Harper's Round Table, August 20, 1895

Copyright, 1895, by Harper & Brothers. All Rights Reserved.

t was the ending of the ninth inning; the score stood 8 to 7 in Princeton's favor, but Harvard had only one man out, and the bases were full.
Was it any wonder that the Freshmen couldn't keep their seats, and that the very air seemed to hold its breath while Bradfield, '98, twisted the ball?
In the centre of the grand stand, where the orange and black was thickest, but the enthusiasm more controlled, stood a boy, his whole body quivering with nervous excitement, his eyes glued—as were all others—to the pitcher's box.
Come in, now! look out! lead off! the Harvard coach was saying, as the umpire's one strike, two balls, two strikes, three balls, raised and dashed again the hopes of Princeton. Then came a moment of horrible nerve-destroying suspense, and then the umpire's calm and judicial— striker out.
Above the cheers, which literally tore the air, the shrill discordant note of the boy's voice could be heard, yelling like mad for Princeton and '98.
Who is that little fellow? said a girl, just behind him to her companion. The boy turned like a flash.
I'm Braddy's brother, he said, his chest still heaving, and his cheek glowing. He's struck out seven men!
The girl smiled, and an upper classman, who was next to him, patted him on the back.
It's a proud day for Braddy's brother, he said, and for '98 and Princeton, that is, if Harvard doesn't— For a moment it looked as if Harvard would, for the regular thud of the ball against the catcher's glove was interrupted by the ominous crack of the bat, and the men on bases ran for their lives on the bare chance of a hit, or possibly an error.