Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-11-22
WON AT
FOOTBA: |.
BY GAIL SARGENT CHASE
Copyright 10 American Press A.,o-
citation. 1871.


ter. wife Of Major Baxter. instructor
ut West Point. to her daughter. An
nette. aged seventeen years and eight
months and engaged to Lieutenant
Billy Dulman of the tn infantry.
Besides" continued Mrs Baxter
with teasing sparkle in her eye.
BILLY Is coaching the football team for
the annual game with the middies
and has all he can do 10 ct them for
the struggle. He has no time TO de-
vote to preparation for matrimony"
Il wish you were not so devoted TO
our boys winning. mamma" said the
daughter
And / wish Billy to have his mind
on his coaching exclusively"
Perhaps II he knew that you had
consented to our marriage II would
make him so happy that he would pull
the boys through. He thinks about
your refusal all the time"
I'll tell you what III do" said Mrs
Baxter after nome thought. IF Billy's
tea N wins III consent to your wedding
the minute the game is over"
May say that to himr
Yes, you may. and that II be loses
you must wait a year"
Annette rushed or to the telephone,
called up her lover and announced the
conditions.
Mother is demented about our BOYS
winning the annual game this Year.
and that has inehosl ha- to yield what
she has yielded. l never dreamed that
che would ever give Us chance. She
has persistently said that l shouldn't
marry before am twenty"
Billy was so excited over the news
that be told his chum. who told his
other chum. ard Annette told her
bosom friend. who told her other
bosom friend. and the result was that
within few days every one knew
"as q great secret" that II Billy Dol.
man brought the army team up to an
efficiency that would enable them TO
beat the middieS he was to win a wife
II not he would have to wait n year
Besides the waiting there's many q
slip twixt the cup and the liz. TieL
since all the post knew It. B;yy toll
the team. adding that his c1p cf icv
or misery was in thei: haude
All the world loves lover. and the
the team WINS something remarlIa he
Every man went into more st .ady
training than before. and not man
shirked a moment OF practice when
the team was being coac"el. Silly
worked with them ike a Titan. In
deed. so hard did he make II for theyn
that every man who was not ph rsical-
ly up to his work got out AMI gave
place TO better The result WAS
! that when the last few days before
the game came round Billy was con-
scious OF having Us good a team az
could be turned out OF the material ut
his disposal.
Annette one afternoon during the
training went out 10 view the practice
game. but her appearance was marked
by cheer. which brought the blush
Of maidenly modesty to her cheek. and
she did not venture on the Geld again.
Then came the day OF the fight.
which that year took place at West
Point. The president OF the United
States. the chief OF the general stan
and hosts OF others in authority were
spectators. The middies marched on
to the ground headed by their band.
while the cadets kept step to the
strains OF their own martial music
Annette. conscious that she. being the
prize OF the day. would attract IN
bounded attention. refused TO be pres
emit. but the captain OF the army team
sent word TO her that II she did not
come to cheer his boys he would not
answer for the consequences This
brought her to terms. and W hen Lieu
tenant DolTan escorted her 70 her
seat she was received by a huzza
from the army team and the waving
OF handkerchiefs from the spectators
In the first half the middies made
one touchdown. distinguishing them
selves by brilliant play. The army
men showed as much vigor and de-
termination Mt the end OF the half az
at the beginning. In the second half
that esprit born OF the feeling that the
fate OF pair OF lovers depended on
their efforts began TO tell on the army
men. while the elan OF the earlier
part OF the game shown by the mid
dies began to give way. Billy Dolman
kept himself constantly before their
notice. And from her seat Annette
Baxter waved to them. When time
was called for the game to close the
score stood IL to 4 In favor OF the army.
The army team before leaving the
Geld went in body to where Annette
had been sitting to cheer her. but the
bird had flown. Headed by ILeutea-
ant Dolnan. they went to Major Bax-
ter's quarters and demanded the girl.
When II was found that they were
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