The Press., 1909-01-20

oval.
 There's only one thing that keeps me from becoming engaged to you right now, Thornton" said the girl after a serious pause.
 .. You'll have to tell me, Leta; can't guess it, answered the stalwart quarterback of the Clinton eleven.
 "Just this,'' she said. ''I am not alto gether sure that you really need me in your life. You are strong, self reliant boy, capable of fighting your own way over the obstacles that will confront you.
 More than all else put together, want to know that without my en- couragement you would be accom- plishing less-that 1 will always be an inspiration to you, no matter what your aims may be-" @ ...-..s. ,
 For a moment the young man did not reply. Then he looked at his con- panion, his gaze sincere.
 "Leta, you're right" he agreed quiet ly. That's the way want you to feel about it. Deep down in my heart I know that you would always inspire me to strive for the best in life. But I must convince you of this, and I'll do it, too, dear girl, If I get the chancew
 Maybe you will, Thornton" she replied, land I hope that you will more than you can guess. Why-why not begin at the game todayY'
 That's what I intend to do, Leta!' was his prompt response. "I expect to play as I never played before, just be- cause you are wearing Clinton's col ors and wearing my pennant. It's a pretty one, isn't 1t?
 '"The gold and brown stripes harmo- nize beautifully with that bright brown gown you are wearing. Your ticket calls for a seat back on the north goal, and I know I'll see you clearly despite the crowds"
 ''It certainly is f1ne," she declared, ''that little me may be an inspiration to 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 I know everything depends on the quarterback. He gives the sig nals and delivers the ball, doesn't he?"
 "I know what you mean, Leta," he said. "You would like to see me in a position where I could run with the ball instead of handing it out to some body else?"
 The girl nodded.
 "Well, that's because weigh only 145 instead of POO pounds" he contin- ued. After all, 1t takes sheer weight in 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.
 q hope Clinton gets the south end, of the f1eld,'' be said as heAtarted od toward the clubhouse.
 "Why?" she asked. :..
 Because then I'll be able to see, the. orange and brown magnet that's draw ing me north toward Darnall's goalp he said earnestly.
 Soon the rival elevens trotted out on the field, and from the thousand tOngued grand stand rose a mighty shout, while pennAnts, ribbons, hand kerchiefs and flags mingled in a way ing, varicolored mass.
 It was the great wind-up game of the year. and there was a chance for any player to win a glory crown by making the deciding touchdown. Both elevens, it was evident. were steeled for the contest.
 But, as fate would have it, Clinton got the north end of the field. and savage quarterback waited for the um- pire's signal with his back to the girl in orange who was waving a pennant flor him.
 But despite this disappointment he gathered his strength for the charge. and as the shrill whistle struck his ears he leaped forward straight for the ball that lay on the line twenty yards in front of him. Biff! The oval went whirling through the air in a sixty yard parabola, with the whole Clinton team in pursuit.
 The ball landed in the arms of Dar- nails fullback, and the big fellow came back up the field in a 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 he felt his breath going fast as DarnalI 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 ClintOn's full back sent the ball far down the field
 But Darnall hurled 1t back with ap- other kick. 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 shriek of the um- pire's whistle.
 The time of the first half was almost up when suddenly out of scrimmage rolled the ball. For a second nobody excepting Clinton's quarterback knew what had become of 1t. -..
 As it bounded carelessly along Thorn. ton at one swoop seized it. Simulta. neously he heard shout on the side line, "Only forty seconds left!'
 Directly in front of him, not twenty yards distant, was Darnall's goal. Even a halfway drop kick might win the game. Thornton dropped the ball to the ground and swung his right foot. A great cheer went up, which died away suddenly in groan. The bali flew high, but 1t didn't go within fifty feet of either post.
 Times up!' yelled the umpire.
 Thornton felt that all Clinton was beyond expression and deeply ashamed of the showing he had made after the college had boast ed of his prowess as a drop kicker. He remained in dejected seclusion