heaviest team win; go
into the fellow." "Oh! gentlemen, gentlemen, fie, fie, Association
Football is an amateur game, and as long as I play it," said the
captain, "there shall be no cruelty done on either side."

Little did the spectators know the real cause of the inordinate tackling
done by Bob and Charlie, but the secret soon came out. The pair had
previously been rivals for the hand of Jenny Black, and Bob was looked
upon as the winner. At least Charlie had not been seen at the Black's
Villa for two or three months, and before this he always made it his
house of call. But what about Harry Carts, Jenny's English sweetheart?
Why, I had almost forgotten him.

A team of Cantabs had played the Black-and-Whites just a year
previously, and Harry was one of them. He had been invited to spend an
evening at the Colonel's house, and had fallen desperately in love with
the bonnie Scotch lassie. Bob was also specially invited and was present
that evening, and although trying to be as affable as possible to the
friendly stranger and opponent, could barely hide his jealousy when the
gallant English forward kissed the lovely girl's ruby lips in a game at
forfeits.

Bob said nothing about it to Jenny, but Emma, the youngest sister,
whispered to her brother Jack that Bob's eyes had a wild look that
evening. The matter, however, was soon forgotten, as Harry Carts left
Glasgow the next evening for London, after his gallant team had played a
drawn game with the Scotch Black-and-Whites--the first one ending in
that way, be it observed, that had ever been played between them and an
English team on Scottish ground in the memory of the proverbial "oldest
inhabitant."

Harry Carts, to give him his due, was one of the best Association
football players ever England produced. When Mr. C. W. Alcock and a few
choice spirits in London, it is true, first opened the eyes of many
football players to the value of the Association rules, and inaugurated
the Football Association in 1863, Harry was a mere child. Appearing at
college, however, he soon showed a liking for the dribbling game, and
never lost a moment in doing his best to acquire everything he was
likely to know about it.

Just the season before our story opens, he had been chosen from an
imposing array of names sent in by his club, and also the branch
Associations, for an honourable place in the "Great International." His
superiority, in fact, put his place beyond doubt, and he stood to