The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-11-06
A FOOTBALL
MYSTERY
Story of the Gridiron
By F. A. mitchell

Aunt Augusta, it's time you were
rried. You must be thirty years
:"
shall not be mprried, Ethel, dear
l were to have husband l would
be had one a dozen years ago"
"a romance! Why, aunty, / never
hw you had one. You are such a
cise, prim little body. Was he as
tie a man as you are a woman?
Not at all. Persons of opposite
&keup are more apt to mate than
Sc who are similar. My lover was
roung giant in strength. He once
ried me over stream Of water
p enough to cover him to his waist
with current so swift that few
b could have kept their feet in it
burdened. repaid him by coaching
for an examination"
You coached him. Why, aunty,
hit know you went to college"
didn't take the college course. but
we'd here in this college town and
owed Arthur through his studies"
Pm purpose to help him?"
kes, but enjoyed it,"
Tell me all about your romance.
he jilt you?"
No; he died. But wouldn't like to
you about it, because there was a
Stery concerning his death-some-
hg uncanny. Though it WAS twelve
rs ago, | can't to this day talk
ut it without being appalled, as l
then"
here was a brief silence, after
ch the lady continued:
Nevertheless there is one person,
only one, for whom l shall make
effort. | shall give you, my dearest
Re. the story or all | know Of 1t,
when have told it to you | shall
er speak of it again"
ph, aunty!" The girl put her arm
ut the speaker.
Arthur and l attended the high
pol together" the lady began, and
Fas the oppOSiteness of our makeup
drew us together. Arthur was not
Ill scholar, but was born with spe-
leaning TO athletic sports. He knew
the ways Of making a baseball do
It he wished it to do, was a splendid
his player and had won a cham
hship at golf.
But 1t was on the football field that
won his most brilliant triumphs.
so distinguished himself at this
lie in the high school that repre-
atives from different colleges came
zee him play, and the year before
vent to the university athletic man
rs from Harvard, Yale, Princeton
other colleges bid against one
her to get him for their respective
J. eges that he might become a mem
of the university team, some of
n offering to pay his way through
ege If he would join them.
'hese big, strong fellows are apt to
some weakness. Arthur's weak
It was an inability to decide small
gs. In this he relied upon me. He
ID me which, If any, Of the prop
ons he should accept, and l, wish
TO keep him near me, told him |
ght he'd better enter our own col
here. Besides, my father was a
essor here. and l was interested in
college. l didn't wish him to ac-
any pecuniary assistance for play
athletic games, and our univer-
being one of the smaller ones,
ID pay nothing.
o Arthur stayed with US, and it
well he did, for / was enabled to
him through. He had the great
admiration for my ability to solve
mathematical problem or compre-
logical sequence, while l loved
admired him for his manly
hgth. What drew me to him most
his Inconsistencies Of the value
pat strength which / priced 80 high
But 1t is natural for weak woman
imire physical strength In man.
aving Arthur here, we took an in
Fest in athletics that we had never
n before, and, since he was devoted
oOtball and would add greatly to
chances Of any team he played
our boys became interested in
ring the field in the annual game
the big colleges. While Arthur
in college John spangler was here
was made captain Of the football
}. Having a tower of strength In
ur, Spangler succeeded IN making
fine team, especially the one that
red for the annual game against
bther colleges, for the autumn pre-
TO Arthurs graduation.
rthur ordinarily was lazy. II re-
ed something very exciting to
e him to use his strength, but
n thoroughly aroused he was like
srglng elephant. Captain Spangler
constantly coming to me bewall-
the fact that he couldn't get his
man to be regular at practice
when he did practice it seemed i'm
ible to wake him up to his work.
y time / was obliged to get sew
girls together and 60 out on to the
n