, 1920-11-11
Victorious Defeat
BY H. LOUIS

Swathed in furs, her soft cheeks
rosy with excitement and the tang of
the crisp fall day, Margaret Demorest
sat on the running board of her ia
TIERS luxurious car, slipping gratefully
aromatic coffee hot from the thermos
bottle. She was thinking partly of
the big game three hours away; part
ly of the momentous decision she had
to mak some time before her re-
turn.
She had steadily refused to wear
any telltale colors or even flowers
which might be construed to indicate
u preference for either team, even
though she sat with her father on
the side held by his alma mater.
The decision was forced upon her,
SO to speak, by the odd coincidence
that the two most persistent suitors
for Msrgaret's fair hand were to play
that afternoon on opposite sides
Perry Endicott as quarterback, Peter
S%paulding as left tackle. Each had
begged her to let him know IN this
occasion her answer to that most vi
tai of all questions, "Would she marry
him?"
Yet eve in her heart of hearts Mar
garet could not choose. Both were
friends Tor many years. Each offered
her much besides his heart. Perry had
more money, quantities of it, and was
In Il fair way to make more with e
seat In the stock exchange awaiting
him and any number of influential
friends. Peter had less money, but
was the descendant of a long line
of successful professional men, and
himself possessed the training and
brains and instincts to carry on their
traditions. AND Margaret need never
marry Tor money alone. Sometimes
she wished hat Perry was less hand
some and %debonair, or Peter less well
got up and merry-eyed-anything to
swing the balance.
She sighed as she settled back be-
meath the robes as the chauffeur swung
the car back into the unbroken line
of traffic headed for the greatest game
Of the
Wrapped in his blankets, Peter
Spaulding sat huddled on the side lines
waiting the umpire's whistle. He lift
ed his gaze to the colorful crowded
stands opposite, where, rising tier on
tier. massed The cheering. singing null
titude, come to see him and a small
handful of men defeat or go down
under an equally meager group of
opponents. Somewhere in that throng,
he knew, sat the girl of his heart. He
visualized her from her softly curling
| h.fr ta har dainty Iftt1a faaf What
wouldn't he give to call her his!
And yet he realized that beyond
question Perry Endicott, whom he
would presently see out on III white
lined field of battle, stood quite as
high a chance as he of winning her.
Well, she vas a prize for some one
and-the whistle gave the signal.
Throwing off the blanket, Peter ran
with his companions to position. The
crowd of spectators waited alert. ex-
cited. The game was on.
At the end of the third period the
teams stood tied. Margaret clasped
and %unclasped her fingers in the shell
ter of her huge nun. Her father, his
cigar tipped at an angle which sug-
gested jaunty hopes, was confident that
the trick would be turned In the final
period. If he was right, thought his
daughter, Perry Endicott would come
to her for his answer with I'll the
subtle influence exerted by the man
who has won.
Oddly enough, Peter at the same mo-
ment, surreptitiously nursing a strained
ankle, was thinking the same thing.
And M~argaret's father was right. In
the midst of the pandemonium Mar
garet. her hands beating a tattoo with
her nun on her mothers arm, saw the
tumbling yellow ball picked up by a
man she presently realized was Perry
Endicott and borne, all obstacles swept
away, behind the goal post 20 yards
down the field.
touchdown Touchdown Touch
down! Endicottl Endicottl 'Rahl
'Rnhi 'Rahl The crowd involun-
tarily brought TO its lot when the ball
first hit the ground, went wild. The
last rays Of the sun, setting red in
the west, shone on thousands OF wav-
ing flags and pennants and released
balloons. Peggy clapped her gloves
In ribbons.
Wonderful, isn't III" murmured
Peggy's mother. a little later. as the
triumphant stream Of men flowed zig
tagging within the stadium In shout
ing, surGa singing hat-throwing ee-
stasy.
Eyes. indeed. 1t isl' agreed Mar
garet. She was telling herself that
the decision had been taken out OF
her hands. There was no question as
to whom she wished to marry.
Lets hunt up Perry she said to
her father. without much difficulty
they found him presently In the midst
Of n Joyous bunch. He broke away
TO greet them, but WIS evidently i'm
patient 10 get back.
"Grent gnme. wasn't ltrr he renlied