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To-Day's Short Story.

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To-Day's Short Story. FOR CORA'S SAKE. I North Wtttn Hotel. C-orttonport. Jœot back from Klondike. Done well. Shall await to-morrow's match and return with yon. BOB. Thus read aJoud Tom Barring-ton from that paper of unmistakable hue which we recognise at a glance a.s a telegram. "Think of that! Bob back. He must have seen to-morrow's teams in the papers. Barrington in goal. eh ? what a strange coincide nee! And 'done well '—that meana nuggets! "Locky fellow! He goes off in a fit of despera&ian, and tries to 10"2e himself in the wild North West, and stumbles a-eroes a fortune, while I etay at home, and am positively dependent upon a stray goal, more or lets, to-morrow," cried Tom, crump- ling the telegram in nis hands. Would you change places with him, Tocm? a.¡;ked the young wife—the only other person in the room—with, a flush on her pale cheeks and a depth of (meaning in her tone which her husband knew well how to interpret. Tom's sudden and not unnatural jealousy nished as quickly as it arose, a.nd, taking his wife's thin hand tenderly, he said, looking into her eyes: Do you regret, now you know what might have been?" Her only arwwer was a deepened glow in her eyes, whicl1. met h-er husband's gaze unflinchingly, and a gentle pressure of the big, brown hand that was noted for fisting a ball almost as far a.-t some could kick it, and Tom gathered hia little one- year wife into his ,*1I1, and, kissing her fondly, w.hisper0d in her oar: "And you- you'd rather have a, goal-keeper than a millionaire? Well! Weil'.—and I-I would rather have my little Cora than all the gold of Klondike—and I'm sorry for poor old Bob, for, if he 1143 brought home a ship- load of gold, he has brought home aleo-an empty heart. Oh," cried Cora, nestling closer, sorely have got over that by this time!" "1\0, that's not Bob. He'll never forget, worse li»ck!" "Isn't it Strang-'?—this Here are twin brothers, as like as two peas, foolishly in love with the same girl. and she just loves the one—this one—with all her heart, and doesn't love the other a bit, in that way, though she thinks him one of the best and truest men in the world—isn't it strange?" "Strange encu^h! Especially RB the rejected one was always a more taking sort than his brother." "No fishing, sir! Now help me oil to the couch, there's a dear. You'll hurry back from Cotton-port to-morrow, won't you? I'm a. bit frightened at being left." t H'Ilrry back? Won't I, just—if I go." You mnsit go, Tam. It's very unlikely that Milliga-n will play in goal again and if you ocme off to-morrow—and yon will—you are certain of the place, and think what that means to us just now." "Think of it, da,rling? Since the engineers' war commenced I've thought cf lit night and day." Forgive me, love. I know you have, and rly wormed yourself 00 death about it." No. PO. I'm all right, my lass. I shall 80, of course, for your sake as well as my own. if you are well and cheerful." But these little family matters have a way of arranging themselves and dia- arranging everything else, and when Tom Earrin^tou, the new goal-keeper from the noigbouring village of Riverside, whom the big Eestport League club were giving a trial, should have been joining the train with tile rest of the team for Cotton port, he wa<s holding his wife's hand and speaking tender words to her, while he listened anxiously for the sound of wheels outside should anjiouuco the arrival of the doctor. "You've missed yorur train?" whiepered the pole lips. Yes, darling." How—how will they manage without "Dant worry, dear." Thais admonished, s.he lay back upon the bcil, and closed her eye-. Then suddenly them, Bohe said: "You must keep It's the match of the sea-son. They'll neVer forgive you if they drop from their at the top of the table." It be helped, dear. Let it rest." 'ThereBob, ask him—for my sake^to take your place. "Bob? Keep goal for "Yes. personate you—for my eak?. He'll not disgrace us." The sound of wheels and a double knock announced the arrhal of the doctor, and, close upon his heels, a good, motherly eoul of a nur^e—and Tom was free. Cotton-port was out of the question. The game would be half through when he arrived, even if he were now at East.port, four miles away, stepping into the train. His wife's suggestion—was it feasible? Bob could keep goal, there was no doubt a.bout that; but the Oottonport team were fighting, as it were, for dear life, to escape the ignominious test matches, and some of their forwards would not stick at a tnfte. On the. other hand, it was of the utmost importance to the status and reputation of Torn Barrington that his citaa^el should be kept intact. The club found itself, for the first time, at the top of the League table, and the man who could keep it there was a made man. Fortune had not been too kind to Tom, except that it had sent him a wife in a million, but that fact alone was am all-sufficient reason for a bold stroke. I'll do it!" muttered Tom, as a muffled wail of anguish was borne frorm above; I'll do it. and it "and off he rushed to the posit-offioe and despatched the fol- lowing wire: Cora ill. Personate me between sticks. For her sake, she says. Reply—TOM. Anxiously he waited. Now that he had done it he was desirous that it ".heou,Ld succeed. What if his brother were not at his hotel? He might have gone out, not to return until he had wen the ma.t,ch.! Wouldn't he marvel, in that case, when the Ea-stport team turned out to do battle with only ten men, and had to make shift with one of their number in goal? "The reply is here, sir," said the telegr*a»pii girl, and Tom, almost rudely, snatched it trom her hand and road: Will do it.for Cora'e sake—BOB. Bob Barrington, late of Dawson City. Klondike—that gold-Held on an ice-fleld had finished his toast and coffee two hours ago. but had only turned his chair towards the are in his private room at the North Western, Oottonport, and had sat gazing j into the embers ever since. He had returned to the old country rich beyond the dreams of avarice. Fifteen months before he was in the same citybut not in the hotel, by any means-with | a. steerage ticket for New York. He had a heavy heart and a light pocket then. Both were heavy now. He had h-card, while still within the bounds of civilisation, of the marriage of his brother Tom to Cora Campbell, and, Heaven knows, did not begrudge his brother his happiness, but he knew that he himself eruat feel a lifelong lack. There had never been any open rivalry 'between the brothers. Cora knew, but Tom 4Jd not until she had promised to be his wife, that Bob Barring ton had bestowed his love where it could not be requited. Bob and Tom had one painful interview, during which the former broke down, and tobbed as only a man does when he is broken-hearted, and was "comforted" ma tame. hopeti..>æ style by his affectionate rival, who. poor fellow, saw no way out o* tale im-passe. Then Bob announced his in??tion of going to Amer.ca.. ow noe was back ?.in-rich. unhappy, b._t the ..me ood <e?w he always was, ?for ?he WM built that wa H? thought were in Riverside, to fee and his br?her h.d ????? p?r to bis departure,, and where thej had met Com. O,ht he to go • S?TM 00 not? Beside, he had ???htoy ? he would, and he hoped ?   S?t very day. He looked ^orward to the tW match in the afternoon as a peasant ?v<?ion for his thoughts-none too ■pleosaibt. He wo?der?d how Tarn wold Lme 0?. He did ?t doubt ^s ab.Lty. He was himself no novice, and he now Tom was his -master. A tap at the door and the entry of a w?ter with a telegram on ä sahervo Mm from hi9 reverie. He tools .? ?n. and re?t: "Cora iU. ™ bc?.w?n sticks. For her sake, she aa?ys. ^fs ?d°di?? Rr h?d a refreshing way of making up his ?nd quickly. He walke' lei?i?v but in?-ntly. to the ?hot.? ??p<?t office, and wil?d a ehort menage agreemg to the request. Having thus ruthl?ly out ?e painter, he began to oast around for ways and aneans. The difficulties were many and various. He viewed himself in the Klass. He had been {locwtomed, from his ea.rlie8t boyhood, to the fact that unless he and his br?or were seen together it was  tioally in?oMiMe 00 tell which was whjû. That wM a.n old jok: but the glance in the mirror revealed one litHe matter that needed attention. Shovinor in Dawson City was paid for in golddrst. and it was < £ M»per—tor cihea-per-to leave Nature to take her couw, hence the well-grown, but. neatly trimmed. bwwd which adorned his ehin, the like of which he knew Tom did not cultivate- To the barber then he repaired, and, with & corrrprehenRive geettire, said. "All off a.nd pfll oft it was in a brace of shakes. lie nearly started wihen, as he walked towards the- mirror, hew- his own reflection. It might have been Tom himself coming to cmeet him. I can do it," he muttered, as he hastened to luncheon, "and no one need be the wiser." There was const-ernat-ion in the Eastport oamp when, at the last moment, the new goal-keeper did not arive. Nothing remained but to proceed to Cottonport without him; and thus it was that, with heavy hearts but light steps, ten men only bounded upon the field, in the famous colours of the Eastport team. Scarcely had they left the dressing- room, when ti stranger entered and announced himself to the attendant as Bewciiugton, the new Eastport goalkeeper— waa there a spare rig-out, as, in his haste, he had' neglected to bring his own? No sooner asked for thau supplied!—and the cheer that greeted the eleventh and missing man was the greatest of all, for it was heart-ily joined by his elated comrades, who could scarcely believe their eyes. However, there was no time for MADAME INA HILL, Who ap-p-ear in the Oarl Rosa Company in I the New Theatre, Cardiff, next week. [Photo, Jenkins, Cardiff. questioning, and Barrington—Bob of that ilk-volunteered no information, but planted himself between the uprights, and fell to wonderng how a man two years out of practice would shape. The whistle sounded, and Bob coon had a ta-t-o of the Oottonip-c-rt quality, for the game had ha-rdly commenced when the ball came sailing in from a, well-directed lateral shot., and, taking the under side of the crossbar, would have been in the net in a twinkling had not the gold-digger caught it on the emd of his fingers, and joust tipped it over. Cries of "Corner! oorner!" arose, mingled with cheers. and a. corner-kick it w-a, All the players- clustered abou-t the goal- mouth, and awaited the ball. ready with head or foot to help it through or keep it out,. The tension on Bob's nerves was terrible. He had faced the icy terrors of the Obilooot Pass and the rigours of a winter on the Yukon with much gteatoer equanimity. Here it comes! And, instantly, right into the micLit of the pos-e ci.-ops the ball, and cannons from head to head. and from too to toe, in the wild straggle for the mastery, and a rapturous cheer bursts from the throng as the ball, despite the efforts ot the opposing eleven, shoots into the net, a.nd the fir it goal fall3 to Cottonport. But, Fitay. 'A',hy does the goalkeeper waYe his arme in frantic protesrt, a.nd the referee make his way aimong the excited players and, after some altercation, point impera- tively in front of the goal? "A goal kick!" "No goal!" cry the elated and the depressed alike, and it goon transpires that Hattock, the Cotton- port csntre-forwaord, a man of unsavoury reputation for shady tactics, deliberately, in the melee, fisted" the ball through the goal. Away rushes the field to be ready for the kick-off. Hattock send-s an evil look at the new goalkeeper, his accuser, of which that .g,on-.Ieman takes no heed, but. with e. mighty kick, eendst the ball hurtling into the centre of the fray. Thus-, ding-dong goes the game, this way and thctt-B o b now kicking, smiting, breasting out shots, now flapping his arms to warIll his fingers, cold aiter ten minutes' re-spite, while his vifl-^a-vis is catching it hot. And thus half time cornea with honours easy—no goals. The interval was a trying time for Bob. He busied himself, washing and rubbing down, and managed to keep himself fairly in the background. The eager questions of his new comrades he answered i-o. mono- syllables; but, as no one seemed to suspect hi-s identity, he became more at eae-e. T.iie ends were changed, and so was the stats of the game. Five minutes had not elapsed ere Eastport had notched two goals. Not without a struggle, however, would Cottonport yield, and Bob found the next Quarter of an hour the wa-rmeist in hij experience; but, through it all, with every nerve on the stretch, and every sinew taut, oanne like a refrain from another life, For Cora's sake—for Cora's sake," and seemed to give him superhuanan energy, so that he kept his fortress intact. To the other end fared the fight, and, not to be denied. Eastport returned again end: again to the attack, relief only coming with the addition of a third goal. Most of the Cottowport men accepted the inevitable, while yet fighting gamely on, ■but OIlIe man there wei to whom Bob's g-ucoess wa-i gall and wormwood. This was Hattock, the centre. There was a. gleam in his eyes, and a sting in his charges, which to?d of viciousness, and when the ball came dropping insidiously towards Bobs goal, Hattck sprang upon him with all his jj wMght. and felled him heavily, his had ,?tri king the corner of the goal-Tost. Blood | streamed forth, and he was borne s?nsc- leoss to the dressing-room. The room was cleared. The doctor administered restoratives, but his face was very grave. Bob opened his eyes and muttered: COTa.fum-irt's cold—ugh! Klondikeb a cold otintrT! Then a gleam of intelligence came and a faint smile illuminated his pale features. The doctor bent over him onoe more, and this time his face put on a more hopeful look. 11 ivith care I think he may pull through," said he; "hia constitution will I | sa\e hiim." And so it did. Bob's magnificent physique kept death from soaring a goal at his expense. The Oottonport Club, to its lasting honr, not content with dismissing Hattock, paid 15W compensation. Bob maintained, as he was only a substitute, that this money rightly belonged to Tom, and insisted upon his acceptance of it, threatening, if a word of I protest were raised, to return forthw ith to Klondike.

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