The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-13

hlrs. DOOiey. suppose mrs. van MP
per and take trip up TO see you playy'
well, you understand It's purely in
formal occasion, Mrs. Dobley. No grand
stand or anything Of that sort. or
course, IL you should like to come, am
sure IL can be arranged" u
"Be 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 Dobley. when we get
them completely at our mercy. we intend
10 turn round and give them the game.
/. win please them and 1t won't hurt us.
SeeY'
swell, that's splendid idea" said
Mrs. Dobley. II should hate to think Of
you hurting any one. John, who was
weaker than you. What part are you to
play7"
"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 l have
taken to training more readily than any
of the other men. You see. six of our
men are over 40 pounds, Mrs. Doblcy.
We have beefy line. and no mistake"
ooh. those poor boys!" said Mrs. Dob
ley. II 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"
II was a 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 the
IT.
the debut of the hardware eleven.
The ladies obtained chairs on a little
hill of ground in good sight Of the game
and near the small clubhouse. They
were excited over the event, and Mrs.
Dobley had brought opera glasses.
While they sat there two young men
In sweaters and bicycle trousers strolled
by without noticing the ladies. They
were laughing about something.
"We1l play horse with those old duff
ersv' said one of them. "They must be
crazy to come up against regular
team"
Lets tear their hearts out in the first
part of the game" said the other, 80
they won't try it again."
'That center rush is a 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.
That's 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'tT'
''The old jays"
"Thank you," said Mrs. Dobley. She
was getting more nervous every mo-
ment
II wonder IL they are all as big as
those two?" said Mrs. Van Ripper. Il
thought you said they were boys"
"Why. Mr.. Dobley spoke of them as
mere lads" said Mrs. Dobley.
Just then the hardware eleven, led by
Mr.. Dobley. came sinking on the field
They had obtained n sight of their op
ponents evidently. They stood around
in a detected manner, holding consulta-
tons.
Suddenly, with a wild, joyous whoop, |
the school Ilayers 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 yisibly at the sight of thej- 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 jeered at
the hardware eleven in the most impolte
manner.
Then the game began. Through her
opera glass Mrs. Dobley could see only
a 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
Il never knew it was such funny |
game. did you?" asked Mrs. Dobley of
Mrs. Van Ripper.
Il thought they ran with ball and
kicked" said Mrs. Van. but this looks |
more as il they were fighting"
But what are the others laughing SO
about?'
Suddenly from the writhing mass of
red sweaters the ladies saw various arti- |
eles of apparel belonging TO the hardware !
eleven being thrown in the air by the scar
let wasted boys. Boots, stockings and
the numerous pduS uuu gurus Nnat -hA' |
Dobley and his companions had provided
themselves with were hurled against the
blue sky in such numbers that it seemed
as though the doughty hardware knights
would have nothing on when the battle
was ended.
.'Dear me, Isn't this perfectly dread |
ful?" said Mrs. Dobley. almost in tears. |
II wish / could see Mr.. Dobley. You
were perfectly right not to let Mr.. Van
Ripper join the team"
With a final warwhoop the boys in the
red sweaters broke from the mass in
which they were piled. On the ground
lay several of their vanquished 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 it all great fun.
They Rugged each other in joy and per-
formed extempore dances. Then, as
though moved Inv one imDulse they start |