The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1902-11-28

the Held, you know. Lave you Chouynr
about that?"
II haven't thought of anything else for
week." groaned Charlie, "but / can't
help it. l shall have to tell her at sup
per tonight"
"Well, in that case we can't rank you
as one of the varsity" said the Cap
tain, rising. you will have to go on
the playing lists as substitute, that's all, >
and he went out, closing the door not too
gently behind him.
The Valley Preparatory School was
co-educational institute, and the schol-
ars of both sexes only met at classes and
at tho long tables in the dining room. The
boys and girls were seated on opposite
sides of these tables, and the owner OF
that particular pair of bright eyes smil-
ing at one from across the table was
known as my OPP" more or less affec-
tionate abbreviation for opposite: Char
ley sat at the training table, where, OF
course, no girls were allowed, 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. Charles place, opposite
hers, was still vacant, and he slid into it
at supper that night and remained 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 scoffed at his
resolution like his chum, or tried to ar
gue him out Of his intention, as did her
brother, but quite agreed that he must
| 20 to his father, although she let him
Soc that she should be greatly disappoint-
ed by his absence.
Charlie started upon his homeward
Journey in very unsettled state OF mind.
| He felt that the entire school considered
him A deserter, and if they lost-well, he
would be blamed for the stigma Of de-
feat. How hard he had worked for his
Mace on tho varsity and how proud he
| had been Of 1.-THE only freshman quar-
ter that had ever played on Valley
| SCHOOL, Then, how the team had re-
sponded when he had given the signals
always like clockwork, with a smooth
ness and precision that got the ball IN
play so rapidly and behind such perfect
interference that the unbroken list OF VIC
tories was, after all, result to be ex-
nected. And now to have that list mar
red nv defeat, and at the hands OF Mill
willie. their keenest rival! His muscles
ti.htened at the thought Of the grim
nleaaure of the struggle. No. Black could
NOT handle the team. He had never
urasned the signals as he should, and he
i.ckad confidence. He could not pass the
h.ll With the necessary accuracy, either
although in this respect he was much
batter than Anderson, the other sub. y
We'll. Valley School would be defeated at
last. and he might have guided the team
IN victory. And what would Millie Barr
think? She had been very nice about
IL and quite agreed that he should &c
home at this time. But she must have
h.en fearfully disappointed. Well, per
b.ns she did not mind so much, after all
Some other fellow would take her. He
or;tt.d his teeth at the thought Of that
Then, perhaps, she would not mihd It
,,,rob - the fellows Of Valley School were
beaten. No, Of course not; girls did no'
have that school spirit that made the
coming game bound the whole horizon FOL
him. Girls could not make such sacr1fice'
a. he would make, II he only could, JUS
to % run that team the way he had before
~ hammer at the opposing line until
..L snot could be found; to send th'
ands down the field like lightning ON thu
nal. Of a long, low punt; to skirt thu
onnosing ends behind perfect interference
sn,1 run fifty yards to touchdown; per
h.n.-to-but what was the use OF think
.hout It? It was all behind him now
ana Getting further away with every min
,,.a,s Airht of the rushing train. He wa'
I'D he had left 1t all. He would SET
Nd .oon! Old Dad! How hard he mus
=. working, with all those annoying
souallins little wretches. sick, all over th'
.awn He must be lonesome, there all b!
himself. Yes, he was glad he was going
to see Dad, and let the school rage II i