The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-11-06


deed, doctor had warned him that
any great exertion or excitement might
cause him to drop dead.
81 can never think or speak Of my
efforts to encourage Arthur TO win the
game for his college without suffering.
If any one who knew OF his weakness
had told me of it Arthur might have
been alive today. | don't blame him,
but do blame them.
Arthur carried his team through all
the games preliminary to the one for
the championship successfully, and
when the two colleges which were to
play the final game went out on to the
gridiron they were our college and
Yale. There had been enough honor
in our having achieved such a position
without this meeting. for no one ex-
pected that we could beat Yale. In
deed. it was partly luck that had en-
ablcd us TO beat Princeton, which gave
us the right to play the game for the
championship A presentiment OF evil
came over me. from whence l knew
not, and | wished our team would give
Yale the game without a contest
THE afternoon, late in November.
that the game was played was bright
and the air crisp. just the conditions
for a trial OF physical strength and
skill. When our boys went out on to
the field a great shout arose from the
spectators. for all sympathized with a
college comprising but q thousand stu
Il OF o,vpi
several thousand. | could see Arthur,
standing a head above his fellows.
Indeed. before the kickoff he came
very near where | sat and waved his
hand to me. He looked as well as |
had ever seen him, and when | smiled
at him | could see that it affected him
like some invigorating draft.
while the ball was in play at a
critical moment something-a piece Of
timber, | believe-broke in the stand
where | was sitting. For moment 1t
caused some commotion among those
sitting on the boards. The teams were
fighting for the ball just below us, and
Arthur hearing the crack or seeing the
stir, thinking l was in danger turned
ing regardless Of his work, arose in
my seat and waved to him. This turn
ed him back to the game just in time.
"Our team was certainly a wonder
for so small a college and from the
very beginning gave its opponents
all they could do to prevent our boys
from scoring, to say nothing Of scor-
fr,rv hnr Iva Gil
scored during the early part Of the
struggle. But just before the first rest
Yale made a touchdown. Soon after
this heavy, wintry clouds changed the
face Of the day, and since the game
had begun at late hour it was difh-
cult for the spectators to see what
was going on on the field. A fierce
tussle was in progress for the ball
when every thing suddenly stopped. /
knew that an accident had occurred
and was quite sure some one was be-
ing carried off the gridiron. But so
many persons intervened between me
and those removing him that i could
see little Of what was taking place.
"a chill, whether from the over
hanging clouds or the accident, seemed
to sweep across the field like a breeze
from an iceberg. Nothing was done
for some minutes. Then the game
recommended. But by this time 1t
was so dark that it was impossible for
us spectators TO see what was happen
ing on the gridiron. One gigantic
form I could discern. which took to
be Arthur's in the thick Of the fight
and whenever he threw himself against
his opponents they gave way. l re-
marked to a girl sitting beside me
that Arthur was doing herculean
feats. She gave me a singular look, a
look l shall never forget.
"'Don't you see himr asked.
Isn't that big man driving through
those fellows Arthur
"She gave me another Of those looks,
but made no reply.
"At that moment our boys made a
touchdown and kicked goal, and
some one cried, The only game ever
won by so small a college against 50
large 4 oner Then everybody arose,
and the throng poured out Of the in
closure.
81 couldn't understand why l was
looked at so strangely by all who knew
me. II spoke to any OF them | was
answered in monosyllables. What did
1t mean? One thing l missed. | e1-
pected to hear persons enthusiastically
giving Arthur credit for having by his
prowess turned the scale in favor Of
our college. His name was not men
toned by my friends, who surrounded
me and seemed to be forming a sort Of
guard about me to keep me from the
others. When l got home | went up
to my room to lay aside my wraps.
Then my mother came in. saw that
something awful had happened
1T was Arthur who was carried OF
the field. During a scrimmage he was
- A.IN IL -