Cleveland High School - Beacon Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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ionable the gowns of the girls, they would never hide the insincerity and lack of strength in their characters. Still, Helen reflected, that was a grand dance Ruth gave last Sat- urday evening. You fool, said a little voice, can't you see that there isn't anything to this kind of living. Can't you see yourself in a couple of years-lines on your face from sheer bore-dom, dull eyes caused by monotony, nothing to do except be nice to people whom you'd rather slap. Think of all the people who can't go to dances and parties continually-they manage to live without them. Think of those who can't see every latest show. And besides, of what good will shows be in ten or twenty years from now when you will be expected to show a gleam of intelligence concerning something other than the movie idol of years ago. Still, ten or twenty years were a long way of and there would be plenty of time to learn all that was necessary and one might as well have a good time while it was to be had. Too, Helen wondered if she could give up her supremacy in this fashionable world. And still undecided, Helen turned away from her window and the sky that had grown dark to dress for the evening. The guests were now arriving,-all extremely self-confident, seeming to enjoy hearing themselves talk. Most of the girls were of a bony type, burned red or brown by a summer of intense activity in the sun. Most of the young men were debonair and sophisticated, all flattery and flowery speeches. There was Louise, a very athletic and intelligent girl whom Helen ad- mired, but then even she did not hesitate to change her friends if it were to her advantage. There was Bill-quite a decent fellow, good sports- man, witty, jolly, but he was literally clothed in conceit. Here, Helen stopped to denounce herself for living Where Wealth accumulates and men decay. But when one handsome fellow jokingly begged, Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss, her thoughts became rather blurred. She caught herself up and silently berated the insolent fool for interrupting her thoughts. She could find no other fault in his conduct. Helen stepped out into the garden for a breath of air. Silver trees flickered silver leaves back and forth silently and ceaselessly. She, her- self, was turned into a silver goddess and familiar objects took a strange unearthly loveliness. In the presence of this rhapsody in silver all troubles diminished or seemed insignificant. Shrill laughter and a mo- notonous hum came to her from a room filled with people just like her. They talked like her, they acted like her, they thought like her. All had the same hope of marrying a good catch. Stepping back into the room, Helen was immediately surrounded by gay, chattering young people, but she would remain aloof. Several more Page Tweozty-foam'

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Debutante By Margaret Rosener H T HE GREY CURTAIN of evening had just fallen, blurring the harsh outlines of the buildings and softening the sky into N delicate tints of blue and rose. Helen, a slim, patrician blonde, gazing out of her window, felt that nature refiected her mood --a restless spirit being quieted. Twilight and '- silence soothed her ragged nerves just as they offered con- trast to the noise and confusion of midday. Mentally reviewing her life, Helen thought of her first and only ambi- tions. Ever since her fourteenth birthday she had had an indescribable longing for the life of which she had learned only the brighter part- the gay colorful life of a social butterfly. However, there was something else, a desire to study, to be always broadening her life with greater thoughts, to rise above the ordinary paths of existence. A strange com- bination indeed-student and butterfly. She could not have both. After the death of her mother she was forced to seek employment. She had now reached her eighteenth year. Luckily she soon found her- self established as social secretary to a kindly, middle-aged woman, a Mrs. Clement, who, declaring that Helen looked so much like the daughter she had lost, took the orphan to her heart. Her husband also became fond of Helen because of her quiet dignity and sincerity and suggested that they adopt her and treat her as their own daughter. No one would know that she had not always lived in the lap of luxury. . The next year was a glorious one for Helen. A vision of her first party arose before her. Never would she forget the wonderful home with its marble staircase, luxurious furnishings, servants, the completeness of it all, the richness and refinement surrounding those fortunate people where life, like a dome of many colored glass, stains the white radiance of eternity. Afterward, there were the finishing school in Paris, other parties, popularity, beaux-everything a girl could desire. It seemed unreal, like a dream. And tonight was the climax of that dream, her debut. But the happiness that such an event should bring did not appear. Helen was doing some really serious thinking. The endless round of parties had be- gun to bore her inexpressibly. Tonight things appeared different to her than they had a year ago. She was continually remembering the snob- bishness of her group of friends and acquaintances to outsiders. She thought of artificial flowers--however new, bright, or ingenious, they could never equal the simplest of real flowers. However new, bright, or fash- Page Twenty-three I l

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strolled up to join the group and they began, all talking at once, to in- form each other of their plans for the forthcoming dances, shows, and balls. Our heroine was soon engrossed in these marvelous contemplations after resolving that 'ttomorrow she would see how things stood. During the rest of the evening Helen could be seen flitting here and there among the guests. But all things must end, and soon the last guest had departed leaving her tired but happy, to slip into bed to pleasant dreams. Tomorrow was almost over when Helen awoke to hear her telephone insistently ringing. Upon answering it she found it was an invitation to a theater party and accepted it without hesitating and with the realization that she was one of the season's most popular debutantes. But one thing puzzled her. She just couldn't recall what it was that had so disturbed her last night. Page Twenty-five