The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-12-29

down Main street bound for Clinton
oval.
.There's only one thing that keeps
me from becoming engaged to You
right now, Thornton" said the girl
after serious pause.
you'll have to tell me, Leta; l
can't guess it," answered the stalwart
ouarterback Of the Clinton eleven.
Gust this, /" she said. Il am not alto
rether sure that you really need me
ID your life. You are a strong, sell
reliant boy, capable Of fighting your
own way over the obstacles that VIII
confront you.
More than all else put together, l
want to know that without my en-
couragement you would be accom-
plishing iess-that / win always be
an inspiration to you, no matter what
your aims may be-"
For a moment the young man did
not reply. Then he looked at his COM
panion, his gaze sincere.
''Leta. you're right," he agreed quiet
". that's the way I want you to
feel about It. Deep down in my heart
/ know that you would always inspire
me to strive for the best IN life. But
must convince you Of this, and I'll
do 1t, too, dear girl, II get the
chanceg
aGaybe you win, Thornton" she
replied. ssand hope that you will
more than you can guess Why-why
not begin at the game today r
ssThat's what intend to do, LetaF'
was his prompt response. Il expect to
play as never played before, just be-
cause you are wearing Ciinton's col
ors and wearing my pennant- It's
pretty one, isn't It?
ssThe gold and brown stripes harmo-
nize beautifully with that bright
brown gown you are wearing. Your
ticket calls for seat back on the
north goal. and I know III see you
clearly despite the crowds"
TT certainly is f1ne," she declared.
.sthat little me may be an inspiration
to a Clinton boy to play at his best!
But It seems almost pity that you are
not one Of the halfbacks or In the line,
though / know everything depends
on the quarterback. He gives the sig
mails and delivers the ball, doesn't her
II know what you mean, Leta,' he
said. "You would like to see me in
position where / could run with the
bali instead Of handing it out to some
body else7v
The girl nodded
wei, that's because weigh only
1z5 Instead Of 200 pounds" he contin-
ued. After all, 1t takes sheer weight
Ia the line, and that naturally slides
me into the Quarterback's place.
"But you mustn't forget that Clinton
depends upon me to kick the goals, and
q goal kicked or missed often wins or
loses big game like this"
They were now on the college
grounds amid shouting hundreds and
futtering flags and pennants- Thorn
ton assisted Leta to her seat high up
in that part Of the semicircular grand
stand that stretched around behind the
north goal
II hope Clinton gets the south end
OF the field" be said AS he started of
toward the clubhouse.
"Why :" she asked.
ABecause then I'll be able to see the
orange and brown magnet that's draw
ing me north toward Darnalls goalT
he said earnestly.
Soon the rival elevens trotted out on
the field, and from the thousand
tongued grand stand rose mighty
shout, while pennants, ribbons, hand
kerchiefs and flags mingled In wav-
ing, varicolored mass.
1t was the great wind-up game Of
the year, and there was a chance for
any player to win glory crown by
making~the deciding touchdown. Both
elevens, It was evident, were steeled
for the contest.
Rnk, as fate would have it, Clinton
rot the north end Of the field, and a
savage quarterback waited for the UNI
pire's signal with his back to the girl
in orange who was waving pennant
for him.
But despite this disappointment he
gathered his strength for the charge,
and as the shrin whistle struck his
ears he 1eaped forward straight for
the ball that lay ON the line twenty
yards In front Of him. Biffl The oval
went whirling through the air in a
sixty yard parabola, with the whole
Clinton team in pursuit.
The bah landed In the arms Of OAR
Nails fullback. and the big fellow
came back up the field In series of
lunges. But before a dozen yells had
split the air he was down, with every
Clinton man piling over him.
Then the shoulder to shoulder battle
began. In three downs Darnall lost
the ball. Then Thornton's opportunity
came. To test Darnall's line he gave
at the risk Of having his own neck
twisted a series of center rush signals.
Three times the heavy backs charg-
ed over him, and be felt his breath
going fast as Darnall hurled back the
plungers. End runs were tried with
but little better success. Seeing that
line rushes were hopeless, he gave the
signal for a kick, and Ciinton's full
hack sent the ball far down the field.
But DarnaIf hurled 1t back with an
other LICK. There were more close
formation plays, followed by two more
long distance kicks. while the air was
filled with the cries Of the spectators
and the sharp, quick shrek Of the uD,
pire's whistle.
The time Of the first half was airnos
up when suddenly out Of scrimmag'
rolled the ball. For a second nobod!
excepting Clinton's quarterback knew
what had become of it.
As 1t bounded carelessly along Thorn
ton at one swoop seized it. Simulta
neously he heard a shout on the sid
line, Only forty seconds leftt'
Directly In front Of him, not twent,
yards distant, was Darnalps goal
Even a halfway drop kick might VIII
the game. Thornton dropped the bal
to the ground and swung his right foot
A great cheer went up, which dice
away suddenly In a groan. The bal
few high, but 1t didn't go within fiftJ
feet of either post.
Times upp yelled the umpire.
Thornton felt that all Clinton was
disappointed beyond expression and
deeply ashamed Of the showing be
had made after the college had boast
ed Of his prowess as a drop kicker
He remained in detected seclusion
during the intermission.
But when the whistle sounded again
he was like another man. Clinton
had the south goal this time, and
clearly the quarterback saw a girl In
orange swinging pennant In the
grand stand Already the throngs
had forgotten his fiuke in the hope
of victory in the second half.
At the KICKOFF Thornton sent the
-fx-,fxs,, covov,fv no rdc down fha field