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

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“You see. little person. 1 know your name. I look your advice. I waa a. murderer. God forgive me. I have given myself up to the authorities and am now In prison awaiting trial. I can only trust in God; but say one prayer for me tonight. Hid you miss the paper? I took it. My picture was there under the name of Ben King. Tho day I came to your house the police were after mo. I was mad 1 thot of shooting you and—but 1 don’t know why I didn't except that you seemed to put some pride into me. You need never tell your father this. 1 saw film and then realized who I really was. Forgive me little sister and goodbye forever. Front your brother. JOHN KNIGHT. As Laura sat. still, dazed with the news, her father came in o the room. Thinking of the letter, she reached for it. but her father had already seen it. My God. girl, he cried, “A letter! let me see it at onco.” Laura endeavored to keep it from him but he snatched it from her hand and read it. John - he moaned, my son. is he a murderer? Has he been here? Father listen.” soothed his daughter. “He was here some weeks ago on the day dinner was not ready on time. I did not know he was my brother then; hut I told him shout Jack and he asked me If you’d forgive him if he turned out to be a murderer.” Forgive hint! The man’s voice was husky. I told him you would, provided he acted like a man In the matter; that is. gave himself tip to the authorities and confessed.” Knight grabbed the girl. Are you mad. I iura?” he cried. Have you driven my son from me again, advising such nonsense?” But father, we can at least respect him for that. Perhaps the Judges will have a little compassion and he will come back to us.” A' krock wrs heard at the kitchen door and Laura ran to open it. A man stepped inside. “Hello. Sis! he cried, as he took her in his'arms. “John. John, is it really you?” she exclaimed. “I thought 23 O. My God!- I thought you were behind prison bar ..” “They had the trial yesterday, and I am no murderer. I shot, but the bullet from my partner’s gun killed the man. He has con- fessed and I’m free. 1 started the day after I sent the letter and I traveled tome to get here about the same lime as It did.” Scowling deeply, Knight came out to investigate the confusion. “What’s the-------” Hut he never finished, for I.aura laid her hand gently on hi mouth. “Father. she murmered. “Aren’t you going to welcome home your son, John? He is no murderer.” “My son.” Tears ran down Mr. Knight’s cheeks as the two men shook hands. “Welcome home. You are forgiven. I’ve been a hard man. but from now on everything will he changed.” “Come. Laura, my child, forgive your father!” he begged, and holding the hands of both his children, he prayed that they should ever after be by bis side. Written by Gertrude Kelly ’17. IN THE LAND OF THE CACTUS They had lived here for a year and a half now. Arthur Wilkes, his wife and their only son. Tom. who was twelve years old. Tin debt had been paid off sit Chlhauhnu. three weeks ago. and they were just beginning to enjoy life when it happened. After the chores had been done one evening. Wilkes was return- ing to the house carrying a milk pail nnd Tom. whom Wilkes said he was going to train to be a cowboy, was trotting at his heels, when he noticed coming up over the grassy plains a cloud of rolling dust. It resembled the attack of an oncoming tornado, for with it came a rumb- ling noise. He stood for sonte time gazing across the stretch of open prairie and then picked the boy up and almost mechanically started for the house. Upon entering the {house he told his wife of what he had seen and together they stood in the window watching and waiting, for what they did not know. Things happened rapidly in the next half hour. An army of ban-

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but you’ll have to hurry for If Dad saw you he’d bo furious. I must prepare—so adieu.”' Again she was gone. The fellow picked up the newspaper that lay upon the stand and was soon intent upon reading. Como, your Majesty, dinner is served.” mirpicked Laura a few minutes later with a courtly bow The man looked up. his face deathly white. What is it?” cried the girl. Nothing, nothin .” The man struggled for composure. Folding the paper he hastily secreted It in his pocked, unnoticed by the girl, and then followed her from the room. Delighted, the man gazed at the tempting food. This looks good to me. little lady;” he said, too bad there is no one but you and cranky Dad to enjoy it.” No. not cranky, just queer. You see he means to i»e good, only when I was a little girl, about three, my brother Jack, he was sixteen, ran away. Dad has nevet been the same since. He never lets me go anywhere or have anyone hero—but then, a mere man could be interested in my troubles, so here’s for something more cheerful.” No no. go on. What about the brother; ever heard from him?” I don’t know much about it tor you see Dad doesn't speak of it often. Brother Jack was young and willful. His one ambition was to ree the world. Well, it was too much for him. One morning we woke up to find hint gone. Dad prays every night for his safe return but never a word from Jack.” “Have you ever thought of what he might be?” The man appeared more and more interested. Thought? Why. man. I’ve spent nights of agony thinking. Per- haps he is a criminal or a murderer, hut I'd rather have him dead than that.” The man turned around. “If he were that, a murderer, would your father forgive him? Say he had committed the crime under the Influence of liquor.” No—“no. go on. What about the brother; ever heard from him?” ”It would depend on the motive and his actions afterwards. If he acted like a man. we would forgive him too gladly: If not. It would be impossible to respect him. let alone forgive. Oh! hut 1 shudder to even think of it. The man arose very much excited, and coining toward the girl he grabbed her arm roughly. She shrank hack. Forgive me, ex- claimed the man when he saw how frightened she was. hut what would you call acting like a man?' . Why. Oh—why, pleaded the girl, do you ask these questions? Can it be that you know something of my brother? The man evaded the question and repeated his own inquiry. This time the girl was forced to answer. I should consider that he had acted like a man if ho had given himself up to proper authorities and confessed. Judges do show' pity in such cases and give the prisoners a chance to reform.” Just then the girl glanced from the window. Fly, man. fly for your life. she exclaimed, here comes Dad. Out the front way quick.” The fellow ran. hut when outside, stopped and peered around the house gazing intently at the man coming from the barn. Muttering something to himself he walked away, holding his head a trifle higher than when he first entered the yard. Soon he passed out of sight over the distant hills. Mr. Knight was a tall, dark man with black eyee which flashed very Indignantly at I-aura when he saw dinner was not ready. “No dinner.” he stormed, hurry along now, Ictura. I can’t wait all day. Your paper is In the other room, father. Read that while you are waiting.” said I aura calmly. Mr. Knight went Into the next room hut. soon returned empty handed. Scolding violently ho demanded where the paper was. Ho had not found it on the stand. I’m sorry, father, was all I aura said. Nevertheless she wondere 1 where the paper had gone to. The days and weeks flew by, each seeming more lonesome than the proceeding one to Laura. At length one evening, a messenger came from town bringing a very important letter. It was the first [.aura could ever remember seeing. It was addressed to her too. Very much excited, she tore the envelope open. Who could bo writing to her? Dear Laura. it began—

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dita rame rushing upon the cottage and nltho Wilkes did not see the leader, he knew it' was Villa’s band. The bandits, in short terms, “cleaned the house.” taking every- thing and anything that was of value. Wilkes and his family were put upon horses and were started off with the rest of the hand. When they had gone about half a mile he unconsciously turned about and. to his horror saw the small group of buildings for which he had work- ed so hard, were all aflame. On and on they rode, the boy riding on the same horse with his father. For hours they rode, altho it seemed like days to them, and neith- er of the trio knew how far they had ridden when a halt was called. A young, burly, broad-shouldered Mexican came up and ordered them ofT their horses. Then the horses were led ofT and the three stood huddled together in a group. In a surprisingly short time a city of tents had sprung up. Every one was in a hurry for mess was the next subject, and of course the first to come were the first served. Wilkes, his wife and Tom. however, stayed in the same spot, occasionally speaking to one another, but for the most part quietly looking on as if cowed by some superhuman force. After some time the same Mexican who had taken their horses came lip to them and in broken English told them to follow him if they wanted anything to eat. They were only to glad to follow. After they had been fed they were led off to a small tent where they were to sleep. While all this was happening, a plan was evolving itself in Arthur Wilkes mind and after taps had sounded he decided to carry out his plan. He first wrote out a small note and gave it to Tom after which he gave him his instructions as to what he was to do. Mrs. Wilkes voiced her objections to letting Tom leave them, but finally agreed to let him go. Cautiously Tom crept out from under the tent, peering thru the darkness as if looking for some expected foe. He had seen when the horses were tethered so he knew in just what direction to go. Once the plan nearly fell thru, for as he came out front Itehind one of tIn- tents he saw a sentinel, and speedily hid until the sentinel had passed. As he walked in amongst the herd of horses he whistled softly. A cool breeze was blowing and as the moon and stars were out in all their splendor, the shadows cast by the horses were quite distinct. The shadows alone made a chill run down Tom's l ack. But he kept on walking and whistling until finally he heard a friendly whinny. He kne.v at once that it was Molly. He began talking to himself. “Pa said fer me to tie tho note in yer mane. Molly, nn' I gotta do It. You got a long (Tide I'm thin gin.' i'a says due North. Now don’t make no noise. See?” They squirmed in and out among the army of horses, the boy go- ing ahead and leading tho horse. The saddle was still on the horse, for the bandits never had taken the trouble of taking them off. After reaching the outskirts of the encampment Tom mounted, and bending low on the horse’s back whispered in her ear. “Now. do yer best. Molly. It’s fer yer own sake as well as our’s. And the faith- ful horse responded cheerfully. It seemed to the boy that they flew over the ground: the horse’s hoofs scarcely seemed to touch it. It seemed to the boy that he had ridden about a mile when he was suddenly stopped and a gun was thrust into his face. He knew at once that he had reached the outposts and the sentinels had stopped him. Hrt was taken from the saddle and led Into a tent where he was searched thoroughly. Where are you bound for. my boy?” said a man who seemed to be In command. During the next few seconds many different thots passed thru Tom’s mind and at last he said thru manufactured sobs. ” I was goin’ home to my ma and pa. They escaped when Mr. Villa came and I was left behind all alone. So 1 up and took Molly, that’s the horse I were ridin’, and started after my ma and pa. You'll let me go to ’urn won’t you?” Just then another Mexican came into the tent and repotted that lire snildie had been torn to shreds and thot r.o trace of a hidden note or message could be tound. Th eommandei at the outpost decided that the boy would be more of a detriment to them than a help so he would lot him go. Luckily for Tom -be got back Molly, as she could not be controlled by the bandits and Tom was the only one who could control her. They readily returned her to her master. Before starling out he was given food by the men. and some, who had heard his pitiful tale, even went so far as to give him a few pesos.