Alton High School - Tatler Yearbook (Alton, IL)

Page 30 text:

NUMBER 817 First Prize 4 4 Jj ELLO, Sis! exclaimed Bob Ford, as lie stepped from the 4 east-bound train. ‘‘Gee, I'm glad to see you look so well.'’ Bob, you are a dear to come all the way down here to spend your vacation, was the reply of Mrs. Hazelton, his sister. Mary Evans and I have arranged some fine surprises for you. By the way, you haven’t met Mary. She is the cutest little darling and lives two doors from us in the next double house. Why she has even asked some of her friends to come over to her house Wednesday evening to meet you.’’ At this a look of dismay came over Bob’s face. You know, Sis, I came down here to go hunting, and not after girls, either.” But, Boh, you must! Everybody has been invited, and it would he a shame to spoil the fun!” But I can't go, because, although I am brave and strong otherwise, I am a coward before girls. Please don’t worry me more about this, because it hurts me more than you know.” In due time Mary Evans came over, and they were introduced, hut, when Mrs. Hazelton purposely left them alone to chat, Boh took the first possible chance offered to leave the room. In the same manner he stayed away from the party on the pretext of having to go to bed early to go fishing the next morning when lie conscientiously knew he hadn’t even obtained the bait for the next day's fishing. But lie excused this lie to himself by thinking lie would have spoiled the party. The next Saturday evening Mr. Hazelton laughingly said: Well, if you are afraid of girls, you certainly aren't afraid of seeing the city, so, if you have nothing else to do, we’ll go down town. I'll take my revolver along and have the spring fixed; then we can have some target practice before breakfast to-momnv morning.’’ To this Boh readily assented, and soon after supper they started out to do the town. Not long after they were gone, Mrs. Hazelton sighed as she reflected, Why, Bob’s as big a baby as lie w as eight or nine years 24

Page 29 text:

 THE WATER-LILY Second Prize Out in the lake so cool, Roused from sweet dreams of night, There opens my love her eyes To the brilliant beams of light. With shyly peeping glances. Her arms slip from the leaves And her lovely, tiny fingers Sweet breaths of fragrance weave. Slow and cautious she blossoms forth As glad, blithe youths in their May, ’Till finally she appears one glorious gem, The flower queen of the day. And the little, green frogs are her servants, And the glossy fish, her maid, And the water sprites, her messengers Flying here and there bearing aid. And she reigns in her watery palace supreme. Beloved by every guest, Ev il winged nymphs and fairy elves Of her go oft in quest. Thus lives my innocent love, Out in the lake so wide, While 1 stand on the opposite shore, And try, in vain, my love to hide. May Foreman, ’ll. 23

Page 31 text:

ago. From the letters lie wrote I expected to see an up-to-date man, and to think he is afraid of girls, and Mary especially! Those blue eyes overhung by long eyelashes and that brown and pretty little dimpled face! If they can’t win him, what can? I believe I 11 read his last letter over again. Let me see; it is in the writing desk. Here it is now. Why, the big silly has addressed it 817 E. Ninth Street. Our address is 821; that is Mary’s house, and the houses do look much alike. I don’t see how he happened to do it.” Immediately she read the letter to herself, carefully reflecting over each point. All this time Bob was enjoying himself to the fullest extent, for, although he hated girls, he liked a good time. Mr. Hazelton had the revolver repaired and also bought a box of cartridges. “Bob,” iie said, “put these in your pocket, for I have to get some things for my wife, and my pocket space is limited.” Bob obeyed, and the two went on their ways. About 9:45 p. m. Mr. Hazelton said: “Almost all of our stores are crowded, but you ought to see our five and ten cent store! It’s one of Everybody's one hundred and twelve stores. We’ll take a stroll over to sec it before it closes.” L’pon arriving they were packed and jammed in with the rest and soon became separated. After searching for Mr. Hazelton for some time, Bob decided to go home. “By Jove!” he exclaimed to himself, “I have it. I’ll take this skeleton key, open the door, and go up to my room and the folks won’t know where I am until morning. This old key used to open almost any door in college, and many is the time that it has helped the Sophs get the Presides.” On the way home he wondered if the revolver loaded easily, so hi took it out, slipped six shells into it and carelessly put it back into his pocket loaded. At length, having reached Ninth Street, he walked up until he came to the eight hundred block. “Let me see,” he reflected, “Sis's number is 817.” He struck a match. “This is 817. Why, I thought it was the next house. Well, here it goes. I won’t wake Sis up: I guess she is tired. ‘So far, so good,’ ” he quoted as he turned the key and opened the door, “I'll take off my shoes so as not to awaken her.” Silently he climbed the stairs and entered the front room. “Gee, I am glad she gave me this room!” he murmured. “By leaving the curtain up I have the sun for my alarm clock.”