The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1903-06-25

sons day. spa hsd tbonsht the lin.
hand. Nov. however, thsrs vas nothir
10 do bs, forget Lis snthions end bel
vin The fsce tor bis snivsni,y. 81 ;
wrote 70 hn father emphasizing The circui
stances snd suggesting that l, ~culd hsr
" 30 worth his vhiIe 10 come 10 tne nee
Bat tis father. slo y. 30 cid cclles
men himseli. snsvefed bis letter 10 ~
,ha made Eton's heart leap
lem proud Of 700; tbs hiher srots
snd usder the eiroamstsncss soald pr
fer bsvios yous iesm yin tie meet ths
seeing you set . nos 10 tbst race. 70
have the true college sriris. my boy
shich 10 90 inpot.stt element 10 TIE bisl
ei educs,ion Istsli come 10 see you los
the rssa and BE- Glad shsn you DO II.
The day Of the dusl track meet came .
moss before Eton rsslised it. The si
sss heavy vith ihs son i,sioe.s Of tsrl,
spripe. yet ihefo vss ooolness In ,hs .
mospbers ,hss fortold isstfsees,
B,th uniysrsitiss hs4 large following
E.eh vN GOOD iert Of ~iunins, ssot
chetred iss men ffsn.icaliy. Followers o
90 leee athletes we're on the 6eld 10 isis,
nuu bsrs. for .bs meet vas practically Il
decide The chan piorsbip oi the weei
Down usder The grand stand, 10 tb.
dressing rooms the memban Of the trscl
team loupaed sbous 10 luIuriou idleness
The coaches, iudges, time-keepers aud 9th
er tfiisials rushed here and there 10 eresI
eel hs,te, endesvorins to set iae great 9Th
letic meet started Oh time
l. was. % ususl, . foil hslf.hour after
the advertised time when tbe frst event
occurred. Bat from thst moment there
vss no hitch. and slowly the spectators
checked o6 their programs - esoh race
wss ended. For The ooscbes there we're
no surprises. Eioh bad figured ont .he re
sults Of the various events from the previ
ous records OF the cop,es,sbie, md each
saw bis prophecies. oue BY one. fulliled.
Almost before be knew it. Elton hsd bis
muscles loossned BY csreful rubbing and
knesdine. and then had slipped on bis
ronning suit and taken his place 90 the
oinder track.
As he waited for The sisnsl be remem
befed The cosoh's last advice. He looked
nov at The three other runners. Denty
vas on the outer edge Of the track, smil
ing sni confident. one oil the other teams
men was on each side oil him, Elton look
ed curion,ly st them, and wondered IL
they would be fooled by The simple game
be vas TO play. Ho doubted It, bat be de
Iermined to do bis beet to draw them on.
Then came the sharp commands OF The
stsrtsr. the pistol shot snd they we're of.
Bsoh raining with long, measured stride.
For . time they ran together. With feet
lhat touched the cinders underneath 10
perfect unison. Alter . momeDt, Ellon.
almost afraid. took . longer step. and
aickened bic stride. For . minute be
|sssed the change 10 the race vas enough
10 be noticed. bat . quick side glance
Ihoved The other runners d lis elbow. 30
Bit BY bit be increased his sppeed until
10 knew be must bs setting pace that
Would soon tire the Others. And still they
,lnng 10 bis eide.
At the second lap OF tho qnsrter.mile
rack, when the race vas half ended. El
on Vas fuli so yards ahead Of The nesrcet
nan. The runners Of The other team had
y shis time discovered the attempt 10
IRE them d the stast, and had dropped
,sck until they we're midway between El
on and Dsnsy:
Just how we'll the plan had worked
'ould not be decided until the last lsp.
,hsn The critical sprint d the 6nish tooE
,lace. I, seemed 10 Elton, however. that
be two other runners must be much more |
xhsusted than Denty. Elson himself vss
bard, and keeping step only 10
mechanical Wy. he vas glad be vss not
zpscsed to sprint the lass few yards.
As be rounded The curve Of the track u
he nnish Of the last lsp bat one, Elton
ook . qaick glanc, back u the other RON
ers. Then be sssped suddenly. lost tstsp
nd nearly fell. de could not see Denty
There vas blurred sight Of the two 9th
{ ruunsrs, slrssdy beginning to gsin up
% hin. bus back Of them, where Denty
I'd been : moment before. the track 10y
Isck snd deserted. Had be falIen3 Had
g given up the rscei There was 10 time,
osever, ior conjcotures Bat one thought
10 10 El.on's mind; Dsn'y was gone; be
,ust win lhs rsoe himself.
He crossed The lice sod started on the
.ss lsp. Well 10 the resr. the two other
unnsrs quickened their pace, snd beesn
, draw nearer and nesssr. Up 10 the
rand stand soms one yelled word Of en
engagement. and Elton tried TO move bis
,ss little faster. His breath vss coming
, qaeer. choking sssps nov. and bis lips
ere burning bot snd dry.
Hs i.ssy round the track be stumbled
ON sheer exhaustion. snd lost . yard or
10. By the time be hsd forced bis legs
ito the stits sssip. he could hesr the
bored brss,hins OF some Other runner
oss bshiod. With desperate ere'sy be
az The spikes Of bis running shoes into
lie cinder track. and lesped shssd % be
oald with iorg stroke 10 skating. For
!, iosisrt be Lost tbs proddios souods be
Iod, sod hope retoraed. Then otce I
ore. sssuiosly closer and loo Ter thso ev
!. be heard tbs bresshins.
BE islssrsd sssiu almost fell. he teSsp ,
ooun, nov, out loui. that hs might
,sp lbe stride. for be knss II be Lost IL
zoe bis chance Of winning the race would ,
l.