Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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. 22 THE SENIOR MAGNET thoughts had plunged me to become aware that Billy was asking the ques- tion I had so dreaded to put. What was the story's meaning? But Crane merely raised his hand as if to signal, and said, 'fWaitl And then stealing softly through the room there came- the sweet re- frain of 'The Song of Lovef' And suddenly I knew. I knew! Memory's dam had broken and had caught me in its Hood. Laurette- Laurette, my beautiful French bride '-Laurette whom I had courted and wed there in that little French town -our honeymoon was so short by cruel necessity and that last night in the little cafe with the orchestra play- ing i'The Song of Lovel' and I whis- pering, 'fYou are my song of love l And I understand now the story's message. And Willis! How he must have wondered at first, then suspicioned the truth, and finally become con- vinced, and now his conveying the truth to me by his story and the song he had signalled for when Billy's thoughtless remarks had offered such a wonderful opening. I attempted to put something of what I felt into speech. But as I looked into their eyes, I saw that there was no need. I read in them only glorious understanding. So for a third time the aviatoi rushed from that door into the shelter- ing dark. For I knew Laurette would be waiting and I felt her spirit calling mine. And if the curious turned to stare a third time, it was only at a youth who was humming to himself HThe Song of Love. My Pal I can't forget you Pal Your cheery face and happy smile Your winning way and handsome style. Oh, how they bring hack to me fllenzories of tlze days we spent to- gether Both at work and at play, But then came the Time of all Times When one must answer the great Cal! ind departing, leave behind hinz Unfinished, steps to future climbs. QIn memory of my old friend J.J.G,

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THE SENIOR MAGNET 21 His skill was rewarded. He escaped with only a crushed-in side and a rather nasty crack on the head. The complete loss of his memory Cwihich you donlt believe in, Billyj resulted from this bump on the head. How- ever, given every care and sent home to familiar surroundings, in time, he apparently recovered. I found myself erect and grasping the table's edge in the realization, with these last words, that for some reason he was bringing my story into his narration. 'lCurse the fellow! I thought K'What's his object? And then I thought I knew. With some far fetched moral to drive home and to make it more impressive he was mixing my story in with incidents drawn from his own fertile imagina- tion. CHe was a fairly successful dramatistj. But why apparently re- covered? Could it be that-no, I would not allow myself to think of it and so I concluded that this 'was part of the fiction. I would have liked to treat the whole matter as a joke, but somehow his strange story held my interest so that I could not. His story took up a new trend. This brings us, he continued, 'Ito aviator one evening last year. The was dining in this very room. Com- pletely recovered, apparently, yet seized wiith some strange he was discon- tent. Some vague idea that hovered in the back of his mind, refusing to become a thought, was always with him and troubled him with thoughts that perhaps all was still not well. I was present that night, too. A strange thing happened. The orchestra be- gan to play 'fThe Song of Love from the operetta 'KBlossom Time. You know the piece. VVhile casually hum- ming the melody to myself, my gaze happened to fall upon the aviator. Thunderstruck at his expression, I stopped humming. He seemed to be moved by some strange force. I know now that his truant memory was trying to give him some clue from his past. The struggle was mirrored in his face. As the orches- tra neared the finish, one could see that he had almost grasped it. The idea Hitted elusively in his head for a moment, and then, with success seem- ingly assured, the song ended. And in the same moment the thought, so eagerly struggled for, escaped him. He leaped wildly to his feet and dash- ed blindly out into the night, cursing to himself, strange, vibrant oaths dreadful to hear. The narrator paused for a mom- ent, then went quickly on. 'fOnce more in this room I saw another strange event occur, with the same character and same motive force. Once again I sat here and watched that unhappy man struggle to master his lagging memory while the strains of that beautiful melody spread through the room. And again I saw its conclusion leave the puzzle un- solved. But this time a strange con- tentment surrounded him. Not curs- ing now, but dreamy-eyed, and hatless and coatless, he walked unheedingly out into the snowy night. And in some strange manner I sensed that he knew the same event must sometime occur again and that the next time victory would be his. The dramatist stopped abruptly. Billyls query showed in his eyes be- fore it reached his lips. YVas the story ended? I was too concerned with my own conflicting emotions to heed the answer. I, too, had questions to ask, but questions which I could not- which I dare not ask even of myself! His description of my feelings when that beautiful song was played-for only too plainly was he dealing with me now. How had he known? And why was he telling this story? What was its-here I stopped, with some vague dread of following this train of thought further. I emerged from a state of semi-coma into which my

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THE SENIOR IMAGNET 23 My Brother Tom Pun. MENDEL Strictly speaking, I never had a brother Tom, but still I cannot say that Tom was an imposter. He came into existence in a curious way. The first I heard of Tom was at James's house. James and I were very fast friends. I used to invite myself up to his house for supper almost every other night. Although James never let on that he was delighted to have me for supper, after my sixth or seventh visit, I knew just the same that he was glad to be honored with my companionship. Every week or so, I would bring a loaf of bread, oyster crackers, or even after dinner mintsf, Not only that, but I would always entertain James's wife while he would wash and dry the dishes. Now to get back to the story-O, yes I was saying that the first time I heard of Tom was while I was eating sup- per with James one evening. He said that he had lunch that day with a man who knew my brother Tom. Not having any brother but Jim, I thought that James had mistaken the name. Oh, no,', James said, he spoke of Jim, too. Even this did not convince me so I asked for the man's name. f'Sucupp, James replied. 'fHe met your brothers Tom and Jim at 'a cabaret in Pittsburgh about ten years agof' Then I remembered Sucupp, I dis- tinctly recall meeting Sucu.pp. It was at that famous old cabaret at the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets in the good old days before prohibition. He was calling me Tom all evening. I explained the mistake to James, and for the time being the matter was settled. However, I had by no means heard the last of Tom. Several times afterwards I heard from various people 'that Sucupp wanted to meet me because he knew my brother Tom. At last we did meet, at the Sterling Club, and as soon as he saw me, he asked me where Tom was now. This was exactly what I feared. I am a man who always looks like a boy. There are few peo- ple in Butler that retained their boy- ish appearance as long as I have done. Sucupp said that when he met Tom, he was about the age at which I am now. Right then and there I could have cleared up everything, but un- fortunately for myself I hate enter- ing upon explanation to any body about anything. Besides I had just finished that dance with my best girl and was feeling a hundred percent active. I figured that there was no chance of meeting him again, so the easiest way to get rid of him seemed to be to humor him. I told Sucupp, Tom was in Africa, married, had fl large family, and was doing well. 'fRemember me to Tom when you write, was Sucuppys last remark. , As we shook hands and bade each other good-bye, Red Parker and his Night Hawks were playing that late song hit, 'fGood-bye Foreverfy There's a great deal of truth in that songf' I remarked to myself as I was leaving the club. Lord'y knows when Illl see him again. A few weeks later some-one tapped me on the shoulder in front of Israels. It was Sucupp. 'Heard anything from Tom ?l' he asked. He caught me by surprise and I told him I had heard from Tom in this mornings mail.