Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-05
THE EVENING STORY.
FATE AND FOOTBALL.
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.

l ILlc lOOCDdll t0dIU. "
why, We can't get along without
him." the boys cried.
you talk as IL he were dead" said
Maize Thorne, who was a new girl.
"He might as we'll be-" Jean Camp
bell told her. Il can't understand it.
He 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.
hut Don was at the head of his team
and to leave now 5i
| Il see," Maize agreed.
That night the new girl observed
the boy who had caused the excite
dered. and there was something fine
| in the shape Of his head. She de-
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 alomst
the same thing to his son that night.
"You are determined to do as you
please?" he asked quietly.
| YES" was the logged response.
1 IF Il can't be on the team. father.
I'll leave school. and go on the
farm u
"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 IL 1t were not for your
mother? She is not strong, and her
lanxiety the last time you were on the
field nearly killed her. / can't have 1t
happen agar"
| Don wavered. "Of course, 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"
II don't think your mothers son
could ever be nollycoddle," was the
grave response She comes of "a race
Of fighters, and this is her, one weak
ness"
.'Well, I'll 60 on the farm
Certainly" was the quick answer;
"when?"
"Oh''-the boy had not been prepar-
ed for such ready acquiescence-"on
Monday. There's the school reception.
and ] don't want to miss it.
At the reception everybody mourned
over Don but Maize Thorne. She
didn't like him very we'll and she was
inclined to think that he was having
men square their shoulders and take
their medicine. She said something
OF the kind to Jean Campbell, and at
the end Of the evening Jean having
| Don IN corner to himself, repeated
the criticism. "she thinks you are
spoiled
me-"
Il think you are bearing up won
derfully perfect tragedy for a
boy to leave team like ours."3
1T is,'' Don agreed.
At supper he sat next to Maize
Thorn. She did not seem much inn
pressed by his proximity, and ate her
chicken salad placidly.
He resolved to wake her up II
heard you said was spoiled
Mazie's face famed, then. she laugh
aWell, II did, I'm not used to. .hav-
ing such q fuss made over people.
Perhaps you don't understand how
much am giving UP 2"
ga gamer"
"A game in which 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 run"
His big eyes blazed down at her,
but she did not finch, And run"
He pushed back his chair with a
savage motion. you don't under
stand he said, and left her.
But the next morning q note came
to her, an abrupt note, but strong
one.
"You told me the truth. / am not
going to take my doll rags and run
away Somehow / believe you can
80 Don Futon
Maize wrote ''yes'' on the back Of
the sheet and handed 1t to the bearer.
Another note asked her to go for a
long walk in the autumn woods.
II am in a hard place." Don told
her. Il 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 do? %
Simply tell everybody that you've
changed your mind. You'll be a
leader Of more than games before
you get through"
His face frightened. "You think
10? Somehow 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 vista Of sapphire sea and Of
sunset, and Maize studied it before
she answered. ~.
= ANY SlTOHS HAL zCdLi US .lSducI,
was her decision. Look at Lincoln.
Such men don't give up. They don't
let fate kick them about like foot,
ball. u
said aaThe hardest part will be 10
watch the other boys play. Would you
mind having an engagement with mo
for that day-we'll make 1t a matinee,
and have tea afterWard at the Yellow
Dragon
"How Iovely!" She was radiant.
sTm Just little country girl, and l
don't know half the, nice places"
you'll have to let me show them
to YOU. Dads as generous as anything,
and I'm never limited for pocket
money
ut will be lovely she repeated.
Then after moment, rBut II you
change your mind about going to
the game let me know. I won't be
disappointed"
In the two months before the game
Don Fulton was a mystery to every
one. He pegged away at his books,
and spent little time in social gayety.
He had introduced Maize to his
mother, and had taken her to a half
dozen quaint and Characteristic places
And he had learned that she was the
a.