The age-herald., 1901-11-24

 ball without fumbling to save his life, and you are the only quarter we can possibly play and win. You won't desert us just now, when we have not been defeated this sea- son, right here in the face of the very hard est game of all. will youY
 'I must go, Dick" cried Charlie in de- spair. Dad would never forgive me if l did not"
 But how about my sister, your 'oppY She has counted upon your taking her to the game and then seeing you do all sorts of things to Milville, making forty-yard runs around the end and goals from the field, you know. Have you thought about thatf
 q haven't thought of anything else for week." groaned Charlie. but I can't help it. I shall have to tell her at supper to- night.v
 "Well, in that case we can't rank you as one of the varsity" said the captain. rising. You will have to go on the playing lists as substitute, that's all," and he went out, clos ing the door not too gently behind him.
 The. Valley Preparatory School was CO., educational institute, and the scholars of both sexes only met at classes and at the long tables In the diningroom. The boys and girls were seated on opposite sides of these tables. and the owner of that particu- lar pair of bright eyes smiling at one from across the table was known as my opp" a more or less affectionate abbreviatlon for Opposite" Charlie sat at the training table where, of course, no girls were al- lowed but before he had been elevated to this much coveted position he had for his "opp" Millie Barr, the captains sister, and the prettiest girl in the school. Charlie's place opposite hers. was still vacant, and he slid into it at supper that night and re- mnlned there in conversation with her until the meal was served, when he went to his place at the training table with the rest. She had not grown angry and scohed at his resolution like his chum, or tried to argue him out of his intention, as did her brother, but quite agreed that he must go to his father, although she let him see that she should be greatly disappointed by his ab- sence.
 Charlie started upon his homeward jour ney in very unsettled state of mind. He felt that the entire school considered hin> deserter, and if they lost-well. he would be blamed for the stigma of defeat How hard he had worked for his place on the varsity and how proud he had been of 1.-the only freshman quarter that had ever played on Valley School! Then, how the team had re- sponded when he had given the signals d. ways like clockwork, with a smoothness and precision that got the ball in play so rapidly and behind such perfect interference that the unbroken list of victories was, after all, result to be expectedi And now to have that list marred by defeat, and at the hands of Millville, their keenest rival! His muscles frightened at the thought of the grim pleasure of the struggle. No, Black could not handle the team. He had never grasIed the signals as he should, and he lacked con idence He could not pass the ball with the necessary accuracy either, although in this respect he was much better than Ander- son, the other 'sub." We'll Valley School would be defeated at last, and he might have guided the team to victory. And what would Mllie Bar think? She had been very nice about 1t, and quite agreed that he should go home at this time. But she must have been fearfully disappointed Well, perhaps she did not mind so much, after all Some other fellow would take her. He gritted his teeth as he thought of that Then, per haps, she would not mind so much as the fellows If Valley School were beaten. No, of course not; girls did not have that school spirit that made the coming game bound the whole horizon for him. Girls could not make such sacrifices as he would make, If he only could just to run that team the way be- had before, to hammer at the opposing line until a weak spot could be found; to send the ends down the field like lightning