Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-11-21
A THANKSGIVING FOOTBALL STORY

que 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 disappoint-
ed by his absence.
Charlie started upon his homeward
journey in a 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
place on the 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-
pected. And now to have that list mar
red by defeat, and at the hands of Mill
Vile. 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
grasped the signals as he should, and he
lacked confidence. He could not pass the
ball with the necessary accuracy, either,
better than Anderson, the other Sub"
Well, Valley School would be defeated at
last, and he might have guided the team
to victory. And what would Millie Barr
think? She had been very nice about
it, and quite agreed that he, should go
home at this time. But she must have
been fearfully disappointed. Well, per-
haps she did not mind so much, after all.
Some other fellow would take her He
gritted his teeth at the thought of that.
Then, perhaps, she would not mind SO
much if the fellows of 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 he had before,
| to hammer at the opposing line until
| weak spot could be found; to send the
ends down the field like lightning on the
heels of a long, low punt; to skirt the
opposing ends behind perfect interference
| and run fifty yards to n touchdown; per
haps-to-but what was.the use of think
ing about it? 1t was all behind him now.
and getting further away with every min
ute's flight of the rushing train. He W as
glad he had left it all. He would see
Dad soon! Old Dad. How hard he must
be working, with all those annoying
squalling little wretches, sick, all over the
| town. He must be lonesome, there all by
| himself. Yes, he was glad he was going
to see Dad, and let the school rage if it
wanted to. What was school compared
to Dad, anyway?
Charlie was reused from his brown
study by the brakeman's roar of Bar
bridget in his ear. He had to change
cars here. He descended to the station
| platform and stood waiting for the other
train, when the telegraph operator tapped
him on the shoulder. MIR. Charles
Town?" he asked Charlie nodded and
was handed a telegram. "Wait where
you are" he read. Twill reach Bar
bridge at eleven FIVE" His fathers name
was signed to the message, and upon
looking at his watch Charlie found that
he had but three minutes to wait. He
paced the, platform impatiently, trying to
guess the cause of this very unusual re-
quest. until the train came in. His faith
er sprang from the platform of the smok
er and came to meet him with beaming
| face.
II thought l would catch you, BOY"
he said. Il wired to four points on the
line to be sure of you. 1 want to see you
win that game for Valley School, Char
lies heart swelled with a sudden JOY, so
keen that he could not speak; then sank
again.
Il don't believe l can get back in
time" he faltered. at takes four hours
from here, you know, and there's no train
for an hour. and the game begins at s."
''NonSense!' said his father. "I'll wire
them to delay matters. and you know no
contest ever comes off on time, anyhow"
| When they reached the academy town
they found the streets deserted. Every
one is at the field" said Charlie. Hear
that?" A faint gust of cheering came
from the grounds, half mile away.
| Valley School had grim visions of de-
| feat. The first half had closed with a
score of & to o, in Millville's favor The
enemy had slowly, stubbornly, advanced
the ball the length of the field for a