Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-10-26
"OLO GEORGE.
BY W. R. ROSE.

This story won the second prize in Lies short story
competiton.)
Clever, kindly Old George is trump,
and nobody envies him his big run of
luck. And yet it does seem funny
that of all men-that is, all our men
Old George should take the stakes.
It's the rusty old saw over again,
about the race not being to the swift
and yet that's not just pat, either, be-
cause Old George is the swiftest Of the
swift. Not in his head, you see-just
in his legs. For Georges legs were
the glory Of the Varsity. Even Prexy
himself alluded to them as laurel
twined props. Yes, Old George could
run like-well, there was nothing in
the other 'Varsities that could run
like him, and that's description enough.
He wasn't strong in books. These big
runners never are. But you can rest
assured he had all the coaching he
could stand, and we just shouldered,
and boosted, and carried him through
everything. Nobody ever knew such
a dear old fellow-not a mutf, you
know, but so willing, and pleased, and
grateful for everything that was done
for him. Yes, and always watching
out to do some good turn for the fell
lows. He had money, too, but it
didn't hurt him.
Well, BERTHE Middaugh took house
party down to his home at Tauntum
after commencement, just half-dozen
of US, and he coaxed Old George to
go along. BERTHE had his sister down
for commencement-a stunning girl,
half million in her own right-and
we were all spoons on her except
George. He never cared for girls.
Sowe went down, and it was
grand old place. And Bella, that was
Bertie's sister, had invited up some of
her classmates from South, and we
made up right merry party. All
except Old George. He didn't seem
to quite enter into the spirit Of
the thing, He was the best fellow
you ever saw at helping other people
to feel comfortable, but no earthly
good at letting them entertain him.
Well, the third morning We were
there Old George came strolling into
the breakfast room with a wonderful
glow on his face. Somebody asked
him where he got it, and George
claimed it came out Of a pink saucer,
but l noticed just then that BERTHE
was winking hard at me. AS soon
as George strolled out of the way BeI-
tie whispers, I'll bet you tenner
Old George has been sprinting on
fathers quarter-mile track back of the
big barn" laughed and told the
girls, and Bella at once proposed that
we get up early the next morning and
slip over to the track, and catch Old
George at his beloved pastime. So it
was quickly arranged.
We were all up just at sunrise and
on our way to the quarter-mile track.
AS we cautiously approached the barn
we saw some of Georges clothes lying
in the big doorway, and moment
later, as We turned the corner, there
was Old George himself, in full racing
costume, with a blanket over his
shoulders, just stepping onto the track.
He was a good deal cut up when We
burst into view, but Old George was
too much the gentleman to show any
chagrin. We all begged him to run
for US, but he stoutly demurred until
Bella made personal matter Of it.
At which he gravely bowed and tossed
the blanket to one side. l took out
my watch, and then-and then
dreadful thing happened
Jim Blakeslee had been smoking a
cigarette, and he must have flung it
down, half-smoked, on the grass near
where Bella was standing. She had
on some kind of fluffy, white summer
dress, with-with blue ribbon, think.
Anyway, she looked positively stun
ming, as she always did. She stood
there in all her loveliness, watching
Old George with eager eyes, and the
first thing we knew one of the girls
screamed and we looked around, and
there was Bella all afame Then
she screamed, too, and started down
the lane like mad thing, the flames
leaping over her head, and We stand