The Marshall republican., 1912-03-15
WON AT
FOOTBALL
By CARL SARGENT CHASE
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.

"You are too young, my dear, to
marry, by several years. and so II
Billy, who graduated only last year
and Is ut the foot Of the second lieu
tenants"
The words were spoken by Mrs. Bar.
Ter, wife Of Major Baxter, instructor
at West Point, to her daughter. An
nette, aged seventeen years and eight
months and engaged TO Lieutenant
Billy Dolman of the -th infantry.
Besides" continued Mrs. Baxter.
with q teasing sparkle in her eye,
"Bflly is coaching the football team for
the annual game with the middies
and has all be can do to ct them for
the struggle. He has no time 10 de-
vote to preparation for matrimony."
81 wish you were not SO devoted to
our boys winning. mamma" said the
daughter.
"And I wish Billy to have his mind
on his coaching exclusively"
Perhaps it he knew that you had
consented to cur marriage It would
make him so happy that be would pull
the boys through. He thinks about
your refusal all the time"
'Tri tell you what I'll do" said Mrs.
Baxter nfter some thought III Billy's
team wins III consent to your weddins
the minute the game r. over"
MAY I say that to him1"
"Yes, you may. and that II he loses
you must wait q year."
---A- -..-lxy - A. aaA A-t~~A~a.
called up her lover and announced the
conditions.
Mother IL demented about our boys
winning the annual game this year.
and that has induced her to yield what
she has yielded. I never dreamed that
she would ever give ~ a chance. She
has persistently said that I shouldn't
marry before I am twenty"
Billy was 30 excited over the news
that he told his chum, who told his
other chum. and Annette told her
bosom friend. who told her other
bosom friend. and tho result was that
within q few days every one knew
"as a great secret" that II Billy Dol
man brought the army team up to an
efficiency that would enable them 90
beat the middics he was to win a wife.
II not he would have to wait a year.
Besides the waiting there's many .
slip twixt the cup and tho lip. Then.
since all the post knew II. Billy told
the team. adding that bis cup Of Joy
or misery wns in their hands.
All the world loves n lover, and the
spirit the announcement infused into
the team wns something remarkable.
Every man went into moro steady
training than before. and not a man
shirked u moment OF practice when
the team was being coached. Billy
worked with them like n Titan. In
deed, so hard did he make Il for them
that every man who was not physical.
ly up 10 his work got out and gave
place 10 q better. The result was
that when the last few days before
the game came round Billy was On
scious OF having as good n team as
could be turned out OF the material nc
his disposal.
Annette one afternoon during the
training went out TO view the practice
game. but her appearance was marked
by n cheer. which brought the blush
OF mnldenly modesty 10 her cheek. and
she did not venture on the field again.
Then came the day Of the fight.
which that year took place Mt West
Point. The president OF the United
States. the chief OF the general stan
and hosts OF others In authority were
spectators. The middles marched on
10 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 I'M
/. bounded attention. refused to be pres
ent. 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 when Lieu
tenant Dolmnn escorted her 20 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-
termlnation at inc emu OK tue uuii an
at the beginning. In the second half
that esprit born OF the feeling that the
. fate OF a 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 10 close the
!. score stood ~ to 4 In favor OF the army.
!. .The army team before leaving the
Geld went IN a body to where Annette
: had been sitting to cheer her. but the
J bird had flown. Headed by Lieuten-
' ant Dolman. they went to Major Bax'
ter's quarters and demanded the girl.