Wells High School - Crimson and Gray Yearbook (Southbridge, MA)

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10 THE CRIMSON AND GRAY in the atmosphere to suggest a struggle of some description. And there was to be a struggle, for a football game was on schedule, a game that would go down in history as one of the greatest contests ever staged in Mere- dith, a town enjoying its first year as a con- testant for the league cup, and this game was to decide the championship. The referee ' s whistle blew bringing the kick-off, the wonderful run of the opposing full-back and the tackle of Meredith ' s veter- an end. The first quarter quickly ended with both sides scoreless and the ball in Meredith territory, Witherton academy having posses- sion of the ball when the whistle blew to re- sume play. Successive plunges, end runs, and passes put Witherton on the eight yard line, with two minutes to go. The ball was snapped, fumbled, and before it could be re- covered, Howe, the Meredith tackle, was off up the field, headed for what would have been a sure touchdown, but for the superb work of Davidson, Witherton ' s speedy half-back. The whistle blew and the half was over. Let us glance back to a night about two weeks before the date of this game. Mere- dith ' s full-back, Cap. Wadsworth, was tak- ing a short walk after supper to be alone and think things over for the coming game with Witherton. Crosssing the campus and heading for the park a little to the rear of Lipton Hall, the captain ' s quick ear caught the sound of leather meeting pigskin, or, in other words some one kicking a football. Always interested in the sport and its dif- ferent departments Wadsworth started around the corner. In amazement he stopped ; for the kicker was none other than Dick Tyson, the quiet fellow who attended every game and offered the fellows congrat- ulations if they won and his sympathy if they lost, all in that quiet way of his. Smack ! Far and high the pigskin travel- ed, stopping only after it had cleared the makeshift crossbar by a comfortable margin. Never had Wadsworth seen a kick to equal it. Straight as a bullet it had gone, and the sender apparently did it with perfect ease. Tyson patiently went over to the place where the ball had fell and brought it back for an- other kick. Once more it sailed over the uprights and rolled along the green. Without a monment ' s hesitation Wads- worth approached Ty. I saw you old man, he exclaimed. Why in the world didn ' t you say you could drop-kick like that ? Well, thoughtfully replied Dick, You see there are so many fellows who can play better than I, that I didn ' t think I ' d be good enough. Goodness knows, I ' d like to play. A wistful smile passed over the youth ' s face. Well. I ' ll be going now, said Cap after a moment ' s reflection, see you later, though. ' He left the boy still booting the ball and chasing it. Each time he kicked accurately and with the confidence of a veteran. Later in the evening Cap was seen going to Dick ' s room with his face wreathed in smiles. Ev- ery one stopped to watch him; He was al- ways good natured, but now he was unac- countably happy. He had an affectionate pound on the shoulder for some, and a hello for fellows he had never seen before. Upon reaching Ty ' s door he met that worthy young man in the act of going out No, you don ' t said Cap, accompanying his assertion with a shove that sent Ty back in- to the room and into an easy chair. Now, old man, get me straight, we ' ll need you for that game two weeks from now, you know,, the Witherton game. Never mind the buts 1 and ands . You ' ve been to the gym class and you ' re in good condition. With the com- ing two weeks to top off with, you ' ll be in top form. Dick looked at him in a sort of daze, his face flushed and his eyes sparkling. Gee do you mean to say you want me to play in that game-the game deciding the champion- ship? he queried excitedly. Not only I want you, but coach Ayres wants you and the team needs you. Report tomorrow after classes and we ' ll fix you up Goodnight, and dont forget to show up. Cap was gone before Dick could reply Dick was first to be on the practice field next day, and after watching just one of those drop kicks, Coach Ayres made a dive for his office yelling to Dick to follow Dick emerged fully attired in a uniform and was immediately placed in the field as a half- back. The days passed all too quickly and al- though Dick was steadily improving the coach dared not start him in the game as he had never seen the boy play before So, the beginning of the second half was at hand and Ty, although in uniform was still warming the bench. Meredith received the kick-off and O ' Donnell, Meredith ' s elusive back, received the ball. Dodging here and there, ever ready to take advantage of his

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THE CRIMSON AND GRAY Coral had never told him she had a cousin there. When he saw Coral next, his first inquiry- was for her cousin. She is a perfect book- worm and manhater, was the answer. These two words produced on Worthing a far dif- ferent effect from what Coral had intended and he often thought of the deep blue eyes of Betty. The annual examinations at Madame Du- frey ' s were drawing near, and it had always been the custom to offer a prize for the best examination. As Coral was to graduate, both she and Betty had entered their names on the list. Betty was much surprised to see Coral ' s name, because composition writ- ing was one of the things in which Coral did not excel. She was doubly surprised to come upon Coral suddenly one day, apparent- ly deep in thought, and filling one sheet after another. At last she finished it and came to Betty with the request that she go over it and correct all mistakes in spelling. Betty did not refuse, for this was not the first time Coral had come to her with the same request, and upon reading it she won- dered at Coral ' s new achievement. If she had any suspicions she did not make them known, however, but handed her cousin ' s composition in with her own. The examinations were over and Coral, who had known just what questions would be asked of her, answered with such accu- racy that her mother had been very proud of her when she heard on all sides the praises of her daughter. Now all that remained was graduation, and the great auditorium was filled. Worthing, who had arrived very early, had been fortunate in obtaining a front seat. He had graduated the week before and was leaving that night for Europe. Coral was first on the program and she seemed very beautiful to Worthing, as she came forward in a simple white dress to sing and play. After that came the reading of the compositions. Betty was called upon first, and in a very sweet voice she read her es- say, which when finished, was greeted with such cheering and clapping that there seemed little doubt of her obtaining the prize. Coral, at her own request, was last. Her composi- tion bore the title The Future and Present Life. When she ended a burst of applause filled the large hall, while her name was on every lip as she left the room, proudly bear- ing the prize. Worthing was obliged to leave at nine o ' clock so he was not present at the scene which followed. A little, bent, gray-haired woman arose, just as Coral again entered the room, and making her way to the stage, said in a shrill voice, I am a woman who loves justice and therefore will not hold my peace. That young lady has no right to the prize, for that same piece appeared in one of the daily papers, two years ago, and if any one doubts my word I can produce that article for it is one that I have always kept. At this, the old lady went out and returned a few minutes later with the same article. Co- ral was obliged to hand over the prize to Bet- ty, and mortified beyond all imagining left the room, followed by her mother. Three months later, in a hotel in London, Worthing sat awaiting the mail. As yet he had received no letter from Coral and did not know about her disgrace. The mortifica- tion which she had endured had brought on a fever, and she had taken to her bed, waited on by Betty. At Coral ' s request Betty had written Worthing a long letter as she her- self could write only a little. He opened and read the one written by Betty first. Then he turned to the second. It was a sickly, sen- timental affair which had been partly copied from an old letter writer, containing uch nonsense as the silvery starlite the pearl- ing rill and the golden moonlite, wh ch being spelled in such a manner filled him ,;r th disgust. Almost every other word was mis- spelled, and Worthing ' s thoughts of the writer were not very complimentary. It was a long time before he answered it and the coolness of that letter filled Coral with such anger that she tossed it into the fire, and so the correspondence ceased. A year had gone by and now it was Betty ' s turn to graduate. Among those present at the graduation was Worthing. To him, she seemed the most beautiful girl that he had ever seen and he did not wait long to tell her so. Before the evening was over, they were engaged. On a fine October morning, they were mar- ried, but needless to say, Coral did not at- tend the wedding. To Europe, they returned to live in the lovely Southern home that Worthing had prepared. I. Lindblad ' 24. HIS LETTER It happened on one of those glorious Nev- ember days when every one is pleased with everyone else and there is just enough rivalry

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THE CRIMSON AND GRAY 11 Dpponents mis judgments, he tore off fifty yards before he was stopped. Slowly, but surely Meredith approached the goal. On the three yard line, with one down to go Wadsworth took the ball and an and run found him over the line ; incidentally Meredith had her opponents six to nothing. Witherton was not to be so easily beaten, however, for about ten seconds before the whistle blew, a forward pass by Witherton ' s full-back, to Daly, that academy ' s crack end resulted in a touch down for Witherton, no small amount of credit being given to Daly. A. minute ' s rest and the last quarter began. Coach Ayres was heard to tell Dick to stay where he was ; he ' d be needed soon. The ball changed hand three times before Meredith got on Witherton ' s fifteen yard line. Coach Ayres called for time out, and 3 ' Connell, the great back was takenout, and ry replaced him. The whistle was blown and 3lay was resumed. A fumble and a recovery found Meredith back five yards on the twen- ;y yard line. Suspecting an end run the op- Dosing team took a formation toward its pre- tention. Ty rubbed his hands a little nerv- usly, perhaps, and looked at Cap for a sort )f assurance. A smile seemed to do the work because when the signals were called Ty re- ceived the ball to perfection, and with that Deculiar kick of his sent it soaring between ;he uprights and over the cross-bar. Three more points for Meredith. The meering was deafening for it had been a beautiful boot, and had put Meredith in the ead. Play was resumed but the quarter end- id with the score nine to six in favor of Mer- edith. Ty was escorted from the field by a jroup of ardent admirers, The congratulations from Cap Wadsworth vere, perhaps, the most cherished of them all for if it hadn ' t been for Cap, Dick, in all prob- ibility, would never have played. At the closing of the academy for the win- ;er vacation the letters were awarded for football. As Dick ' s name was read and he ose to receive his letter, a great cheer arose ilso, for the students had not forgotten that tick of his, which practically gave them the ;up. With a sheepish grin on his flushed J ace Dick reached out for his letter. His etter, an insignificant piece of felt, and yet t meant all the world to him. With glowing eyes he sat down, but not for me instant did he shift his gaze from this recious trophy. Over in the corner Cap Wadsworth wore a knowing smile, Coach Ayres seemed entirely satisfied, and the other members of the team looked wise too. For, they, too, knew the thrill of receiving a letter, so meaningless to some people, but the goal of every red-blooded youth ' s desire. Roland Smith ' 25 ONE MINUTE TO GO There are six cities in the Athletic Coun- cil in the County of Carlton. These are:- Ashford , Tremont, Faxon, Carrigan, Mid- land and Richton. It has been the custom of these schools to play one another in all sports . In football there was a silver loving cup of- fered ten years ago by a leading citizen of Richton. Up to this year each of the schools had had this two years. For permanent possession a school must win three years, not necessarilly consecutive. Richton had exceptionally hard luck this year. Six of their most valued, men had played professional baseball the preceding summer, which made them ineligible to play in any sport. But the coach of this school was plucky, and had high hopes of putting out a team which would win because of the willingness and grit displayed by the new men. In three weeks he had whipped a team into condition which had both speed and weight. Richton started off the season with a bang, winning from both Ashford and Tre- mont, their first two games. They tuen lost to Faxon, by a small margin, but made up for it by giving Carigan the worst trimming in the history of that team. But Midland had won all of their games up to the Richton game, and then lost to the score of 9-6, through the heady work of the Richton quar- ter-back, and a neat drop-kick over the bar from the twenty-five yard line in the last quarter. This made Richton and Midland tie for the first place and a date for the deciding game was set. The game was played in Richton and a big crowd gathered to witness it. Mid- land received the kick and went down on their forty yard line. In three downs thgy made twelve yards, and in the next four, ten yards ; Then they were stopped. Richton took the ball on their forty yard line, made eight yards in three downs, and the full back went back for a kick. Midland caught the ball on their twenty-five yard line and went down on their thirty yard line. For sojjj time they forged ahead slowly but surely, and on Richton ' s twenty yard line made 12