The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-01
THE EVENING STORY
Fate and Football.
(By Temple Bailey.)


over Don Fulton's resignation from
the football team.
why, we can't get along without
| him." the boys cried.
you talk as if he were dead" said
| Maize Thorne, who was a new girl.
HE might as well be-" Jean Camp
| bell told her. ct can't understand it.
He is going out to his uncle's place
in the country and be a farmer
Mazie's head went up. "You girls
seem to forget" she flashed, that my
home is on a farm
| "Oh, it isn't that Jean apologized.
But Don was at the head of his team
and to leave now"
81 see," Maize agreed.
That night the new girl observed
the boy who had caused the excite
ment. He was tall and broad Shout
dered, and there was something fine
cided, however. that his face was
spoiled somewhat by the expression
of obstinacy about the lips.
He'd have his own way or die"
Don Fulton's father said almost
you are determined to do as you
please % he asked quietly.
YES" was the logged response.
I'll leave school. and go on the
farm
"And you think my pride in having
my son follow in my professional
footsteps will make me give in? Don't
you know. Don, that I would let you
have your way if it were not for your
mother? She is not strong, and her
anxiety the last time you were on the
field nearly killed her. L can't have
it happen again."
Don wavered. "Of course, I don't
| want mother to suffer. But mothers
are always afraid of things. Boys
would be perfect mollycoddles if they
did as their mothers said"
could ever be a moIlycoddle," was the
grave response. "She comes of a race
of fighters, and this is her one weak
ness
We'll, I'll go on the farm"
"when?"
"Oh"-the boy had not been pre-
pared for such ready acquiescence-
ION Monday. There's the school re-
ception, and I don't want to miss it,
| over Don but Maize Thorne. She
| didn't like him very well, and she was
| inclined to think that he was having
too much petting. She liked to see
| their medicine. She said something
| of the kind to Jean Campbell, and at
the end of the evening, Jean having
| Don in a corner to himself, repeated
| spoiled"
| Don frowned eff fate gives me
few more kicks it will be the end of
me-"
derfully-it's perfect tragedy for a
| boy to leave a team like ours"
1T Isl Don agreed.
At supper he sat next to Maize
Thorne. She did not seem much i'm
pressed by his proximity, and ate her
CHECKED salad placidly.
He resolved to wake her up. T
heard you said I was spoiled
Mazie's face famed, then, she
| laughed.
well, 1 did. I'm not used to hav-
ing such a fuss made over people,"
Perhaps you don't understand how
much 1 am giving up
"A game?'
"A game in which I was leader. A
game in which I had put my whole
! heart and soul
And you are going to spoil your
future because you can't play" Her
clear criticism cut across his self
! esteem. you are going to pick up
your doll rags and rum
His big eyes blazed down at her,
| but she did not finch. "And run"
she repeated.
He pushed back his chair with a
savage motion. you don't under
stand" he said, and left her.
But the next morning note came
to her, an abrupt note, but a strong
one.
"You told me the truth. I am not
going to take my doll rags and run
away. Somehow I believe you can
"DON FULTON"
Maize wrote Eyes on the back of
the sheet and handed it to the bearer.
Another note asked her to go for
long walk in the autumn woods.
81 am in a hard place." Don told
her. 81 have said so much that it's
going to make me squirm to back out
] You walked me up last night. though.
/ Now, what shall I dor"
Simply tell everybody that you've
changed your mind. You'll be a lead
! er of more than games before you get
through"
His face frightened. you think
so? Somehow I haven't seemed to
get ahead with my books That's why
valued my leadership with the
team"
They were sitting on a log that
lay across the middle of the path.
There was a visa of sapphire sea
and of sunset. and Maize studied it
before she answered.
ANY strong man can be leader"
was her decision. Look at Lincoln.
Such men don't give up They don't
let fate kick them about like a foot
ball.
Il see.' Then after silence. he
said, 1.-The hardest part will be to
watch the other boys play. Would
you mind having an engagement with
me for that day-we1l make 1t a
matinee. and have tea aftefward at
the yellow Dragon"
"How lovelyi' She was radiant
I'm just little country girl, and 1
don't know half the nice places"
you'll have to let me show them
to you. Dads as generous as any
thing, and I'm never limited for pock-
ct money
"It will be lovely she repeated.
Then, after a moment, But if you
change your mind about going to the
game, let me know won't be dis
appointed
81 shan't change it, he said, brief
lly.
In the two months before the game
Don Fulton was a mystery to every
lone. He pegged away at his books,