The Redwood gazette., 1909-12-01

THE GIRLS. it is not strange
he did not look up as tall girl walked
rapidly toward him across the campus.
Her hand was outstretched. but at
sight Of his face she dropped it, and
a little sob caught her breath as she
passed hurriedly up the steps of la
dies hall. Once in her own room a
storm Of tears relieved Lucia's feel
ings and enabled her to see what
seemed to have escaped every ones
vision at the time-that it was only a
game that was lost, after all.
Dear boyw she exclaimed impul-
sively, caressing Ned's picture, which
stood on her dresser. "He must not
be left to suffer alone" Then a sec
ond thought came to her. "They must
all be suffering
Thought meant action With Lucia.
and soon two devoted freshmen were
speeding over the hall tapping on
every door with the summons, Meet
in the gym at once" Other petticoated
couriers gathered in the girls from the
neighboring fraternity houses, and the
gymnasium was filled with restless,
wondering groups when Lucia march
ed in, clad in a crimson lounging robe
girt with an azure sash and holding
under her arm miniature football
which had once contained bonbons.
She walked calmly to the platform
Girls" she said. waving her hand
toward the athletic quarters. "those
boys. the team, are over there alone,
crying-crying. do you hear, with
shame and hum Iiation. The boys have
left them without as much as a hand,
shake. People have passed them on
the street as if they had the plague
They are our boys, our team, who have
won every game for three years. Re-
member how they wiped up the field
with Chicago only year ago; how they
have beaten Minnesota three times.
Remember how they went east and
tied Cornell and showed the eastern
teams we could play football out here.
We know, too, that they have never
played an unfair game. that they have
denied themselves luxuries and amuSe-
ments and have practiced hard to be a
credit to Great Western What right
have we, who never helped to win their
victories, to draw back and blame them
for their failure? 1t is a shame to all
of US. 1 tell you, to let them suffer
there alone!''
A rousing cheer greeted the conclu-
sion of her speech, and little Nell
Hustled jumped on the piano stool to
make her voice heard among the babel
of approving tongues as she cried. 81
move we send the boys some flowers
and let 'em know we like 'em stillv'
Neil seized the football and started
around the room. Dollars and half
dollars ratified together until she pou.,-
ed the glittering heap of silver into
Lucia's lap, saying, Get 'em, the
beauties, Lucia, and send a note.9'
AS the members of the team sal
gloomily in the hall of the athletic
quarters trying to talk, and only spas
medically succeeding, the roses were
brought in. a great, fragrant armfui,
tied with an azure sash.
A card bore the inscription, "Witla
cordial good wishes from the Great
Western girls, who have admired the
team in its victories and still admire
it in its first defeat"
There was a moment of strained 81
lerce. while each boy tried not to
show all he felt Then O'Neal leaped
to his feet. and the way they all
joined in his cheer for Our girls.
They're trumpsw plainly showed that
the first bitterness of failure had
passed.
There was a note for O'Neal, Just a
few lines from Lucia. in which she
wrote, Make the boys eat their
Thanksgiving dinner, Ned, then come
see me, please"
The old time ring was in Neds
voice as he turned to the boys, saying:
We'll have the dinner brought over
here and keep Thanksgiving, after all.
Let's have it now, for l have an en-
gagement this evening"
The boys could even laugh as some
one said, Make it for life if you can,
old fellow
Il WILL" said Ned humbly.
The Measuring Rod.
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