Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-08-23
Ais Fair
By W. H. OSBORNE
Copyright. lss. by T. c. Mcclure.

too seriously OF marrying. She had led
the youth OF Frankfort Plains a merry
chase. There was not perhaps a man,
an eligible man. who had not made
love 20 her or who had not attempte
H. But she had led them on and thsi
had sent them OF. They went
There was too much humor in Miss
Betty. too much of wit and laughter
To make them essay u second time pro-
posal. one by one they stood rejected
Miss Betty would merely toss her
youthful head and laugh and laugh
and laugh.
Two of them. however. would not
down. Mr.. John Masterson was one
and Tommy NcClenahan was the 9th
er Masterson clung TO her with a
bulldog tenacity. He did it because he
had many of the characteristics OF the
bulldog Miss Betty would laugh al
Masterson until he began TO growl. and
then she would watch him rage ali.
storm with wide open eyes.
do that again." she would suggest
and MasterSOn would do 1t. He could
not help ii. He gnashed his teeth with
rage. But he always came back.
Tommy McClenahan didn't cling tC
Miss Betty. He simply followed heI
about. watching her with frank. hon
est eyes. They walked the fields one
day. and Miss Betty. in spirit of mis-
chief. ran away from Tommy. She
hadn't gh st Of a show at that. but
Tommy let .er run until she was well
tired. out; then with that easy squirt OF
his, which has won him medal after
medal in collegiate games. he sprang 10
her side and. obeying sudden i'm
pulse, caught her in his arms. Ordi
narily he would not have dared TO dc
this. but there was something about
Miss Betty's color and her sparkling
eyes that just made Tommy do II.
IL couldn't help it," lie gasped
And then he stopped. For she was
looking straight into his eyes. with m
expression that he had never seen be
fore. Tommy thought 1t was worth
while. He braccd himself and spoke
-Betty-Betty," he implored
"I've asked you now for the fifteenth
time, and I'm asking you again.
can't help 1t. You must marry me-
| won't take no for an answer"
Miss Betty drew herself away. She
still looked ut Tommy McClenahan.
I'll have promised Mr.-Mr. Mas
terson." she said slowly. that | would
marry him
Tommy touched her OH the arm
"No-no, Betty" he exclaimed. You
can't mean it,
Miss Betty went on: THAT | would
marry him II his team. the Frankforts,
won the tournament game at the coun'
ty fair. + will be fair and square
Tommy. J. will go further. | promise
to marry you II your team wins out
and gets tn, prize. No-no. that's all
won't discuss 1t. You know what
III do and shall do nothing else
But, Betty" pleaded Tommy Nc
Clenahan. "you-you know my team
can't win. 1t never has and it can't
now"
Miss Betty smiled. Then" she said
archlv. 80 much the better. Tommy
for Mr.. Masterson." Tommy said
nothing further. He strobe along 10y
her side with his glance upon the
ground.
ITS the man whose team wins the
game. Tommy" she said at parting.
by George" muttered Tommy to
himself. later. 'she knew we couldnt
win. thought she liked me better
than to-
The town of Frankfort Plains was
the county seat of Frankfort county
Frankfort Plains was fashionable
residence place and the county fair
was one Of the fashionable events of
the ,ear. Indeed. at all seasons the
Plains was lively place and the Two
athletic clubs helped to make it so
The two athletic clubs supported. Dy
grace of the pOcketbooks of rev
millionaires, two good football tea'ns
The Franfort Plains club team was
captained by John Masterson. Esd
and the Wayside Athletic club team
by Tommy McClenahan. Master
son had peopleI his team with bull
dogs like. himself; Masterson's team
had invariably won. Both men were
college graduates. The county IAN
judges. also by grace Of the aforesaid
pocketbooks. had offered this year Il
$1,000 cash prize to the team tha'
won the football game In the count!
fair tournament. There was never any
restriction as to what teams shouio
eompete. but as the Wayside could
lick anything In the county except TIE
Frankfort and as the Frankfort could
lick the Wayside there was iitti.
doubt which teams would play. aho
tbere WAS little doubt also which team
would win. In the midst Of the prepa
rotion for the fair Mr.. John Master
son had proposed to Miss Betty Pen
nington for the thirteenth time. and
Tommy had proposed for the ffteentf
time. and her ultimatum had goh'
forth.
Now. It IL Just as well to state righ'
hore that Miss Betty had a smal
brother who hated Mr.. Masterson ant
who was crony Of Tommy McClena
hans and that this small brother
carried to the latter all the news N
gathered during the course Of the day'
and weeks. This may or may no
have some bearing on the case.
McClenahan got his team out ant
had them In practice at every avail
able hour Of the day. He had to az
the best he could. He could not tel
them why. But they worked, for the!
were after the So, -. e applaus
of the community. 10y worked.
Masterson. vn the con.rary. gave hi
team Il rest. Everybody wondere'
why. but MastersOn WAS car, ant
they left him alone. Now. Mastersol
was the graduate of college who's
name is n household w0rd-a colleg
which battles with another college o.
the football field every fall. upo
| which battle hangs the interest OF MI