The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1908-01-15
The BLUE
(p@Hl1n@1n{l9o
By PHILIP KEAN.
Copyright, 1907. by A. Bartlett.


hat and great bunch of violets that
outshone all the other blues except that
of the pennant which she carried at
the end of 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, tits worth everything to
see you again. Aunt Sue" she said to
the lady beside her. this Is Irwin Hol-
den, the famous halfbaek of two years
ago"
THE king is dead! Long live the
king" Irwin quoted solemnly. "There
have been SO many famous halfbacks,
Helen. that 1t isn't any wonder that
Mrs. Mcdonald doesn't remember me- -
"But l do remember Mrs. Melon
aid assured him. Helen has talked Of
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 l have
dared let myself see 1t makes me
Wild"
ITO think that you can't play" Hell
ems tone was sympathetic
ITO know | can't ever do things that
make a man worth while!' bitterly
But you have done SO many things
that are worth while. and they tell me
that you are writing book"
"Oh, book" His tone was seorn-
full
you might have let me know what
you were doing!" she complained. 81
think our old friendship deserved that "
He glanced down ut her
"Ah. our friendship he said ~
had two good feet when we cemented
that, Helen. | wasn't dummy on
crutches"
Irwin" she flashed out reproaehfnl-
~, "as If that made any difference!''
But 1t does make difference" he
said as he bent over her you know
you worship strength in man, don't
your"
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 OF
the seats in solid masses Of blue and
crimson were agtated to uproarious
ness.
Isn't 1t fine? Isn't 1t fine?" Helen
said breathlessly, having eheered the
blue team to 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-"Van Dorm"
Hes the strongest man In the lot.
He's an ideal halfback."
"IIe Is ideal in more ways than One,"
she agreed.
He flashed n quick glance at her.
81 have heard you thought So"
"Who told you:"
"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
II don't" uneomfortably, "but one
couldn't help hearing that Van Dorm is
awfully daffy over you"
$50 were you-two years ago"
She said 1t 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 he said
the game" and turned his attention to
the field.
All about them people were absorbed
by the play. Aunt Sue, unlearned and
unlettered in football lore. was oblivl-
Gus to everything else. These two
alone thought of other things.
1t was at Van Dorn's touchdown that
the place went wild.
"Oh. he's great. great, great" Helen
enthused as she waved her pennant
frantically. II haven't seen anything
like 1t since the last game you played,
Irwin. Oh. do YOU remember the little
blue pennant that made you pin to
your sweater for luck-and 1t didn't
bring you Iuel."
mo" he said duly. at didn't bring
me luck. lost the game. lost the
strength ! gloried in--I lost you, Hell
en-
mo. no." she protested; you knew
you always had my friendship. Irwin"
But | diin't want friendship, and
you knew it and knew It. And I
hadn't the right TO ask for anything
else, and so I kept away from you.
But after two years OF separation the
temptation TO see you was too great, so
l sent you the tickets and asked you
to come to the game"
"The whole world was changed when
l read your letter." she said simply.
II have missed You SO. dear boy"
Then for q moment he let himself 20.
"Oh. Helen, Helen" he said bro
kenly
But the tsanle was over. and tumul
tuous throng poured out Of the seats.
Erwin wants Us to 70 to dinner with
him. Aunt Sue" Helen said as they
went down the steps.
In their walk across the green they
attracted more than usual attention.
the younger boys admiring Helen's
beauty, the older ones recognizing In
the man with the crutch the famous
halfbacli Of two years ago, who had
then been reported engaged to the girl
by his SIDE
Van Dorm, flushed with victory, came
up to their table at the college inn.
"Pve won your pennant, Miss Mar
SHALL" he said. looking like a young
god. with his great strong figure, his
fair hair tossed back from his fore
head.
did l promise it?" Helen asked un.
certainly.