoparded my slender
chances in one mad breath? l walked
on and on, the devil of temptation taxi
ing shape In my brain. Come
what might. he should never win.
1t was long after dark before l got
back to the college. Where was Jim7
Once or twice, as had thought of his
appealing eyes and that whisper, the
lump had come into my throat in spite
Of myself; but meet him again before
the race, was determined l would not,
/ tlp-toed up to the sitting room that
we shared together. In darkness; in
stinctively l knew he would be waiting
for me in the bedroom. Half relieved,
half mortified, l went in and locked the
door, meaning to spend the night on
the couch there. He meant to win-to
win Ella and the race-did he? We
should seel
Perhaps it was about midnight when
I heard that hesitating creak in the
corridor outside Jiml l knew it be-
fore his tap came at the door. / moved
so that he should know l was there
and almost instantly came the whis-
pered: "Will, old man, want to come
in!" For answer l held my breath.
will do you really mean this?"
came, low and incredulous, next.
heard him even try the handle-a thing
l could never have done in his place
WILL what have 1 done? Be a man
Whatever it is, at least we can talk
It over sensibly. knowl
It's about Ella. I'm sorry; she did say
that, but only as a joke, you might be
certain. You know she's not the girl
to pooh!" His voice become steadier
"'Will, you're making a fool of me
here, and spelling both our chances for
the race. l can't sleep. l want to
know how it's all going to end. Be.
cause if-if you're going to take It to
heart like that-well, you know
wouldn't stand in any fellows way
What is it to be? All right, Will
good night"
He must have reached his room be.
fore l realized what | was perversely
throwing away, because, when l sprang
to the door and opened it, with
hoarse Jim, here!" l got no answer
Go up to him. l could not. In real
agony of indecision, l threw myself
down on the couch l would leave the
college the next week without saying
goodbye, If l had to. long for the pres.
sure of his hand all my life afterward
Yes! and he-he should never win! and
so on, till dawn showed sickly outside
Then l fell asleep.
The great day, at lasti And yet II
all seemed unreal. Here, for weeks
past, | had dreamed of the crowd, the
expectancy the nameless thrill at the
start, the superhuman effort | meant
secretly to make, and the crazy cheer.
ing as Jim Garside and painted abreast
toward the tape, beating the rival col
lege by two points at least and had
set my teeth hard every time thought
of that deadly final sprint home. Now
now that the time had actually come
seemed to be in a horribly dazed con.
dition that was simply paralyzing; and
the buzz and chatter around seemed tc
come from long way off.
Ten minutes to r. In ten minutes
we should be off-twenty- runners
n all, and the pick OF the county among
them. Ten milesi l could never do
1t with that nameless, cold sinking in.
side me and that trembling in my
limbs. But-what did it matter? II
should not win-but neither should
jim. All, there he was, chatting with
Ella and her father, the center of an
eager group.
! had heard some rumor that morn.
ing about his not being a starter. but
evidently that had been false. He
looked pale, but cool and confident as
ever, and a fine manly figure in his
blue and-white racing costume. All |
now he was looking my way, with
questioning glance. l would not see it |
knowing inwardly that he would al
ways remain my ideal of man and o
friend. | tried hard to believe that
hated him. If only
Get ready!"
The starters voice, and closing-up .
of the competitors into line. A sudden /
hush on all sides, a row of strained .
eyes and set lips, a tightening of mus.
cles, the hateful pause that every run.
ner knows, and then at last-"Go!"
l heard the crowd give a cheer, and
that seemed to break the lethargic spell
upon me. Jim Garslde-he had spruna
out from the rest at once and taken
clear lead, and the sight sent that wave
of mad jealousy over me afresh
There goes Marston!" went I'D a
shout behind. Yes; crashed through
the pack, and was after him. After.
ward l recollected that, as l got level
he turned his head and whispered, fast:
Bravo, Wil-that's it, I'll take
you onl Here. steady, steady!"
At the moment l paid no heed. !
had simply torn by. 1t was one-mile
pace, and madness on the face of il;
but reason and everything else went
down before that desperate determine.
tion to beat Jim on his merits OF pre-.
vent him winning in another way
Head down, and arms drawn tightly
up, on | dashed, that pursuit of feet
ringing on the hard road behind. To gel
a big lead, run myself right out-upset.
ting all accepted theories-and shame
him in Elias eyes! Could l do it? I
knew the course by heart; we turned
on at the spinney. two miles down the
road across Nine Apra Ffald o,,a- Al. !