Evening star., 1926-10-17

wanted to say something. but she
knew not what to say. or at least was
unable to put what she would like to
say into words. And the strangeness
of his manner withheld her. too.
The manner OF his son had also un-
dergone a change. He stood erect
now. his eyes blazing. as though the
incident had summoned resources he
yond himself. AS the trainer spla ashed
u sponge against the back Of his neck.
the hoy'S hand shot out. pushing him
away with force that sent him
stumbling backward.
Get out. I'm all right" He turned
his back to the referee and strode into
his place.
THERE came the bark of the signal.
The next instant the Princeton
left end swung around behind the line.
took the ball and darted on a wide
course around the right end.
And right then and there. the prog
ress of the play was lost to the eyes
of the man and woman who stood to-
gether on the side line. For Biffy
Joyce. untouched by the play. both
teams swinging wide and clear with
the movement of the ball. stood sway
ing, his eyes closed. Then he went to
the ground like log. alone. I'M
marked. save by his father and the
woman at his side.
1t was Lucy who first reached the
side of the unconscious player, while
a f1uttering cheer from the Yale sub
stitutes and the Yale partiSans marked
the downing of the Princeton runner
on the 1-yard line and the ball in
Yale's possession
joyce turned to Lucy Rutherford
with drawn face. do yoI know what
that boy of yours did,
She looked up at the man with kim
ding color.
I'm wondering If he saved Bify's
life?"
Biffy moved. then sat bolt upright.
"Eh?" He looked about him.
whats the matter? Did they
score?"
"Tie game. boy" There was curl
GUS note in the fathers voice. He
turned as though with sudden thought
to Lucy Rutherford. Look there.
will YOU"
Jack Rutherford and Evelyn Joyce.
it appeared, had met in midfield and
were coming toward them.
Father" the girl beckoned to
Joyce, who started to advance to meet
them. then paused, glancing at his son
and smiling with reinsurance as he
saw him walking from the field with
slantine gait. his arm about a fellow
player's shoElder.
Come on, Lucy" he said. He took
her arm. and thus the four met on
the tramped turf of hard-fought
field"
Father" cried the girl. IL have
l. kr
big thing, bigger thing than any
thing he will ever do in foot ball.
That is what they were saying on the
Yale bench"
Bunk" Rutherford turned laugh
ingly to Joyce. "All bunk. Any one
could see that the Yale secondary was
all massed behind Biffy Joyce. I'm
not throwing Yale games away. |
don't want to be a hypocrite."
Jack" His mother faced him. I'm
your mother. | want the truth"
But Joyce intervened.
no. 10, Lucy, we don't want the
| truth. and, as you said while ago.
the results are before us. Isn't that
| enough? 1t is for me-
They stood for moment. eye to
eye. Then Lucy Rutherford looked
away.
Yes. think So" She turned.
, meeting the mans eyes full. "Yes.
it's quite enough for me-"
Say" Joyce lifted an illumined
face to the sky. You think I'm-well
nutty, but do you remember a fool
poem l wrote when ! was in college
and sent to you? It's been going
through my head all day"
has it?" She looked at him. col
oring vividly. $50 it has through my
mind. If yOu'll come around some
night IN New York and dine. III show
YOU the original"
What night" Jeremy Joyce con-
fronted her. Just name the night"
Why father, why not tonight"
/ Evelyn smiled at Mrs. Rutherford.
You see. Jack asked me to dine with
him in town tonight, and | said we'd
take him in our car. But now-well.
why "an't we get Biffy Joyce and
make II sort of a family party?"
"A family party" Mrs. Rutherford
turned to Joyce. why not?"
One OF Joyce's hands rose swiftly
to his forehead. His eyes were upon
Lucy Rutherford, but he seemed not
to hear her. seemed to be seeing
through and beyond her, his face that
of man knowing visions. Suddenly
he smiled.
"Why not. Lucy, I'll say why not"
tCopyriRht. 1920