Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-08


dance on Friday night, and all be-
cause you are in training for that
wretched game. o, have plenty Of
friends who will be glad to go with
me, but will not put them to dis
advantage by asking them to escort an
engaged girl-so noww Poily's cheeks
mad taken on some Of the more deli.
cate hues Of the burning logs in the
fireplace.
Huntington was silent. Polly was In
earnest then. She had broken their
engagement because he must adhere
to the rules laid down for men in
training for the big game. His college
team counted him among their strong
est players; he could not go back on
them. Surely, Polly must realize this
"see here, Polly" he began, but she
interrupted him.
II will not listen, Mr.. Huntington,
and might add that you may close
the present Interview as soon as you
like" She leaned back in her chair
and hummed snatch of song, utterly
ignoring him.
Huntington rose and took his hat.
"All right Polly! When you are ready
to talk senslbly and wear this ring
again. let me know" and before she
could look around, she heard the big
door close and he was gone.
Alone, she slid from her chair and
sat on the little hassock he had left
so abruptly. How queer and unadorned
her left hand locked and-yes-there
was an odd, indescribable feeling some
where else-on her left side. Why did
anyone invent football?
And yet. Polly soliloquized, had 1t
not been for the game, she might new
err have met him and loved him. 1t
was his big. handsome presence on the
field which had first attracted her, and
1t was after splendldly won game
that she had accepted him.
Polly buried her head in her arms
on the big chair and cried-because of
football, Of course. and Its evils.
"Huntington's playing the game Of
his life" said Teddy Lathrop, when
time had been called on the first half
Of the big intercollegiate game.
"Yes?" Polly Westcott's reply was
given in far-away tone. She wished
| they had not called time. She did not
want the players to leave the field at
all. She could not see them during the
intermission.
Hes been in strict training this sea-
son, and he's in fine TRIM" went on the
innocent Lathrop, shifting about to see
what Polly was staring at. He could
see nothing interesting in the vacant
space on which her glance was focused.
but then Lathrop was freshman and
had not known.
Now watch him. he cried MS the
signal for the second half was given.
AS If Polly would do anything else!
Cheer after cheer went up from the
grandstand as one good play after an
other took place on the gridiron. but
Polly saw only one of the two elevens,
though she cheered mechanically with
| the others.
How proud she was that Huntington
had not gone to the old dances. but
had kept in good trim. Anyway. she
believed the dances were not SO jolly
as they had been formerly-she had
not enjoyed them very much.
"Huntington's hurt! cried Lathrop.
switching Polly's train of thought sud
IDENTIFY.
"what?" Polly's eyes followed the
little procession which was carrying a
man of the field. Take me off the
stand quick"
Lathrop took her arm and they hur-
ried from the grandstand.
Where shall take you?" he asked
quite at loss to comprehend the sit
uation.
"To-to-over there! she cried, run.
ming in the direction of the little shed
which the teams called the hospital"
| Without asking psrmission she entered