The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-01-14
The BLUE
PenlIn@Il(19o
By PHILIP KEAN.


skin, the red of her lips. Today she
wore blue-a trim tailored gown Of
deep colored cloth. little cocky felt
hat and a great bunch of violets that
outshone all the other blues except that
of the pennant which she carried at
the end of a slender cane.
"You beautyw 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, ''it's worth everything to
see you again! Aunt Sue" she said to
the lady beside her, "this is Irwin Hol-
den, the famous halfback of two years
ago"
1.-The king is dead! Long live the
kingY' Irwin quoted solemnly. There
have been so many famous halfbacks,
Helen, that it isn't any wonder that
Mrs. Mcdonald doesn't remember me-"
"But l do remember" Mrs. McDon-
aid assured him. Helen has talked OF
you so much-and." she hesitated, "of
your accident
II haven't been able to walk well on
two feet since," Holden said grimly,
'and this is the first game have
dared let myself see. It makes me
wild"
ITO think that you can't play~ Hell
ems tone was sympathetic.
ITO know | can't ever do things that
make man worth whilew bitterly.
"But you have done SO many things
that are worth while, and they tell me
that you are writing book"
ooh, a book!" His tone was scorn-
full
"You might have let me know what
you were doing!" she complained i
think our old friendship deserved that"
He glanced down at her.
"Ah, our friendship" he said. II
had two good feet when we cemented
that, Helen. wasn't dummy on
crutches."
Irwin" she dashed out reproachful-
ly, "as if that made any difference?
"But it does make a difference" he
said as he bent over her. "You know
you worship strength in a man, don't
your"
EYES," 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 weaa agitated to uproarious-
ness.
"Isn't it fine? Isn't it fine" Helen
said breathlessly. having cheered the
blue team to the echo.
Holden nodded.
"They are bound to win,' he said.
''They are made of the right stuff. :"
ST only know one Of them personal
w." Helen told him-"van Dorm"
Hes the strongest man in the lot.
He's an ideal halfback."
"He 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-
Il didn't suppose that you talked me
over with the fellows" she said over
her shoulder.
II don't" uncomfortably, "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
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
quietly, 1--WE are missing the best Of
the game" and turned his attention to
the field.
All about them people were absorbed
by the play Aunt Sue, unlearred and
unlettered in football lore. was obliyi-
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. Il 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 auckland it didn't
bring you luck"
mo" he said DULY, 1T didn't bring
me luck / lost the game. | lost the
strength gloried in-1 lost you. Hell
en-
mo, no." she protested; "you knew
you always had my friendship, Irwin
"But | didn't want friendship, and
you knew it and knew it. 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
| sent you the tickets and asked you
to 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 moment he let himself go.
"Oh, Helen, Helenv' he said bro
henly.
But the game was over. and tumul-
tuous throng poured out of the seats.
Erwin wants us to go 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
halfback 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.
give won your pennant, Miss Mar
SHALL" he said, looking like young
god. with his great strong figure, his
fair hair tossed back from his fore
head
did / promise it?" Helen asked I'M
certainly.
Indeed you did," he stated securely,
"and shall wear it like knight for
his lady"
With her eyes avoiding Holden's,
Helen united the blue trophy slowly
from the cane. In the sight of the
whole room Van Dorm pinned 1t to his
sleeve. He did it triumphantly, bend
| ing over her with an air of possession
! that made Holden set his lips sternly
and turn to a tense study of the menu
'May come back and go home with
| you?" he asked but Helen shook her
head
erwin will take u.s." she said, "but
wish if you have a minute you'd
show Aunt Sue the trophy room. She
has never seen it."
AS they went away she faced Hoi-