The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-04-27
practice game" said Dobley. Fresh.

practice game" said Dobley. "Fresh'
ington has brother at u prep school,
and We are going on there to try our
hand. We don't intend to hurt the lads.
We are just going to play with them
for little practice"
II should like to see the game" said
Mrs. DObley. Suppose Mrs. Van Rip.
per and take trip up to see you play"
swell, you understand it's n purely in
formal occasion, Mrs. Dobley. No grand
stand or anything of that sort. OF
course, il you should like to come, am
sure it can be arranged"
"Bc sure not to hurt those poor boys"
said Mrs. Dobley. They all have moth.
ers at home, you know"
I'VE wouldn't hurt them for the
world" said Doblcy. "When we get
to turn round and give them the game.
1t will please them and it won't hurt us.
Sec"
"Well, that's a splendid idea" said
Mrs. Dobey. II should hate to think Of,
you hurting any one, John, who was'
weaker than you. What part are you TO
play?"
"Center rush. believe, is the position
that has been assigned to me. Not you
understand. that am any more skillful
than the others, but simply that | have
taken to training more readily than any
of the other men. You see, six of our
men are over 40 pounds, Mrs. Dobley.
We have beefy line, and no mistake"
"Oh, those poor boys!" said Mrs. Dob.
ley. * can't help feeling sorry for
them"
"Oh, we'll take care Of them all right"
said Dobley. "We'll treat them as though
they were babies in arms"
1t was week Of expectation in the
Dobley household, the master of which
was away on his athletic practice for
the following Saturday. When that day
arrived, Mrs Dobley and Mrs. Van Rip.
per took train for the grounds of tho
preparatory school which was to witaess
the debut Of the hardware eleven.
The ladies obtained chairs on little
Hill of ground in good sight Of the game
and near the small clubhouse. They
were excited over the event, and Mrs.
Dohley had brought opera glasses.
While they sat there two young men
In sweaters and bicycle trousers strollcd
by without noticing the ladies'. They
were laughing about something.
EVEN play horse with those old duff.
ers!' said one of them. "They must be
crazy to come up against n regular
team"
"Let's tear their hearts out in the first
part Of the game,' said the other, $50
they won't try it again."
"That center rush Is freak. Did you
see him? We won't do thing to him."
'What peculiar language" said Mrs.
Dobley, growing pale. "Who are those
men, anyhow" she asked a small boy
who came out of the clubhouse.
"Thats the captain of the football
team and the quarter back" said the boy.
"They are going to play those gentle.
men from the city. They won't know
they're on earth after the first rush."
"Who won't?''
'"Thc old jays"
"Thank you," said Mrs. Dobley. Sho
was getting more nervous every mo-
ment.
II wonder If they are all MS big rs
those two?" said Mrs. Van Ripper. II
thought you said they were boys"
"Why. Mr.. Dobley spoke of them rs
mere lads" said Mrs. Dcbley.
Just then the hardware eleven, led by
Mr.. Dobley, came sinking on the field
They had obtained sight Of their op
ponents evidently. They stood around
in detected manner, holding consuta-
tons.
Suddenly. with a wild. joyous whoop,
the school Players came running on the
field. They looked like wild Indians, and
when they reached the center they began
to roll over on the ground like colts.
They were all six footers and wore
blazing red sweaters that lit up the
scene with color. The hardware eleven
finched visibly at the sight Of Their enc.
mics.
Then they lined up opposite their foes.
Other students gathered around the field
and began to cheer on their comrades
by wild yells and calls. They jeercd at
the hardware eleven In the most impolte
manner. !
Then the game began. Through her
opera glass Mrs. Dobey could see only
wild mass of yelling boys, for the hard. |
ware team were completely hidden under |
a scarlet cloud. Around the edge of the |
field the other boys jumped and howled |
in joyous derision. Their laughter rent |
the air.
~ never knew it was such funny |
game, did your" asked Mrs. Dobley Of
Mrs. Van Ripper.
~ thought they ran with ball and
kicked" said Mrs. Van. "but this looks
more as if they were fighting"
"But what are the others laughing so
about?"
Suddenly from the writhing mass of
red sweaters the ladies' saw various arti.
cles Of apparel belonging to the hardware
eleven being thrown in the air by the scar.
let WASTED boys. Boots. stockings and
the numerous pads and guards that Mr..
Dobley and his companions had provided
themselves with we're hurled against the
blue sky in such numbers that 1t seemed
as though the doughty hardware knights
would have nothing on when the battle
was ended.
"Dear me! Isn't this perfectly dread.
full" said Mrs. Dobley, almost in tears.
II wish I could see Mr.. Dobley. You
were perfectly right not to let Mr.. Van
Ripper join the team"
With final warwhoop the boys in the
red sweaters broke from the mass In
which they were piled On the ground
bdy stNelut VI tueiE oppo- |
nents, tattered and torn. Some Of the
others assisted them to rise, and they
began to limp off the field.
But the school players and their COM
panions seemed to think 1t all great fun.
They Rugged each other in joy and per-
formed extempore dances. Then, as
though moved by one impulse, they start.
ed to sing in unison to some sort Of
queer tune:
"Now then-brace up-brace up-brace
1p-brace-up-brace up-brace up" and
they marched after the retiring eleven as
they hobbled to their quarters.
That afternoon Mrs. Dobley took Mr.