Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-10-18
Girl
or Game
0S
BY R. RAY BAKER

Copyright. 1915 by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.1

!
on the deck of a sinking submarine
ship or on a flying field preparing to
soar among the clouds in Winged
machine.
IL Hazel Norrin said s'yes'' then 1t
would be aviation; if she replied mega
lively that meant the plunge. All this
about soaring and plunging, you must
understand, had to do with Steve's
mental state. The war had not vet
stretched its st4el-scaled arm to Amer
lea, and SteTe was considering nei-
Their aero journeys nor ocean voyages,
literally speaking. He was still in Cliff
ton college, senior, and his favorite
form of combat was baseball.
After being with Hazel once on the
occasion of theater party early in his
senior year his admiration for her in
creased to friendship which became
so warm as the time for graduation APP
preached that it finally ceased to be
friendship, as far as his feelings were
concerned.
Steve reached the point mentioned
in the first paragraph at the same time
his hand found the point of a picket in
the fence inclosing the garden of her
home. He had met Hazel late that
afternoon by an accident, ostensibly.
She was not supposed to know that he
had fingered full half-hour near the
millinery store where she worked.
waiting for her to appear so he could
walk nonchalantly toward her and be
surprised to meet her.
Steve had no real reason for beliey-
ing that she cared for him. He was
aware that some six or eight students
were reported to have proposed to her
and been rejected during the last three
years, but he was willing to take a
Glance on being the seventh or the
ninth, or even the thirteenth.
Steve knew that his red head and
freclzles didn't jibe with her creamy
complexion and black hair, but he was
not to blame for the contrast.
kle picked a splinter from the fence.
realized he was more nervous than he
had been at any time since his initia-
ton into Tau Beta Chi fioundered des-
perately FOR words, then got a grip
on himself and let it out with:
Hazel, I'm not going to beat about
the bush. I'm not capable of pouring
out sentimental gush and crawling on
my knees, but want to marry you.
and hope this is not so sudden that
you can't decide my fate here and
now"
She laughed lightly and placed her
hand over his as it rested on the fence
and replied:
I'm glad you're not capable of sen
tinental gush,' because I'm rather
tired of it myself. like the way YOU
go about this, without moons or bab-
bling brooks and I'll admit | care a
lot for you, but I can't answer now.
First | must have proof that you are
inc kind of fellow I would marry and
tha1 you really care as much as you
say. But am not saying 'no'-,just
remember that"
The next day he received a letter
from her. It read:
''Dear Steve-Rememberin what
You told me yesterday am giving you
chance to prove your affection. To-
morrow Clifton meets Alton for the
state college baseball championship.
Ny cousin, viii Forbes, will pitch for
Alton, and in a letter I just received
he told me that it means everything
for him to win the game, as he ex-
poets to try for professional league.
Here's your chance to prove that
you love me. If the opportunity of
fers to miss a ball or strike out at a
critical point of the game anG you can
help Alton to win u,surely can prove
beyond doubt that you care as you say
you do"
The letter stunned poor Steve, with
his heart eating itself out for Hazel
and the rest of him all wrapped uo in
the national game Steve would ra-
ther play baseball than anything else in
the world except have Hazel for a
wife. Then, too, his love for his alma
mater was strong, and his regard for
honor and fair play was stronger.
"How can she ask such a thingT"
he groaned aloud as he sank back in
the only rocking chair his apartment
of the rooming house afforded. He
longed for his pipe, but he was in
trGining.
81 can't do it," he repeated over and
over. SIT wouldn't be honorable or
square; and l simply can't bring my
self 10 it. But Hazel can't give
her up. She means toe much to me
even if she does ask impossible-al-
most mpossible-things."
The day of the game turned out
bright and clear in spite of Steve's
wish that a deluge might visit the dia-
mond. He saw her in the grand stand
as he logged out to center field for
practice, and tipped his cap in answer
to her jaunty wave of the hand.
The contest started with prospects
OF close struggle Each side scored
n lun in the setond inning, and Alton