Central High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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“I've alters heard,” whispered Polly Simmons, that when a screechowl hollers, spirits is walking about.” Yes, grumbled Salley, an’ I'll just imagine, now, that 1 can sec ’em when we go to pass that graveyard. I wish you ail’d go the toth'er way. “Aw, hush your foolishness, Sal.” command'jd her brother Luke. hos afraid of a graveyard full of ha’nts. I’d like to know? “What’s that noise? It’s just the wind a moaning in the trees, silly. “Laws a niussy!” grunted Sam. dropping the reins and throwing up his hands. They looked around and there Sam sat with palms turned in and fingers pointing straight heavenward, as rigid and still as if petrified or hewn from bronze. But hist! Just ahead of them, floating up from the ground, in the direction of the cemetery, swayed a tall figure clad in flowing white garments. 11 is white beard reached to his kpecs, and he carried a scythe in his hand. l p nearer, slowly, with a sighing sound that gradually grew into a wail, the apparition approached, until just above the beads of the mules it stopped, and with a deep sigh began to speak: Prepare thy soul: for I have come to summons thee to that mysterious realm where each shall take his chamber in the silent halls of death. With a yell which seemed to loosen every joint in his anatomy, the negro. Sam. rolled off the wagon and tore through the woods. Luke sprang up and emptied Ins pistol at the shadow, but when the smoke cleared away, there it floated as serenely as ever. Moaning and sighing, it would flit to the top of a tree, the next moment swooping down not more than an arm s length front the wagon. This was too much for Luke. ith a mighty bellow. he went after Sam. crashing and ploughing through the forest like one pursued. Kale picked up Luke’s shoe, leaned over and pitched it after him. Tom Carter sprang into the scat and caught up the reins, hut—the ghost had floated away upon the winds. The next instant ( harlie Patterson sprang into the wagon. “Will you give a fellow a lift? said he in a cheery voice. What in the deuce was that. Charlie? asked Alex Thompson, who appeared to be holding the hands of half a dozen girls at once, while their beaux had forgotten they existed. Why, 1 haven’t seen anything, said Charlie smiling as lie sat down beside Kate. What seems to he the matter? But they took no time to explain. Laying whip to the poor mules, they clattered down the road, making short work of leaving each person at his or her own door. An hour later. Kate and Charlie sat on the front steps in the shadow of a rose vine at the Hill farmhouse. Kiss me, just once. Katie, so’s I’ll he sure you won’t back out next Sunday.” whispered Charlie hirst. said she putting up her hand between their faces, tell me where you go: that magic lantern, nr whatever it is. and next, where did you learn ventriloquism.” Last fall while I was at Millville, a show fellow got busted there, and he pawned his traption for groceries, and answerin’ your other question, I 23

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could dimly discern the outline of the cane mill, looking much like a one-armed spectre—a malevolent .spirit, whose gaunt figure might have grown stiff in the chill night air. ‘‘Ye’ll find the gourd a lyin’ there on the trough. Now drink to yourselves omen the cup what's good hut don't ineberate.” I.tike filled the gourd with the sweet juice of the cane and offered it to Kate, hut out of sheer perverseness she would not drink until Tom or Alex had filled it. “Why do you treat me so mean? whispered Luke in Katie’s ear. trying to slip his arm around her waist, as they passed through 'he deep shadow of an apple ree. Because you’re not a gen-Icman. cried she. striking lim on the face. “Aw now. little un, don’t you go an’ git mad. 1 allcrs mowed you was mighty per- iclar,’’ said he laughing, hut Aa-■ £-v ° k‘cP n his heart he vowed to get even with her when she was his. There yet remained one other treat in store for them, or rather the male members, for the girls refused to drink the foamy beer brought to them in tin cups, made (the beer we mean) as every one knows, from the “skimmin’s uv the fillin’ juice.” •• The moon stealing up unawares, gave token that it was time to go; and so our friends were soon rattling homeward. They had reached a level, sandy stretch of road, and the mules were creeping along undisturbed, when one of those unaccountable silences fell upon the noisy party. on XT ’ “Mercy, did you heart that!” cried the girls, as the woeful note of a screechowl pierced the night stillness. “Turn your pockets wrong side out.” and the young men obeyed, each young woman quickly tied a knot in her handkerchief. “Now roll up your sleeves,” and, will some one please slip off his left shoe? This last being suggested by Kate Mill, Luke was quick to respond. “Kf lie hollers am more just squeeze your wrist just like you were a choking hfm to death, and I bound he won’t yell no more,” said Salley Wright. I rever could bear to hear the things, they allers make me think of dead fo’ks : rd lia’nts and the like.” 22

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got him to teach me ventriloquism for a plug of tobacco. I thought they would come in nice at the parties when I came home, but I never got a chance to use ’em till tonight.” Do you know, Charlie, I never could a loved you again if you hadn’t been man enough to oust that cowardly Luke Wright, said she sweetly, turning up her face. THE AWAKENING. The bare brown winter branches All warmed beneath the sun And growing buds of scented bloom Unfolded one by one. So all the slumbering thoughts To love and God akin Awake and longed enraptured To take the whole world in. RUTH HINTON. ’17. 24