Galt High School - Highlights Yearbook (Galt, CA)

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heart was filled with sorrow and her nights with tears, over her best beloved's actions. PART Il Six long, lonely years had passed since Leonard Devere had thrown aristocracy to the winds and had gone over the hills and far away, none knew where. The Devere family knew not whether he was dead or living, living in luxury or starvation, married or single. Wfith Mr. Devere the name of Leonard was a forbidden subject, but his gentle wife could not forget and Every night upon her knees she prayed the Lord above, To please bring hack again to her the only boy she loved. Financial matters had not gone well with the Devere family, either. Four years before, Mr. Devere had planned on being elected governor of his state, but through graft and crooked politics he had been cheated out of his office. There was another hidden reason for Mr. Devere's defeat. Before the election, a reporter had asked his views on the Secret Election Rings. Mr. Devere had told the reporter, among other strong phrases, that he considered the Ring a cowardly, criminal organization, composed of vagabondsg a menace to the United States Government, religion, morals, and civilization in general. All this and more, the reporter had duly written up and it was given a prominent place on the first page of all big daily newspapers. M r. Devere realized that public opinion is greatly influenced by the read- ing of newspapers, but he little dreamed that that article could have such an edect upon his election. I-le had heard rumors of a ring organization in his city, but he little guessed that it was to work against him and his honest principles. Now the election was near at hand again, and at first Mr. Devere's hopes had been high, but of late they had dropped down, down to the ground. This year there was to be more corruption among the officials than ever, one of these election rings had been 'formed around Mr. Deverels strongest, weak- inoraled opponent. Lying lectures, propaganda, bribery-practically no stone of graft was left unturned by the ring in their attempt to secure the election of their man. They had their reasons for doing it. High position in big pay was in store for their promised reward. XfVhat chance had the pride of honest hlohn Devere against a stone wall like that? M r. Devere never thought how his honesty and pride were to have their rewards: he little guessed that there was to be an open election ring formed for the protection and support of the honest and high-minded. One evening especially, his spirits were very low as he was carried home in his car. I-lis campaigners had brought unusually disheartening reports this afternoon. There was not a chance left for him in the world. VVhen, after removing the traces of the office and donning a fresh suit, he went down to the living room where he was met by several bright eyed young girls. They were his daughters and some of her closest friends, among whom was l.,oreen Lehloine. VVell, well! VVhat has caused all these pretty eyes to shine so brightly P he inquired as he went into the room. Oh, Mr. Devere, you should read what we have been readingli' exclaimed Loreen. She, like all of Mr. Devere's daughter's friends, was very interested in politics at present, and watched the papers carefully. Mr. Ilevere took the paper from her hands and read the headlines, Big Plot For Croocked Election Disclosed, Secret Service Undermines Political Ring. Then he went on to read that a big secret service agent, who had received a mysterious clue about this ring, had silently taken up his work and so ferreted out the plots and the leader of the gang. Then Mr. Devere saw another big notice stating that as this agent was unknown to the people he feared they might not believe merely his written statement so the next morn- ing at ten o'clock he would give a speech in the public square and would Page Twenty-five

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Dinner was to be served late in the evening because some of the guests were tardy and begged leave for more time to dress. The minutes seemed like ages to Leonard as he sat in the large hall, watching for his beloved to appear on the winding stairway. Down came several dignified matrons, then a group of young society buds, and at last he saw Jo-y's familiar form appear. 1-ler ravishing little figure was rather scantily clad in an evening gown of golden gauze, and her feet were covered with golden slippers. Seems to me she might have worn something not quite so stagy, thought Leonard. But just then her pretty, gypsy-like face, shaded with a mass of bobbed, raven locks, was turned toward him. Then he promptly forgot all about the inappropriateness of her gown. As she came closer, he heard her rather coarse voice raised in conversation with the girl by her side. just then Leonard recognized her companion. Loreen LeMoine! VVhy should Joy introduce herself to Loreen, of all girls! The thought did not at all please Leonard. Loreen LeMoine also came from an aristocratic family. She was a rather tall, delicately built girl. Her finely chiseled features were enhanced by her large, soulful blue eyes, fringed with long, golden brown lashes. I--ler hair of spun gold, piled high on her head, only emphasized the youth of her face and figure. Hers was not a face of beauty but rather of sweet. charming girlishness. Leonard knew that she was true blue and she was proving this now. She was doing her level best to be nice to the vivacious Joy but-was Leonard mistaken, or did he catch a look of pitying disapproval in her eyes? The evening had not begun well. Wliy was it that joy, with her gaudy clothes and loud voice, seemed to be so out of place here. Even her pretty face seemed to have a sordid expression. The evening grew Worse as it advanced. Joy had very poor manners. She grew confused about the different pieces of silver ware. Then she told a practically unpresentable story' to the company, but, worst of all, she tried to carry on a perfectly outrageous Hirtation with one of the younger men. Leonard caught several veiled, pitying glances shot her way from aristo- cratic eyes. The son of a Devere pitied? Impossible! l-lis inherited family pride rebelled at the very idea. This was what he would have to endure for years. Wliy is it Joy could not act like a lady once in a while, at least? thought Leonard. She had not shown up in this light when Leonard first met her in her own environment. His mother's plan was beginning to work and show effects. The next day proved to be even more humiliating than that evening and Leonard was really relieved when the house party ended. Wliile at lunch with his father, mother, sister and brother, just a week later, Leonard announced that he had broken his engagement to Joy Thompson. Then Mrs. Devere showed her lack of real tact. She told Leonard how she had foreseen the result and had planned the plot to break his engagement. Naturally, Leonard was indignant. I-le no longer loved joy, if he ever had, but his pride again rebelled at anyone, even his parents, interfering in his private affairs. Angry words followed. Leonard left the luncheon table and went to his apartment. His parents saw nothing more of their eldest son that day nor yet the next. Then a week passed and Leonard did not appear. At last, when months were growing into years, the Devere family realized that Leonard had, indeed, disgraced them. He had practically deserted them in a spasm of anger and had gone forth to seek his fortune-or misfortune. Mr. Devere raved like a lion and of course clisinherited Leonard, while his wife's tender Page Twenty-four

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reveal everything he had discovered. Then the public could take their choice, the honest side or the dishonest side, good government or a government filled with graft. The next morning Mr. Devere was there along with hundreds of the others. The throng waited impatiently. No one knew this very clever man who had done so much for their government but all were ready to hear him, up to either scorn him or set him up as a public favorite. Finally, on the stroke of ten, the speaker mounted the platform in company with the mayor who was to introduce him. The throng surged forward to fill up every available space and the introduction was lost to Mr. Devere. He stood well back in the crowd and could hardly see this speaker. 'But he could hear his words, he could hear a clear, manly voice, speaking slowly in a way that went directly to the hearts of the people. This speaker spoke on for some forty minutes. He told every important thing he had found out about the ring. He told how the boss of graft was at present reposing in prison. Then when his speech was finished, the people crowded forward to look at and speak to this wonderful man and have the honor of shaking his hand. The crowd carried Mr. Devere onward and almost before he realized it, he stood in front of the speaker. I-le extended his hand and looked up into the face of his son, his lost son, Leonard Devere. Leonard's face grew pale from emotion and their eyes told more than words. As they looked at each other, a great understanding came between the father and son. just as the crowd was pushing Mr. Devere past he cried, Oh, boy, come home l Then he was pushed on. 'X7Vhen he reached home one of his advisers was there to inform him that now since the Political Ring was destroyed, his election was assured. But his real happiness came when, just before dinner, Leonard walked into the living room. It certainly was a happy little party of six that gathered around the dinner table that evening. The party was Mr. and Mrs. Devere, their younger son, their daughter, Leonard and-Loreen LeMoine. After dinner Len. managed to see Loreen alone for a few minutes, just to tell her that he was at last certain of the girl whom he1 really loved and that girl was herself-Loreen. She was the one whose memory had fired his ambition, whose clear, blue eyes had never left his thoughts, but had always looked straight into his own. At length Loreen laughingly admitted that she had always wanted to be a governor's daughter-in-law. She did not add her real thoughts, that Paradise for her would be that of being her Lenny's loving wife. But Len. knew that they would have loved each other had he been a country blacksmith, but wise men keep their thoughts to themselves, and Leonard was wise-and so was Loreen. THE END -Doris Dunne, '23. Page Twenty-six