1895-]
the flesh, and not once again that afternoon did he glance toward
the audience. He had expected a radiant, happy smile and en
thusiastic greeting; but there she sat, apparently all oblivious of
Thim and the great events taking place. Just at that moment she
was looking up into Custer’s face with that rapt expression which
women only wear when great joy or great love takes possession of
them, and Fred in his jealousy thought it was the latter.
It was clear to him now. She loved Archie Custer, and he was
lost. He did not know that he had hardly turned his eyes
away when she began to search eagerly in the crowd for him, and
wondered when she did see him why he did not look up to receive
her approbation. He was bitter and discouraged, and for a moment,
as he listened to the flattery of the admiring crowd, he felt as if
he had not the heart to continue the game. Then grief gave way
to bitterness and he said to himself grimly that he would play.
If his work in the first half was magnificent, his playing in the
second was fiendish. The other players thought he must have
gone mad. Such desperate, violent playing, and such utter dis
regard for his own safety they had never seen. He was like a
wild animal, and the awful energy of his running, tackling and in
terfering made him almost a team in himself. Twice again the
college scored, and each time it was Fred Stockton who carried the
ball over the line, the last time with four Hamford players hang
ing on his back. The audience was almost wild, and when the
whistle finally sounded and time was called the five hundred
students surged across the field, and picking their brave left tackle
up on their shoulders they carried him off the field in triumph.
As they left the field they passed the long line of ladies and
their escorts. Carrie Warrington and Archie Custer were among
them, and Carrie anxiously waited an opportunity to speak to Fred
and to throw into a glance all the gratitude and happiness she
felt. Seeing her looking at him, he resolutely turned his face away
and was borne past, apparently without noticing her. She could
not help seeing that it was intentional, and there were two very
desolate hearts in the town that night instead of only one, as Fred
A Football Hero.