1895-]
he had won laurels, till the college was proud of him. Although
playing at left tackle, he was one of the best ground-gainers on
the team, and few games passed without his making a touch
down. He was well-built, strong and fine-looking. His fea
tures were rather plain, but his clear, gray eyes and open manly
face took with everybody and he was a universal favorite.
There was one thing that puzzled him. Why did not Carrie
and Archie Custer come to an understanding and end his awful
suspense ? Gradually he began to think that there might be some
hope for him yet, and to win at least some small share of her
admiration he played football as he had never played it before.
Every victory, every triumph, every hard-earned touch-down was
for her.
At last the climax of the season was reached. The great
annual game with Hamford University was to take place on the
second Saturday in November. It was the contest of the year, as
the two colleges had been rivals from time immorial, and this
time the game would be very tight. Comparative scores showed
the teams to be evenly matched, and as the great struggle was to
be held at home on their own grounds every one in the little col
lege town was in a feverish state of expectancy the evening before
the game. After the trainer had been in to give him his
rub-down and a few final instructions, Fred threw his bath-robe
around him and sat for a long while thinking. Of course the
topic uppermost in his mind was Carrie, and step by step he ran
over the incidents that had occurred since his sudden awakening
in September. Before he turned in for the night he had resolved
that the next day he would play the game of his life, and then
with laurels fresh in his hands he would go to her, lay them at
her feet and find out the truth.
The day was all that could have, been wished, brilliant, clear,
bracing with plenty of blue sky and sunshine, and the bright col
lege colors fluttering everywhere from grand stand and bleacher
made a very pretty scene as the players trotted out of the ath
letic house. But the prettiest part of it all to Fred Stockton was
Carrie Warrington as she sat on the grand stand by Archie Cus
ter’s side, resplendent in the college colors. As he passed the
grand stand she smiled sweetly to him and waved her hand, and
Fred felt like a young giant eager to plunge into the battle. After
a few minutes’ practice the teams lined up and the struggle began.
Back and forth they surged, now on one end and now on the
A Football Hero.