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To Him That Hath

Chapter 10 THE NIGHT OF VICTORY

Word Count: 7227    |    Released on: 06/12/2017

he old rendezvous of the hockey teams in pre-war days.

n to me, while I give you a calm and connected account of the game. I shall always regret that you were not present, Mamma. Victory! And at half time we were down, five to two! I confess disaster and despair s

other, "but if you will speak a

with great deliberation, in front of her. "I will

that I could hardly gra

goal and instead of trying to shoot, the one with the puck circles round the back and delivers the puck immediat

d say," replied Hugh Maynard,

hey began the roughhouse business. Jumbo Larson-a terribly big Swede, Mamm

exclaimed

It took Captain Jack all his time to stand up against him. And then they ran in goals at a perfectly terrific rate. Two-three-fo

" exclaimed M

t her. Captain Jack brought h

" suppli

did everything but swear. Indeed, she may have been sw

ly priceless, Mother. I wish you co

to two against us. It was a truly awful moment for all of us. And then, after half time, didn't those Cornwalls within five minutes run

at the old lady made a remark which, I belie

t quite

rying to cheer the old lady up when she said to him: 'Yon half backs, A'm thinkin''-she was a soccer fan in the old land, I believe-'yon half backs, A'm thinkin', are gey confid

from that moment there was a

u see, Mamma, the forwards would take down the puck and then up behind them would come the backs, Macnamara and 'Jack' Johnson, like a perfect storm, and taking the puck from the forwards, who would then fall back to defence, would smash right on the Cornwall defence. The very first time when 'Jack' John

sitting next to her. She was really a whole play by herself. When Jumbo went smashing again

aptain Jack came roaring down the ice at a terrific pace, and with never a stop, smashed head on into Jumbo and Macnab and fairly hur

rate your tone. We are not in the rink. And t

that make? Ten minutes to play, Mamma! But that was t

fence. It was a wonderful piece of generalship, I mus

g the same game, but they weren't. For Captain Jack and Snoopy went back to their old specialty, and before the Cornwalls knew where they were at, they ran in three goals-one-two-three, just like that! Oh! you ought to have seen that rink, Mamma, and you ought to have heard the yelling! I

I happened to catch his wink as Maitland was bending over him. I was helping him off the ice, you know, and I hea

Patricia indignantly. "Indeed he was;

ugh," said Hugh, "but he w

rybody seemed to be on the ice and fighting. Hugh ran in, and Vic-I should loved

said: "What do you m

ien, "the whole crowd demanding

t to the umpire and it looked almost as though he was going to fight, the way he to

He knows the umpire well. Indeed, I think the umpire o

ed Patricia. "I wish I

t's rot and you know it. It was a deliberate and beastly trick. Put him off!' 'He stays on!' said the umpire, and he stuck to it, I'll give him credit for that. It was old Maitland that saved the day. He came up smiling. 'I hope you are taking off the time,

hey all seemed to quiet down. It was Captain Jack. Well, Mamma, on they came again! But

little beggar,

do you mean?"

team, you know-Macnamara, for instance, entreating his captain for the love of heaven to

defence was certainly rattled. They pulled their men back and played

" said her mother, "tho

h, it was perfectly splendid! And then how did it fini

ee, either,

cking them up. Out came Macnab and Jumbo Larson following him. Macnab checked Geordie, who passed to Jack, who slipped it back to Ma

ll through the game. I saw him gather himself, crouch low, lurch forward with shoulder well down, a wrestler's trick-you know Macnamara was the champion wrestler o

lovely!" exclaimed P

mother, "lovely, and they

. Then just as they faced off, time was called. Six to six! Think

. Templeton. "But I th

g of the whole match," said Adrien, trying to break

fools the back, rushes round the goal and passes to Jack, who is standing in front ready to slip it in. But of course the Cornwalls were prepared for the play. But that is where the double-circle comes in. This time Geordie had the puck, with Captain Jack immediately at his left and Snoopy further out. Well, Geordie had the puck, you see. He rushes down and pretends to make the circle of the goal. But this time he doesn't. H

n: "It really was

inly was,

rward lines came down, with Macnamara and 'Jack' Johnson roaring and yelling like-like-I don't know what. And they did the double-circle again! Think of it! And then time was called. Oh,

y, and with grudging praise for the local team, deploring their roughhouse tactics. But he met

aid. "What do you m

back, "for instance that charge of Ma

appeared to me quite all right. It was Larson w

he got. Why, the way he mauled little Snoopy and Geordie Ross in the

not tiddly-winks, you

w that!" broke in t

ombination there. Of course that was a rotten assault on Snoopy. It wasn't Jumb

at all that bloody bandage business. It was a bit of stage play. Very clever, I

Vic only la

ittle beggar, is

pleton, "where is Jack! He was

is a big supper on, given by the Mill management, an

ed Patricia. "A

ickets. Don't care for that sort of thing myself. Rathe

cia, "I should love

those people? What nonsense. But I wish Jack would drop in

ew minutes, Mamma" entreated Pa

ooked at

yself. After all, it is our home team and they are good

t sort of thing, but I would, anyway. Would you care to come, Adrien, if Mrs. Tem

gerly. "We might, for a few minutes, Mother?

ricia's

er, decidedly. "Just think of that mixed multi

wailed Patricia, "I can

tor Templeton appeared. "Well, what's the excitement," he en

ter on the Cornwall defence, was knocked out! Oh, it was a glorious match! And can't I go down to see the dance? Adrien a

reath, Patricia. Now, do begin

gave him

ld doctor. "No one hu

cept perhaps Jumbo Larso

family when he made you a gir

uite breathlessly, she went once more ov

, I must say," said h

so bad as Patricia makes it, sir. Rough at

cia, "what about Jum

ck, you know. It was a littl

the dance. There will be speeches, you know, and I do want to hear Captain Jack," she

mpany. "But," continued the doctor, "I don't think I can. My dear, I think they might go for a few minut

wful public affairs. You can't imagine what they are like.

will be there, I fancy, and yo

e friends of both teams, townspeople. Of course the Mill hand

for a few minutes. But be sure to be back before midnight. R

shall keep a firm

ugging her father rapturously. "I wi

from the Rectory, arriving in time to hear the closing speeches of the two team c

t had put up the best play. He complimented Captain Maitland upon his generalship. He had known Captain Maitland in the old days and he ought to have been on the lookout for the kind of thin

imed Jumbo Larson, w

hope that the Maitland Mill team would try for a place next season in the senior hockey.

y played a wonderful game and a clean game. He shared in the doubt of their Captain as to whic

roared the Cornwa

the never-dying spirit which they showed. It was a great honour for his team to meet the Cornwalls. A hard team to meet-so

he Mill management and for the ladies, the dinner came to an end, the whole party joining with w

the dance, Captain Jack rushed upstairs to the party in the g

win! It was glorious! And that double-circle play t

y lucky," said

ions. Adrien waited behind, a wonderful light shining in her eyes, a

o congratulate us, t

d a pace

ward him and breathing quickly, "it w

ok of surprise, of wonder, then of pier

nse, almost stern, which she alone he

you going to dance? You are, aren't you? And will you giv

will you give

that grew misty, the quick beating of

ack," she gasp

at her, and tur

rien, may I

en leaned

" she

more as you

," she said, flinging out her hands

me? And me?" said

o-night," added Rupert, with a

uering hero, you know," repli

nd. "You see, I am on duty, as it

hrowing him a warm smile. "We w

mean to dance with every one of the team. I know I am going to have a perfectly lo

er sister, sm

ried Vic, m

"I am going to have him just as of

ltitude." Mill hands and their girls, townsfolk whose social standing was sufficiently assured to endure the venture. A mixe

appeared to be quite disgusted wi

exclaime

ny rate," said Adrien, "and, after

t, eh, Pat?" said Vic, making

a severely

dancer he is! But Annette, isn't she wonderful! What a lovely dress! I think she is the most beautiful thing

" said Vic. "Some dancer,

sharply. "You know you are just aching to show off

you would," rep

er they all stood wat

Adrien. "I don't think we hav

d Vic. "But wait till they come to 'turkey-in-t

a. "I can 'turkey' myself.

d, "there is the Captain and Annette. Now look out for high art. I know

s," said Adrien. "And how

ey," said Rupert. "They evide

t you think we should go down?" she a

r by the arm and hurrying to the stairs, the others

onfused hilarity. Maitlan

e is really no use waiting for Captain Jack. A

ed and together they swung of

gh. "We shall doubtless run into

oments were slipping by. Patricia was becoming more and more anxious and fretful at the non-a

idor?" he said. "This air is b

rooms which were used as dressing and retiring rooms, and whose entrances we

, drawing a deep breath. "S

strenuous and exciting evening. I really feel

bench which faced the en

er or an ice, Adrien?" inquired H

f you will be so kind. How deli

ee which screened the open door of the room opposite, and taking the bo

sly fragrant,

he girl, with her face tearfully pale and pleading, uplifted to his and with her hands gripped tight and held fast in his, clasped against his breast. More plainly th

stunning blow, her heartbeats checking her breath. Quickly, blindly, she ran do

? Have you seen a ghost?" h

hand and began to drink, at fi

w, I was almost overcome. The air of that room is quite deadly.

r end of the corridor and opened the door. "Oh, delic

ds in this glorious moon." She stooped, and from a gleaming bank beside the door she caught up a double han

r feet free from the clinging flakes and waving her hands in the air to dry them, "I feel f

uite fit?" inquired Hug

eeks were bright with col

eaming at her with frank admiration. "

y this door," she cried, catching his hand

. "I have not seen Captain Jack anywhere," she lamented. "Have you, Adrien? I have just sent Vic f

r go whenever Vic returns. I am awfully sorry for you, Patricia," she added. "No! Don't! You simply must not cry here."

n his search for Maitland he ran across McNish, whom

ou know where Captain Ma

" replied McNish, in a

nce with Annette-with Miss Perrotte-and I thoug

at him for a moment o

a'-he's ta'e

said Vic

or all I k

lose at his side, gripping his arm wit

se, panting, his face that of a maniac, he stood glaring wild-eyed at the young man before him. To say that Vic was shaken b

will come to harm from Captain Maitland, then I say you are a liar and a fool." So speaking, little Vic set himself for the rush which he

A am baith liar and fule." The ag

ibly mistaken somehow, I can swear to tha

d suddenly gotten himself in hand. "

Captain Maitland? I am his friend, and let me tell you that all I ever hope to own,

"Ye may be richt. A apologise, si

stuff," said Vic, "and do

standing in a dull and dazed conditio

ther-grandmother-or something-stricken-let's see. Annette has a brother-By Jove! the very thing-I've got it-brother met with an accident-run over-fell down a well-anything. Hurry call-ambulance stuff. Good line. Needs working up a bit, though. What

to give it, as he said himself, a little artistic verisimilitude. Then, with his lesson-as he

thing. Dash it all! I am quite nervous. This will never do. Must find a way-good effect-cool and collected stuff." So, ruminating and praying and moving ever more slowly, he

ed Patricia, in d

y-the big chap dancing with Annette, you know-just met him-quite wo

med Patricia. "You

excited, I confess. Rather nasty thing-Annette's brother, you kno

er is in Toronto," s

rry call-phone message for Annette-horrible accident. Maitland ru

hy in his honest voice. "That is hard luck on poor Anne

cried Patricia, in a

us, I mean. You know, just enough to cause anxiety." Vic lit another cig

all this?" i

aid Vic. "Why, t

y? What ma

ap who was falling over her in the fox trot. L

e now?" enq

that he had seen McNish moving toward the door. "Better go and

id Patricia. "I am sure Annette wo

y no necessity. I shouldn't like to intrude in family

n Vic's face. "You think we had bet

optimism. "There is no necessity-slight a

erious accident-a terrib

you understand the Johnny was so deucedly worked up over it he couldn't

"I think we wil

ou need worry over Annette. The accident probably is

een telling you. Serious, but not dangerous

an't you get things straight? I say, Adrien, we can ride round to An

what!" he added to Vic, who was making frantic grimaces at

Patricia to Adrien, as they wen

upon Vic: "Now then, what the d

ress. I am a nervous wreck-a perfect mess. Another word from that kid and I should have run sc

able could I help you out? What is all the yarn abou

ff. You know-nothing in it, of course. But what was I to do? Some tale was necessary! Fortunately or unfortunately, brother Tony sprang to the thing I call my mind and-well, you know the mess I made of it. But Hugh, remember, for heaven's sake, make talk about something-about the match-and get that

d mental condition allowed-by the enfeebled Vic, till they had safely deposited their charges at

d Lord, deliver us,'" murmured Vic, falling into the seat beside his friend. "Take me home to mother," he adde

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