Arsenal Technical High School - Arsenal Cannon Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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Q , 9 A . Q5 - - ggi ' if-sg M r -fiiifl ' it THE RETURN UE LIFE He was just one of perhaps a half a million tired, hot people who lived in the world of dust, for the merciless pale sun shone continuously on the dry earth, the dry people, the dry souls, and the dry crops, all BY struggling to live with one hope in ELIZABETHANN mind-that rain, the life-giving rain, SOUTH might fall. ENGLISH VI But rain had not been seen for weeks, yes, for months, for the sun seemed determined to fill the whole universe with her drying rays. He, or shall we call him Juan De Casa, was desper- ate for, if rain did not fall soon, he would be lost, for his farm was mortgaged and- his only son was dying of fever. If the Great One was merciful and rain fell, soon his crops would grow, he would be able to pay the mortgage, and he could get a doctor for his dying son. Even Rosa's smooth olive skin was dry and parched, her hands were red and roughened, and her almond shaped nails were torn and broken. The year before his rancho was prosperous, fiestas were held regularly, and his wife was fresh and glowing. He had had many servants and many pesos, and he was generous to the needy. But all that was different now, for his crops were eaten by locusts, and his sheep and cows had died like moths around a fire. He had mortgaged his lovely rancho to feed his wife and child during the winter, and all his servants had gone to find another place where they would be needed. No more milk could be gotten, for long ago his last two cows had lain down in the dust heap that served as a barnyard, and sighed a sigh of thanksgiving that the Great One had called them from their sufferings. And now only their whitened bones, dry as tinder, remained to tell the story of death. Juan, sitting beside the dry well, denounced the sun as an enemy, and as he was vowing revenge, the fright- ened cry of Rosa fell upon his ears. Running to the adobe house, he went to the bedroom and saw Rosa bending over the tiny form of his son who was moaning and tossing in his wooden cradle. He must have a doctor soon,', sobbed Rosa wildly, or my only son will go to oin his forefathers. I have prayed to St. Mary, but my boy only gets worse. Oh please go to the white doctor and bring him to my son. I fear for him. ' ,- Z' iii f ff H, at if- J' ff -I --X He had mortgaged his lovely rancho-' Hearing Rosais desperate plea, Juan made the deci- sion that his son would be saved even if his father died in the attempt. Running quickly to the corral he grabbed a bridle and went to the barn where he put it on his beloved horse Night. She was the only living animal Juan had left, for he kept her in the cool barn and fed her with the utmost care. Leaping upon Night's back, he disappeared in a swirl of dust. The dust seemed to swallow him, for all that could be seen was a large whirlpool of dust, and all that could be heard was the thunder of beating hoofs and the occasional word of courage from Juan to his horse. ' Arriving in town, Juan, still in a cloud of dust, galloped to the white doctor's office and made his errand known. When he said he would not be able to pay the bill for some time, the doctor did not seem to hear for he had gathered his equipment and disappeared toward the barn. Appearing again he was riding a large white horse, and spurring the horse forward, he was soon lost to sight. Juan returned to his horse, Night. Mounting him, Juan followed the whirl of dust that seemed to be blown hither and yon by the wind, but which was really the doctor. All at once, Night stopped, threw her head in the air, and snorted. Juan, looking around to see what fright- ened the horse, heard the far off rumble of drums-but wait-it was thunder he heard, and thunder meant rain -rain! The Great One was merciful after all. But here Juan checked himself g had the Great One been merciful-was his son still alive or had the hovering Angel of Death claimed his soul? Juan hurried onward and soon reached his rancho. Seeing the doctor's horse standing in the corral, its sides lathered and its head hanging, he hurried inside to see the baby. He was lying quiet in the cradle with a smile on his face, and the doctor was bending over Rosa, who was lying on the bed exhausted and pale. Seeing Juan enter, the doctor spoke, Your son will live. As he uttered these words, a torrent of water fell upon the parched earth, giving life to the land, the people, the souls, and the crops. And the Queen of Heat had hidden her radiant face in defeat. Oh yes, the Great One was merciful, and crossing himself, Juan fell on his knees and gave thanks.

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THE TOWER AT SUNSET W 5 SUNNING BETWEEN CLASSES THE MAIN BUILDING A FAMILIAR WALK BETWEEN TWO SYCAMORES SHADOWS AROUND THE CORNER 14

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BY HELEN PENNAK ENGLISH VIIIc THE MYSTERY UE THE MUSIC PIUUM A black sky was covered with huge patches of light clouds through which, at intervals, a full moon peered down on an old Ford chugging down a deserted country road. Inside the car a youth unskillfully steered into all the ruts. A young girl sat beside him, yawning occasionally and bouncing off the seat often. Phil, she murmured sleepily, I bet Uncle Frank will be surprised to see us. Why, he hasn,t seen us since Mother and Daddyf' she choked, since the accidentf, Her brother said nothing for a moment. Then, Nope, he replied, and we haven't been to his house since Marianne died. That was about fifteen years ago, for you were just twof' Marianne must have been very beautiful, mused the girl. Uncle Frank must have loved her very much. He did. The boy7s voice was low with feeling. I was only four, but I still remember the look on his face when he found she had run away with another man. They had been married only a year, you know. She came back to him later, but she was ill and died very soon. I wouldn't want to live by myself in that big house where she diedlv '4Why, Linda? I guess he feels nearer to her there. Her grave is just over the hill. '4That,s ust it! But Heavens, what spooky conver- sation! Let's talk of something else. Phil-, she maneuvered her left arm until the momentary moon- glow rested on her watch. Phil, do you think we'd better go on tonight? Itis almost nine oiclock. He doesnit know we're coming. He may be in bed. Couldn't we stop at the next little town for the night and go on in the morning? 6'We'd be there now if it hadn't been for that flat tire,'l Phil muttered. 'alt can7t be much farther. We might as well go on now. The roadway unrolled before them, tortuous and narrow. Each sank deep in thought. Orphaned by an automobile crash fourteen years before, Linda and Phil Jamison lived with their father's maiden sister, Nelle, in Creighton. In June, N elle ,I ami- son started on a trip, and a week later sent Linda and Phil word that she was extending the trip, so they would have to close the town house and stay at a hotel until she returned. The same afternoon Linda found a box of old letters. One was addressed to her mother and signed by her mother's only brother, Frank Jeffries. On the back was the address of the old ,lelfries homestead far out on Clairmonte Road. Phil had gaily accepted Lindaas suggestion that they visit Uncle Frank, so they had packed their bags and hopped into the Ford. There was no doubt in their young minds as to their welcome fre, if is l .. , , 4 i i' W '..' .. t .. 4 X fff -a tall handsome young man opened it-dressed immaculately in the style of about fifteen years before? although they had sent no word, and silent Aunt Nelle had never mentioned her sister-in-law's family. Linda was roused from her revery by the beauty of the scene spread before her. Before them a hill sloped steeply down to a stream, silvered in the moonlight. At one side, etched in silvery-gray against the sky, stood a dilapidated building, its broken-out windows a blur of deeper black. Across the brook the ground gently slanted up again. There, to the right of the road, the sunken tombstones of an ancient cemetery showed misty gray. Beyond them a tiny church stood, decayed and falling into ruin. All that moved except the car was its shadow that tagged so insistently after them. How beautiful, Linda thought aloud. '6We're almost there, sang out Phil. Marianne must be buried in that cemetery, and Uncle Frank must live just over the hill. As the car splashed through the shallow water, the moon went behind a cloud and stifling darkness closed in, leaving only the gleam of the headlights. When they started up the hill the moon reappeared, .showing again the weird scene. It was a land of the forgotten, wherein no thing lived or moved except themselves! Or was it! Even as they watched, a grayish object slowly disen- gaged itself from one tombstone and seemed to flit quickly into the denser gloom beyond the church. Linda clutched Phil's arm. He pressed the accelerator, and the rattling old car darted forward. 'fGuess Pm seeing things! Linda gulped. .Iitters! Phil glanced uneasily behind him. Five minutes later they stopped in front of a large house. Striking a match, Phil looked at a rotting mailbox. K and I-e-f are all I can make out, he called, but l'm sure this is the place. WW Q zWi if'?i'3 I T TT QQ f ' -1-L g p -it 5 F T ml 'tThere, to the right of the road, the sunken tc