Madera Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Madera, CA)

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PURPLE AND WHITE. of a waving cluster of pink carnations against a background of pale green, and my Looking at my mutilated and almost forgotten program, I conscience smote me. saw: “11. Waltz—Miss.C. carnations. Green dress—pink In a moment more I had bowed myself away and was gone. When I squeezed Teddy’s hand at the door after the last dance, he insisted on my dining with him on the following Sunday. There was really no need of insisting. “Aunt is staying with us, you know, and you haven't been over since Fritz left for Germany. Besides I want you to meet my uncle.” “ Yes—do come.” I looked at Aunt Charlotte and said I would. It may be as well to confess at this point as at any other, that I was beginning to be—well—very much interested in Teddy’s aunt. And, if I must admit it, I was not so very anxious to meet his uncle. While walking thoughtfully home that night, I tried to reason myself out of this but I soon found my- self arguing more stoutly on the other side, strange fascination: sO gave if up hopelessly, yet—it must be For there the thought that perhaps I had been mistaken after all, confessed—rather cheerfully. came to me, most strongly, and aunt Charlotte was right—perhaps we really had never met before. And in that case — Here my imagination ran riot a full mo- ment, but suddenly became paralyzed and grew cold as the image of a bald-headed gen- tleman arose before me, and the disjointed fragment of an impromptu telegraphic dis- “He All my ardor Eee me. patch flashed sternly before my eyes is my husband!’ Try as I might, I could not scatter the vision. Confound that freshman!” I growled, as I turned out my light a quarter of an hour later. “Why couldn’t the youngster tell me his aunt’s name? Or why,” I muttered after the fourteenth turn, “didn’t I have enough gumption to find out myself?” Fred Parker and I had been classmates and boon companions for the four years of our college life, and I had frequently been a guest at his home. So on the following Sunday, when I was ushered into the large, old-fashioned family library, I was prepared to feel very much at home. Colonel Parker, warm-hearted and impul- sive always, came forward and grasped me cordially by the hand. e “Harry, stranger. youre a perfect Ive half a But he held on to me nevertheless. stranger, a mind to turn you out!” The wind had been in the north all day, and upon the wide hearth blazed a cheerful front of it, genial warmth, sat a gentleman half buried wood fire. In enjoying its in the depths of a large, easy chair. Mr. Thornton—just from the east to enjoy our said the Colonel, Mr. Harwood, my brother-in-law, glorious California climate,” with his cheerful humor. As Mr. Colonel Parker’s introduction, I that he wore a black skulleap, but I knew that underneath there reposed a head as Thornton arose in response to noticed innocent of hair as a billiard ball. I knew Recognition was quicker the case of his wife. Aunt Charlotte was wrong; we had But somehow that fact didn’t add him at a glance. if anything than in met before. materially to my happiness or comfort. I was sorry now that I had come, but tried hard to ested. Mr. Thornton, although an easterner, had look pleasant and seem inter- traveled extensively throughout the west and was eloquent in his praises of our great The glories of Yosemite in particu- lar, excited his warm admiration. Yosemite. The name seemed familiar. I could feel the cold chills thrilling down my spine, and I felt about as comfortable as a man with the toothache. His Mine sank lower with every word. state. enthusiasm mounted higher. “But pshaw!” the midst of a really powerful description, “itis folly to paint Yosemite to one who her he exclaimed, stopping in undoubtedly has himself witnessed beauties many times.” “ Why—oh—ah—yes,” I stammered in re-

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PURPLE my whole soul that it were only a night- mare and no reality. T wanted to sneak off in some quiet cor- ner and meditate. I felt that my cheeks were burning and I was sorry that I had come. How crowded and hot it was! I elanced at the names on my program and wondered what would be done to me if I The was playing a spirited two-step. deserted and went home. orchestra Dancers were whirling by me totally oblivious to everything save the joy and exhileration of the moment. As I stood gazing moodily at the tossing sea of gleaming shoulders and immaculate shirt fronts, a daring couple swooped by, attempting to pass between me and the chest weights on the east wall. They were quite successful, but gave me such a jolt in passing that T was all but carried off my feet. rium, I was aware of a second couple bear- Before I could recover my equilib- ing down upon me like a ship under full sail. I felt rather in the way and wanted to retire. Retreat, however, was impossible; so I braced myself for the shock. Iam not a small man and I had not played guard on the Varsity three years to no purpose. Per- haps, too, my blood was up. No ship ever foundered in more distress. [helped to pick up the scattered frag- ments, apologizing profusely for my awk- To tell the truth, I was somewhat relieved to find in the young old rather the younger brother of an old chum, which was wardness as I did so. man an chum of mine, or perhaps even better. ‘Well, well, Teddy my boy, is this the way to treat an old friend? Trying to run me down, eh?” «Hello, Hel! where in thunder—er—beg pardon—by the way, you haven't met my aunt, have you? Aunt Charlotte,” turning to the lady on his arm, allow me to pre- sent Mr. Fritz speak of him often I know.” For a brief moment surprise and confus- Harwood. You've heard ion kept me dumb. for before me stood the lady whose knowledge of telegraphy, four years before, had put to flight three valiant There could be no but misguided youths. AND WHITE. 3 But I wondered that Ted “aunt’’—she seemed so doubt about it. had called young. The brought the blood to her cheeks, and as she her suddenness of the encounter had acknowledged my bow I thought her voice the had But even more confusing than this to such a sweetest I ever heard. susceptible person as myself, and withal such a loyal U. C. man, was the marvelous Blue and Gold combination of eyes and hair. Teddy says her eyes are violet and her hair auburn, but Ted is color blind and lacks sentiment. I do not care to recall what I said or how T acted during that brief interview—partly because it would be painful to me, and Yet I could not have been an absolute imbecile, partly because it would be difficult. for before I left them I had enough sense to engage a dance with Aunt Charlotte. We sat that dance out—in the balcony. I really don’t know how many more we sat Out. wl Still, [can’t say that I felt happy, much believe we danced occasionally. less comfortable. Hang it! she might have recognized me as readily as I had recog- nized her, and be laughing at me in the bargain. On a sudden I determined to find out. “Do you know,” f began in as natural a tone as I could command, “I have a sud- den intuition that we have met somewhere before tonight. Of course it may be only a wild fancy, but from the first I thought your face seemed familiar.” Her mouth was quite grave, but for » moment Aunt Charlotte looked up quickly. fancied her eyes smiled, and my fears arose, ‘Really? why, that’s singular. Perhaps during some former incarnation we were friends—may be during the monkey stage,” she suegested, with a faint hint of sarcasm. “f have always lived in the east, and you are a confirmed Californian, are you not?” Even then I was lurking mischief in her eyes, or there was not satisfied. There seemed to be, which made me uneasy. Just then, as my eyes glanced carelessly along the baleony opposite, I caught sight

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PURPLE AND WHITE. 5 sponse to his interrogatory glance. “I was there four years ago, I believe.” “Indeed? The very year we made the thip,? At this moment, to my intense relief, the ‘hlonel snapped his watch loadly. «Bless me, it is but five minutes till dinner. Harry, I am going to take the liberty of old acquaintance and leave you im sole possession of the tire while Bob and I go up stairs and brush up a bit. Mrs. Parker is very particular about my appear- ance at the table. Bob. Wonder where that young rascal Ted is, and his Come aunt. too? They ought to be down here very soon.” «And here they come!” as the door through which the two men had I said to myself, just passed was again opened. I sincerely hoped it was only Ted, but, as I turned around, I saw that it was Aunt Charlotte, and she only. I waited for her to speak, for I could think of nothing to say. “What, Mr. Harwood, all alone, with only the fire for company!” There was streneth in her hand-clasp that spoke of friendship, but as her eyes flashed full into mine, and [caught the glimmer of gold in her hair, I found it hard to think only of friendship then What I said was stupid enough, but for just a faint moment it was over. though. “T tind the fire an excellent friend to-day, Mrs. Thoruton.” her to laugh, but that is exactly what she T certainly did not expect did do, and that right merrily, although I must confess she tried hard to overcome it. There can be nothing more trying to a man’s good nature than to have a woman laugh at him and not know why. T hadn’t the least idea what the provoca- tion was, but knew that I must have com- mitted some fatal blunder, off-hand that the safest and easiest thing to and decided do was to throw myself on her merey and make a clean breast of the whole affair. if wasted no time beating around the bush, but went straight to the point. “Mrs. Thornton,” I said, I have a con- fession to make——a confession to make and forgiveness to ask.” still roguish, “it isn’t so very necessary to make Light break, but I refused to see. “Perhaps,” she said, with eyes confession.” was beginning to «Tell me why it isn’t necessary,” I de- manded. “Because I know all you care to confess- O, you thought I had no memory!” she added with fine scorn. “Then you recognized me at the Senior Ball?” “T couldn't be sure at first, but it wasn’t lone before you told me all I wanted to know.” 3ut you said —I began. «Yes, IL know, I said that we have never Well had we? didn’t really count.” met. That first meeting “T don’t see why you couldn't have been as frank as I.” “You frank! I thought you exceedingly politic and so I wanted to tease you- besides,” looking down ‘at the fire very demurely, “I wasn’t so very sure— then— that I should ever care to undeceive you.” «You have indeed a wonderful memory,” I remarked rather irrelevantly, when I had partially recovered. “Ts it so much better than yours, then ?” “Certainly,” said I, “for I had but one face to remember, while you had three.” “Then suppose that I didn't try to re- member three ?” I tried hard to eracefully unconcerned, look unhit and seem and would have succeeded pretty wellif my right foot hadn't cot tangled up with the heavy fire tongs. As I stooped to pick them up, and without giving me time to reply, she continued : «And now I have a confession to make.” I was prepared for anything and just let her go on. “Tt begins at the time of our first meet- ing-—which really wasn’t a meeting, you know—in the dining room of that hotel. Well, when I discovered that I could under- stand what you boys were saying to each other, I felt more amused and interested than anything else. I should have been indignant, I know, but I wasn’t a bit—just then—and so in a spirit of pure fun I