Thanksgiving Day dawned cold and clear, promising ideal weather for the last game of the season. The very atmosphere seemed charged with enthusiasm, as if portending the long-expected clash of the afternoon. The season had been one of continued successes for the team of old K.U., and now would be fought the most important contest of the season. Long had K.U and K.S.C. been rivals for the Southern championship, and now K.U. had it almost in her grasp, but State would fight desperately before giving up her last hold.

The K.U. players, confidant of success, were on the field early, while the rooters for both sides, proudly vaunting their colors, Crimson or Blue and White, rapidly filled up the bleachers on both sides and crowded the remaining space around the field. Three o'clock, and amid the loud and continuous cheering the rival teams trotted out on the field and lined up for the kick-off. It was to be a battle to the finish. A shrill whistle and the Crimson was clashing against the Blue and White.

On State's bleachers stood a girl watching the contest excitedly, by her side a youth whose Crimson colors made a marked contrast with the Blue and White all about him. He looked down eagerly into her face.

"Miss Waldin, please listen." She only looked more intently on the rush down field. He waited for her reply. At last she turned.

"You know the conditions, Mr. Allen. If K.U. wins, I go with you to the dance to-night; if not, with Mr. Thomas."

"But don't you want us to win?"

"Do I ? and have my own college defeated?" She smiled quizzically at him. He laughed.

"At any rate, we are going - I am going to win. Now truly, don't you want me to?"

"I think you are a little too inquisitive," she replied roguishly.

On the field the teams were tugging first this way, then that. A shrill whistle was heard and a shout arose. K.U. had made the first touch-down after five minutes' play. Yancey had gone over the line on a delayed pass, and Wallace kicked the goal. Six to nothing in K.U.'s favor.

"It does look as if you were winning," she said, with a pucker across her forehead. Two of State's men had been carried off the field, too badly hurt to continue playing and the subs eager for the fray ran out to fill their places.

"I surely hope our good fortune won't turn. It would take me a month to regain my normal state of happiness, if we lose." She smiled at his boyish intensity and then both gave their entire attention to the contest. The first half was nearly over.

"Here comes my rival." He laughed mischievously. "I guess I'll go down to see the team, you won't be lonesome," and he left as the other approached. Thomas's face wore an anxious expression.

"I can't imagine why we don't make any headway. The K.U. team is like a mountain. We haven't been able to break through yet, and now the first half's over. It will be bad enough for the college to lose, without my losing." He looked at her meaningly.

"Oh, well, fortune may turn. There is time enough yet to defeat them. The men ought to know by this time what they are up against and be prepared to meet them. Maybe K.U.'s luck will change," she said, encouragingly.

"Do you want it to?"

"It wouldn't be quite right to answer, would it?" He looked away. "You are right. I have one consolation, however, the other fellow hasn't any more chance than I."

The second half had begun, and he left her with a bevy of girls while he went down closer to the field. It was beginning to look as if K.U. would entirely overwhelm K.S.C. They were repeating the trick of the first half, and State had the ball only a few minutes during the entire period. Simpson, after a run of twenty-five yards, made another touch-down and Wallace again kicked the goal. State's men struggled desperately. Three more of their players, the heaviest of their team, had to be taken from the field, and two more followed before the struggle ended. No other touch-down was made, and with the ball dangerously near State's goal line, the second half ended.

Prolonged cheering filled the air. With pennants and ribbons waving, the victorious team of K.U., not a man injured, was carried from the field on the shoulders of its enthusiastic supporters. Across the field and up the benches ran a K.U. man to where a girl was waiting for him.

"We've won," he cried exultantly, and seeing the colors on her coat, he unpinned State's Blue and White, and throwing them to the ground, fastened his own in their place. She smiled up at him as he made the exchange.

"Yes, you have won," and blushing, smiled into his eyes.

K.U. had scored again.

by Lulu Snyder (Transylvanian, January 1910)

Lulu Snyder

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Last Updated September 21, 2011