Gilpin observer., 1915-04-29

L
like solitary sentinel amid that howl
| ing mob.
The umpire was the local baker.
She had seen him pass the house every
day of her life. What irony, that in
his hands the decision should lie!
And she did not know whether she
preferred Matty or Eddie. That was
the crowning irony. She did not
know. She looked at her father, who,
having accidentally dropped his gouty
toe, was hopping up and down in front
of the stand, still hoyling and still
more indignant He was becoming
purple
"Father!" she cried. laying her hand
upon his sleeve.
He touched, he touched" yelled
Grant. Il saw him. Dang the fellow.
why don't he give his decision?"
The bleachers we're in frenzy. Mat
ty and Eddie alone seemed calm. Nell
stole glance at them. They were
spectators at drama in which they
were also players. And Nell? Nei-
ther of the boys looked at her
And she did not know which she
preferred.
The umpire was speaking. The up
roar died away All bent toward him
to hear his verdict.
Yes. he did touch the base" an
nounced the umpire
A yell that rent the skies! John
Grant, beaming and no longer purple
Matty. shaking hands with Nell like a
man, and Eddie tactfully keeping
away. Eddie had won.
And Nell knew now. She loved Mat
ty, and had always loved him, and Ed
die had never meant anything to her
at all.
Matty had come to say good-by.
John Grant had betaken himself to his
private room. His gout was much
better, and he was eager to shake
hands with the winner. but some in
stinct told him it was not going to be
quite such plain sailing as he had i'm
agined. Women were skittish people.
and he was better out of the way dur
ing the love-making
Matty had shaken hands and said
good-by. They were standing at the
door together when Eddie entered the
room adjoining.
Eddie had not meant to meet Matty
there. He had tried to arrange to give
Matty time to leave. Perhaps he had
miscalculated, and Matty's leave-tak-
ing took longer than Eddie had ex-
pected. Or perhaps Eddie could not
wait
He saw the parting. Nells face was
uplifted bravely, and she kept her lips
from trembling. But the look on her
face-and Matty's. Eddie had
known Matty would look like that.
But Nell,
1t was revelation.
For moment cloud of anger con-
vulsed his face. So Matty had not
played fair! But Matty was playing
fair. He was a good sport. He was
going now. He was turning away.
And nothing had been said.
Eddie gulped. and suddenly he
found himself in the street Then.
with resolution born out of that mo-
ment's anguish, he went to the club
and wrote letter to Matty
vi.
The umpire gave his decision, but
have given mine. Good luck to you.
old man, and don't forget want to be
best man at the wedding Your old
pal. Eddie"
Matty stared at the paper without
understanding for long time He
had come home, heartbroken and dis
Hrited. He had kept himself together
during that farewell. but now, when
he was alone. the thought of life with
out Nell. the memory Of Nell's look
at the last haunted him.
Nell loved him. And he must go
away. Eddie must never know. Nell
would not let him know
That was the juncture at which he
picked up the envelope addressed to
himself in Eddie's writing and tore it
open.
And now he understood. Eddie had
done this! Eddie. his old friend, his
best friend. II could not be.
But it must be. Not for himself. but
because Nell loved him.
His hand went out to the telephone
"Nell Listen!' -
Eddie said that? Wrote that? Why.
Matty-"
But do you. Nell? You do? Lis
ten, l love you and I'm com
ing round to tell you so before you've
got the receiver up"