The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-12-28
.HALSTEAD, 1000
A MIND WAVE.

coming cheers and yells rose up from the
stand that suddenly blossomed into
mass of waving blue silk when the first
man appeared, his uncovered head glis-
tening like gold in the sunlight. 1t was
Halstead, the captain, n hero of the foot
ball field-more than that now, for he
had been one of the first men OF his uni
versity to enlist under his country's flag
in the war that in one short year had be-
come little more than a memory.
All the horrors of the camp. the siege
of illness through which he had passed,
had become part of the past. He was
only conscious that he was back ON his
native heath again, and the cheers in his
honor that rose from the stand were
echoed upon the lips of his companions
and brought the color to his face.
He was conscious somehow of a voice
invisible. a voice that lie had thought
forgotten, which seemed to call to him
across the field, making him think again
of her, and it annoyed him. When a
man has been doing his best to forget
girl for more than year and thinks he
has succeeded, it is ridiculous to have
her memory crop up like Il ghost at the
biggest game of the year, when great
things are expected of you.
lie plunged into the queer tumblins
antics preceding the game, hoping that
the ileetng memory of her would drift
away, and he spoke to the men next him
about new signal that had been agreed
upon only the day before. Then another
roar went up from the stand, this time
in welcome to the players of the opposing
team, who came stamping on the field
like so many giants in black and orange
Then the game began. Through it all
llalStead played so brilliantly that the
wonderful victory of the day was credit
ed 70 his prOwess and placed his name
among the bright ones in football history
But he was only vaguely conscious that
he was on the scene, just as a soldier in
a battle often tights like hero with only
a dim appreciation of what is going on
around him. When HalStead read of his
teams victory next day, it seemed to him
like something in which he had taken no
part He played like man in trance
receiving the severest punishment with
out realizing that he was hurt. Now and
then he felt his companions throw their
arms around him and hug him in the wild
enthusiasm with which college boys re-
ward each other for n good play. but
Halstead went through the great game
thinking of the girl he had met over a
year ago.
1t was at dance given long before the
war had become a possibility. Halstead
had thought the girl one of the incest he
had ever met. She had brilliant soil
taire dimple that fascinated him when
she smiled. He had danced with her
thvpn fip,oc apH hol n.ti.. har off; mi
umph from the other fellows to Mrs.
Vcnabcs little palm room, which had
been the background for many firta-
ton. And there he had discovered that
the prcttiest girl he had met during the
term was a higher educated young per-
son, with Views" despite the dimpc
and a crown of fluffy, childish brown hair
caught up with a frivolous blue ribbon.
She was taking a course in metaphys-
les, and when he said something about
calling next day she Mortified him by tell
ing him that she was going to read a pa
per before one of the classes the follow
ing morning The subject was "Subcon-
sciOus Mind Forces" She asked him if
he didn't think brain currents very inter
esting
Conversation was impossible with
girl like that, so they danced again. and
then HalStead evacuated in favor Of one
of the others who had been clamoring
for her as a partner. He thought with
grim satisfaction that n girl who talked
metaphysics in a conservatory was not
likely to make a great hit with any of
them. but he kept his eye on her during
the evening and noticed that she ate ices
and sandwiches just like the other girls.
Later he saw little Thorpe helping her
with her wrap, and he hated him.
Next morning he found himself going
across the campus to the hall. and he
met Thorpe wearing a faded rose on his
coat and an air OF importance that sat
somewhat humorously upon his four foot
two.
The girl with the dimple read a lengthy
paper that was n mingling of mystical
ideas set forth in fascinatingly poetic
style. which carried her hearers with
her although much she had written was
preposterous. There were evidences that
she had skinned such end of the century
sciences as theosophy and other cults
treating of the mysterious forces Of the
mind. The idea of souls communicating
with each other through time and space
was the theme of her paper, and this
she had dressed up in Corelliesque flights
of words that seemed to enchant her
hearers. She related instances Of persons
being drawn across seas and continents
in obedience to the summons of some
mastering mind.
Halstead felt it pity that such nice
girl should be laundering among I'M
known mysteries of this sort He i'm
agined her in few years with glasses
and uncurled hair lecturing classes Next
day he called on the Ncnables with the
idea of putting forth one more effort to
reform her. but Mrs Nenable said the
girl had been called suddenly to Balti-
more through the death of an uncle. She
was now one of the richest young wo-
men in the country. And then to Hal
stead she became a memory.
One day he picked up n New York pa
per, and the eyes of the girl looked out
from one Of tho HagoS lInr nio''IrC was
wreatned In flags IN connection with
story about the war just declared against
Spain. The girl had joined the Red
Cross forces as a nurse and was to start
for the south Immediately. She had
given literally from her fortune to equip
an expedition and was leaving her home
and friends to stand beneath the flag.
Halstead had been stirred to the wild
est form of enthusiasm from the very out
break of the Cuban trouble. Now he
seemed to decide. He organized a com
pany of his mates at the university, and
they marched on board a transport a few
weeks later, bound south. His mind was
suddenly filed with thoughts of her.
Their common patriotism seemed to have
'ited them. He prayed that chance