Hudson High School - True Blue Yearbook (Hudson, WI)

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12 TRUE BLUE obtained, with much difficulty, at a commendable hotel. How lonesome she was that night! “But it is for the best,” she murmured, with a quaking heart. The days of sight seeing passed rapidly enough; and at length November thirtieth arrived. This day she was to start for Liverpool. Jeanne had had a letter from Fern saying Mrs. Evans was very much worried, and asking her if she had not better tell Mrs. Evans where Jeanne was. But no, Jefcnne would not submit. She was not going to give in now after all the thrill of going to Europe alone, even if she was disturbed about her mother. So on the morning of the thirtieth, Jeanne, all excitement at the thought of surprising her mother at Southampton, packed her trunk again. She was going to meet Arnold Elton, “What would he be like?” she asked herself. “I think,” she said, “he will be of medium size, with a thin hand- some face, and a shock of curly, brown hair. Early on the morning of December first Jeanne was at the dock at Southampton. Her mother would surely be there to meet Arnold Elton, and to sail on the DIANA on its return trip. Jeanne herself had secured pas- sage on this ship. Jeanne waited and waited but no father—no mother, and no man; at least she could not tell if any were the right one, the men were so numerous. The ship was due to sail at twelve, but at eleven fifty-five, no parents had appeared. She perceived a man parading about the dock as if looking for some one. She thought it surely must be Arnold; but she could not see his face. At last it was necessary for her to go on board. The man also got on and she was more convinced than ever that it was he. The ship pulled out of the harbor, and started on it's course; but Jeanne remained on deck, thinking intently; for she was actually worried. At length she went to stateroom 43. “What a tucked up little hole it is!” The tears sprang to her eyes; she wished she had stayed at home. After a good night’s rest, she felt refreshed, and although it was chilly next morning she went on deck. Her chair was in a sheltered corner so she could write in peace, for she must communicate with Fern. Few people were on deck and these were mostly far away from her. A sudden gust of wind wrenched the letter from her grasp. “Here, Miss, it is safe,” a man said, who seemed to pop out of nowhere, with a courtly smile. Jeanne looked up and with an astonished “Thank you,” and thought to herself, “If this is Arnold, how different from my ideal.” The man was dressed in black, was tall, slender, with dark hair and kind, open, leafy brown eyes. His face wore a rather sad expression. The man looked as if lie would like to continue rue conversation. Finally he said, “I think you are a stranger on board, are you not? Would it be ask- ing too much, if I might talk to you a little? I am also a stranger.” “You might talk in moderation,” replied Jeanne, with a coy smile.

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TRUE BLUE 11 into bed she took one peep at herself in the glass. “1—I really believe I’m pretty,” she gasped. Then with a terrific leap, she landed in the middle of the bed. A mighty crash followed and “meow-meow-me-o-.” “For Heavens sake, Jean, what is that?” called her mother from the bottom of the stairs. “Nothing, mother, only Betty, the cat, and the leg of the bed.” Mrs. Evans laughed lightly, and returned to the library, to her waiting husband, with whom she had been discussing the European voyage. “It is this way, John,” she said. “Of course you and I must go; but I do not think it right to break into Jeanne’s school work this way. 1 think it would be a good plan to let her stay with them, but it will break the child’s heart, as she is bent on going.” “I say she cannot go, and that is final. She cannot always have her way. She is a good girl, but too flighty, too flighty,” retorted .Mr. Evans. The next morning .Mrs. Evans told her daughter of their plans to sail November seventh, leaving her at home. Jeanne’s eyes filled with tears. “Alright mother,” she said, and left the room. She had been severely wounded. Jeanne as usual donned her hat and coat, to go to Fern, to pour her sorrows into that patient girl's ear. “It is cruel, mean; it is terrible,” shrieked Jeanne. “I am not going to Europe with father and mother; but I am going alone. You know I have my own money! I’ll not speak of this to anyone for I have not fully made up my mind. I will see Europe in spite of father. I suppose he did not mean to be so cruel.” Mr. and Mrs. Evans were to sail November seventh on the DIANA Meanwhile, after much contemplation, Jeanne planned to sail on the JUNO, November fifteenth. The Evans’ day for sailing arrived at last. Many were the farewells from their numerous friends. The weather for the voyage was perfect, and the voyage proved a great success. Once more Mrs. Evans’ joyousness returned; each day her health improved wonderfully. Arriving at England, they first proceeded to London, where Mrs. Evans saw the many places she had longed to in her ardent girlhood. Jeanne, however, stayed with her friend till the fifteenth. Once, before she sailed, she wrote to her mother and thought, with a pang, of the wrong her mother would experience when the letters stopped coming. Alone, Jeanne packed her trunk and started east, and on the morning of November fifteenth Jeanne sailed for the-first time away from her native land. The voyage proved unfavorable for Jeanne, for, overcome by sea sickness, her days were spent in the stateroom, out two days before landing she recovered So Jeanne at least had a happy remembrance of two days of the voyage. Arriving at Liverpool November twentieth, she was dazed by the strangeness of the city. Her mother, she knew, was in London, so Jeanne planned to spend the days before December in Liverpool. A room was first

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TRUE BLUE 13 “Yes, I am a stranger,” continued the man, “although I expected the Evans’ on board ship, still they did not come.” “I expected my mother and father on board and they did not come, so I see we are both in a fix.” The gentleman in black enjoyed Jeanne’s company very much and every day he begged her to come on deck. “Where are you going?” he asked one day. “To Cinncinnati,” she replied. “Why, so am I, this is wonderful.” “ Do you live there?” Jeanne asked. “No, my home was formerly in Geneva.” My mother died there and I was coming to America to live,” he continued. The weather was very unfavorable, so of course the voyage was pro- longed. A week passed, but still they did not reach land. On the night of the eighth day a storm was raging The ship was drifting out of its course. Jeanne went to bed early, with a headache, but towards midnight she was awakened by a loud knocking on her door, and “Miss Jeanne.-Hurry-Come on deck, I will wait for you there.” She hurriedly donned her garments and stepped outside. Her friend, the man, took her arm, “This way,” he said, “the ship is in danger.” The touch of his hand upon her arm thrilled her through and through. She was silent and meekly let him lead her around. There was a rush and a cry; the ship was going down. “We will have to jump. Come,” he said. Jeanne jumped; they reached the water. She felt his arm around her. He grabbed a piece of timber and placed her upon it. Suddenly he gave a joyous exclamation, “A life boat.” The boat was only partly full, so Jeanne and her friend clambered on board. Here the half fainting girl was revived and the party drifted along in silence, till some one exclaimed, “A ship!” At first it seemed as if they would not be seen: but finally the ship slowed down and then stopped. The refugees were taken on board, and the people gathered about to view the arrivals. The men half carried Jeanne on deck, she was so weak. Jeanne peered about. “Mother,” she gasped. A woman made a start for the girl. “Jeanne, she cried, “You here? How in the world—” “Yes mother I’m here; I went to Europe anyway; and would not be here now if it were not for him, Arnold, I think.” Arnold!” exclaimed Mrs. Evans, “Is it really you? We missed the Diana. How can I thank you for saving my girl?” Mr. Evans came on deck, “What is it, Beatrice? ne asked. “What' Not Jeanne!” “Yes, and this is Arnold. John, Jeanne went to Europe anyway; she was on the Diana and he saved her.” “My God!” cried Mr. Evans, huskily. “What if our girl had died. Young man, how can 1 thank you? What shall be your reward?” “Jeanne,” Arnold said simply, “that is, if she is willing.” Jeanne’s only answer was a faint blush. —G. K. T7.