Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-08-05

eyes burned with sharp pains, the mus.
cles in his legs jerked and tugged, his
breath rushed in and out through Il
throat Sore and patched with dust. Try
as he might his body refused to. swing
evenly and his steps tailored with
growing frequency.
He kept his eyes fixed on the track
as he ran. 1t seemed to be rushing to
meet him, and he fancied it sWayed
and reeled. Sometimes his foot hit
the clnders too soon, sometimes tho
track dropped down, almost out OF
reach. But still he forced his c5' up
and down; Up and down, up and down,
until it seemed that the terrible, mon;
otonous stride must finally give way
to the toddling gait Of little baby
just learning to walk.
Elton lost all count Of his position
on the track until his gaze fell upon
the little holes the runners of the hun
dred-yard dash had dug in starting.
Then he knew the race was almost
ended, and he tried to put forth the
whole strength of his body. Could he
run those last 100 yards without fall
ing?
UP in the grand stand the crowd
was yelling madly. He heard his own.
name shouted again and again, but the
sounds seemed to come from great
distance. The footballs Of the other
runner had died out now, and he won
dered if it were possible that the man
had passed him without his noticing
1t. He looked at the track ahead, half
expecting to see the runner, but it was
deserted clear up to the taut little
string that marked the finish. So he
lowered his head and began to count
once more as his feet hit the cinders.
He was close to the finish now, run
ming with mouth open and eyes half
shut. He staggered from side to side
Of the track, only dimly seeing the
crowd that lined 1t. Then, through
his half-closed eyes, he saw the tape
just ahead.
The sight seemed to put new strength
into him. He opened his eyes wide
and threw back his head. squaring his
shoulders. His legs thumped up and
down with more evenness.
There was ono awful second when
the tape, just rs he reached it, seemed
to melt away into the distance. But
the next instant he came full upon 1t,
and with arms high in the air felt 1t
break across his breast. He had won
the race
A dozen friends rushed out to catch
him. AS he fell into their arms there
was q quick sweep of air behind him,
and the runner who had followed close
at his heels crossed the line. good
second. Elton looked curiously at him
for a minute, too tired to grasp the
truth. Then he blinked wonderlngly,
rubbed his eyes once or twice, and
started to speak gnr
But before he had uttere6
words, the announcer of the races bel
lowed through great megaphone:
Result of the mile run: First, Elton;
r.
tom had feared would pass him was
none other than Denty, his own man.
The thing was explained simply
enough. At the time when Elton
glanced over his shoulder, to find his
mate apparently missing, Denty had
lust come up rapidly into the place Oh
cne of the other runners who dropped
out exhausted. Elton's blurred VISION
had beea unable to distinguish faces.
Instead of getting first place by mar
row margin, his team had taken sec-
oad as we'll. The meet was unques-
tionably won.
For the first time since the race, Ell
ton smiled broadly. His university
had won the meet; he had taken first
mace in the mile run. Such a comoi-
nation he had long ago regarded as I'M
possible.
While he was still smiling, the meg
aphone beloved out some other an.
nouncement. In an instant the croWo
was yelling and cheering in a perfec,
fury. The coach of the team rushed
up and graspcd Elton's hand.
"What is it?" asked Elton hal
dazed.
Don't you know" demanded tn
coach, with happy face. You broK
the intercollegiate record for the mil
run"
They were crowding round him nov
IN great numbers, each ready wit
congratulations. The coach thumpe
him ON the back with great heartlnes!
The big football player scattered tn
crowd right and left as he made nj
way to Elton's side, and slipped on
of the runners white hands into hi
great brown one.
. But best of all, pleasant-faced ma
euthoritatively pushed his way throue
, the group of Elton's admirers, an
, reaching him at last, threw an ar
affectionately round his shoulders ar
turned to introduce him to the me
who had followed him.
, "Gentlemen," he said. with prol
emnhasis, this is my son!"-Youth
S Companion.