The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1914-03-27

THE BLUE
PENNANT
And a Little Wisp of Stained
and Tattered Silk. .
BY PHILIP KEAN.

Helen MARSHALL was always dressed
with occurrences that made an eff
fective fol! for the bronze brightness
of her hair. the warm ivory of her
skin. the red of her lips. To-day she
wore blue--a trim tailored gown of
deep colored cloth. a little cocky felt
hat and Il great bunch of violets that
outshone all the other blues except that
of the pennant which she carried a,
the end of Il slender cane.
"You beauty Holden said under his
breath as he took his seat beside her
on the grand stand.
She turned quickly.
"Oh. Irwin" her face was brilliant
with color. Its worth everything to
see you again. Aunt Sue" she said to
the lady beside her. this is Irwin Hol-
den, the famous halfback of two years
ago"
""The king is dead. Long live the
king"" Irwin quoted solemnly. There
have been so many famous halfSacks.
Helen, that it isn't any wonder that
Mrs. Mcdonald doesn't remember me.
but l do remember" Mrs. Melon
aid assured him. Helen has talked of
you so much-and." she hestated. ''of
your accident"
II haven't been able to walk we'll on
two feet since" Holden said grimly.
land this is the first game l have
dared let myself see. 1t makes me
wild"
ITO think that you can't play!" Hell
ems tone was sympathetic.
ITO know can't ever do things that
make man worth while!" bitterly.
But you have done so many things
that are worth while. and they tell me
that you are writing n book"
"Oh, a book His tone was scorn-
full.
you might have let me know what
you were doing." she complained. II
think our old friendship deserved that"
He glanced down at her.
"Ah. our friendship" he said ~
had two good feet when we cemented
that. Helen, wasn't a dummy on
crutches.'
Erwin" she flashed out reproachful
~, "as if that made any difference"
But it does make difference" he
said as he bent over her. you know
you worship strength in man, don't
you?''
Eyes" she agreed quietly. but not
always mere physical strength"
"The one isn't much without the 9th
er. Look at those fellows now"
Down the field came the teams, The
bands Of the opposing sides crashed
out the good old tunes. college yell
succeeded college yell, and the banks
of spectators stretching up and up on
the seats in solid masses of blue and
crimson We're agitated to uproarious-
ness.
"Isn't it fine? Isn't it fine: Helen
said breathlessly. having cheered the
blue team to the echo.
Holden nodded.
"They are bound to VIM" he said.
''They are made of the right stuff
~ know only one Of them personal
ly," Helen told him-"Van Dorm
lies the strongest man in the lot.
He's an ideal halfback."
"He is ideal in more ways than one"
she agreed.
He flashed quick glance ut her.
81 have heard you thought So"
"Who told you:"
"Some of the fellows"
She turned her back on him squarely.
81 didn't suppose that you talked me
over with the fellows" she said over
her shoulder.
II don't" uncomfortably, "but one
couldn't help hearing that Van Dorm is
awfully dafy over YOU"
$50 We're you-two years ago
She said it daringly. giving him
glimpse of flaming cheeks and indig-
nant eyes. and then once more he was
forced to contemplate the knot of
bronze hair under the cocky hat.
His face Went white, but he said
quietly. I'VE are missing the best Of
the game" and turned his attention to
the field.
All about them people were absorbed
by the play Aunt Sue. unlearned and
Gus to everything else. These two
alone thought of other things.
1t was at Van Dorns touchdown that
the place went wild
"Oh, he's great great. great" Helen
enthused as she waved her pennant
frantically. II haven't seen anything
like it since the last game YOU played
Irwin. Oh. do you remember the little
blue pennant that | made you pin to
your sweater for auckland it didn't
bring You luck"
mo-" he said duly. lit didn't bring
me luck. lost the game. lost the
strength | gloried in-l lost you, Hell
en-
mo. no." she protested 'You knew
you always had my friendship, Irwin"
,,t f,.innIsbin md