Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-12-18
The BLUE
lp@naNlanl1os
By PHILIP KEAN
Copyright. 1901. by A. Bartlett.
By PHILIP KHAN

! with occurrences that made an cf-
fective foil for the bronze brightness
of her hair. the warm ivory OF her
skin The red OF her lips Today she
wore blnr-a trim tailored gown of
leep colored cloth. little cooky felt
hat ana q great bunch Of violets That
outshone all the other blues except that
Of the pennunt which she carried M
the end OF a slender cane
you beauty" Holden said under his
breath as he took his seat beside her
on the grand stand
She turned quickly
"oh Irwin" her face was brilliant
with color. ITS worth everything to
see YOU again. Aunt Sue" she said to
the lady beside her. "this is Irwin IIol.
den. the famous halfback of two years
ago"
"The king is dead, Long live the
king Irwin quoted solemnly. "There
have been so many famous halfbacks.
Helen. that II isn't any wonder that
Mrs Mcdonald doesn't remember me.
"But do remember" MIS-. Melon
ulh hNNui'h NM iltiFh hoN loih'h Va
you so much and" She hesitated. "of
your accident"
Il haven't been able TO walk well on
two feet since" Holden said grimly.
land this is the first game / have
dared let myself see. 1t makes me
wild"
"To think that YOU can't playl' Hell
ems tone was sympathetic.
ITO know / can't ever do things that
make man worth whller' bitterly.
But YOU have done so many things
that are worth while. and they tell me
that you are writing a book"
"Oh. a book" His tone was scorn-
full
you might have let me know what
You were doing. she complained II
think our old friendship deserved that
He glanced down at her
"Ah. our friendship" he said. ~
had two good feet when we cemented
that. Helen. I wasn't dummy on
/ crutches."
Erwin" she flashed out reproachful-
/ ly. las If that made any difference
"But II does make a difference" he
said as me bent over her you know
\ you worship strength IN a man, don't
you?"
Yes" she agreed quietly, but not
always mere physical strength"
THE one isn't much without the
other Look at those fellows now"
Down the field came the teams The
bands of the opposing sides crashed
out the good old tunes. college yell
succeeded college yell, and the banks
of spectators stretching up and up on
the seats in solid masses OF blue and
crimson were agitated TO uproarious-
ness.
isn't il finer Isn't it fine?" Helen
said breathlessly. having cheered the
blue team 10 the echo
Holden nodded
"They are bound TO win" he said
"They are made Of the right stuff"
Il only know one Of them personal
ly." Helen told him-"Nan Dorm"
Hes the strongest man IN the lot
He's an ideal halfback"
Gle Is ideal in more ways than one.
she agreed
He flashed a quick glance at her.
Il have heard You thought So"
"Who told your
"Some Of the fellows"
She turned her back on him squarely
II didn't suppose that YOU talked me
over With the fellows" she said over
her shoulder
Il don't" uncomfortable but one
couldn't help hearing that Van Dorm is
awfully daffy over you"
$50 were you-two years ago"
She said It daringly. giving him a
glimpse of flaming cheeks and indig
nant eyes. and then once more he was
forced TO contemplate the knot of
bronze hair under the cocky hat
His face went white. but be said
quietly, I'VE are missing the best OF
the game" and turned his attention 70
the field.
All about them people were absorbed
by the play. Aunt Sue unlearned and
unlettered in football lore. was obliyi
Gus TO everything else These two
alone thought Of other things.
II was at Van Dorn's touchdown that
the place went wild.
"Oh. he's great. great. great Helen
enthused as she waved her pennant
frantlcally. II haven't seen anything
like IT since the last game you played.
Irwin oh. do you remember the little
blue pennant that | made you pin 20
your sweater for luck-and It didn't
bring you luck
mo" he said DULY. ut didn't bring
me luck. | lost the game. | lost the
strength I gloried in-I lost you. Hell
en-"
"No. no." she protested: you knew
you always had my friendship. Irwin
But | didn't want friendship. and
you knew II and | knew II. And
hadn't the right TO ask for anything
else. and so ! kept away from you.
But after two years OF separation the
temptation to see YOU was too great. so
I sent you the tickets and asked You
70 come To the game"
1.-The whole world was changed when
read your letter" she said simply
II have missed you so. dear boy"
Then for a moment he let himself go
"Oh. Helen Helen!" he said bro
kenly
But the game was over. and tumul-
tuous throng poured ont OF the seats.
Erwin wants Us 10 go TO dinner with
him. Aunt Sue" Helen said as they
went down the steps.
In their walk across the green they
You know as any one when you need