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

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14 PURPLE AND V NOME Tenderly he laia it on the table and went about his work, softly humming an old love song, accompani chirp of a cricket. fire. sputtered and sizzled and the sassafras sim- mered in the pan. before sitting down to his meal he went to . by the chirp, chirp, Soon he had a glowing A partridge on the end of a stich He spread the table and the door to survey the sky. Black, irregu- lar clouds, hanging low over the mountains foretold a thunder storm. the door. As he sat at his little table enjoying what was to him a kingly banquet, he mused, Gently he closed “On such a night as this, I crossed the Atlantic on the ‘York.’ of it makes me shudder, but I will try to The very thought forget it and be happy again.’’ So reflecting, he rose from the table and as deftly as the industrious housewife, he gathered the tin plates, brushed off the table and when everything was in order, he stepped toa shelf in the corner of the room, selected Lowell’s Vision of Sir Launfal from his meagre library, drew his stool before the blazing fire, and, with his chipmunk perched on his shoulder, he turned to his favorite passage, ‘‘And what isso rare as aday in June,’ and began reading aloud in a clear yet saddened voice. Soon he laid the book aside and, asa matter of habit, brought his few pictures from his worn pouch. ‘Thi s,”’ holding a picture of a gray-haired motherly-looking mother,’’ woman, “‘is my speaking to someone. ‘She was the only And this very image of one who sympathized with me. is little Ruth, the mother’s sister there on the table. her How angelic she looks.”’ At this moment he was startled by a “What, can No, it can gentle knock at the door. that be someone at my door! not be. place before,’’ he told himself. No one has ever found my hiding The unanswered knock was followed by a flash of bright lightning which illuminated the whole room, and it was followed by the incessant pealing of rumbling thunder. For a moment all was quiet again. Then he said, as if once more the rap was heard, this time somewhat louder than the first. Again the old man looked startled—almost terri- fied, and, laying the picture of little Ruth on the table, he mechanically turned to the door with the flickering candle in his hand. Before turning the knob he looked about the order. As the door opened, he drew back a step room to see that everything was in or two and stood amazed at the sight before him. A frail and slender figure, dressed in tourist garb, with a young man by her side, were asking for shelter, both trying to explain at the same time how they lost their way and how they happened to see through the dark pines the dim light of the candle. The old man, struck by the beauty of the girl and the air of innocent, candid frankness of the man, at once invited them ine “Sit by the fire and warm yourselves. You must be tired and almost frozen to death. ‘Tell happened to stray to this secluded place,’’ the old man me how you asked as he hurried about trying to make his guests as comfortable as possible. brightened perceptibly as Oe Frank and I (motioning to her companion), The girl’s winsome smile she answered, we, were out on an exploration and before we knew it, we strayed into this canyon and couldn’t find our way out. Why, its just like a maze. We happened to see your light and we came toward it and here we are. But tell me, why do you live here in seclusion when one of the most beautiful valleys is so near by?” “That is a long story, my child and I am afraid I will bore you if I attempt to telileiens aye 4 ’ Oh no, it won’t. will be a sort of a finishing touch to our Do please tellus. It already romantic exploit.’’ ‘Very well, then. You two will be the first ones to whom I have ever told my Well, to begin with, when I was a I took an active part in the politics of my country story. young man, I lived in England. and for three years prior to my coming

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PURPLE AND WHITE. Restored to the Living. CORINNE LOINAZ,’ 06 et SILVER-HAIRED man, bent with age, stood at his cabin door, his eyes @| fixed on the wooded mountains be- fore him. ‘‘Fifteen years; yes it is fifteen years to-day since I came to this solitary place,’? he mused, accentuating each syllable with a stroke of his snow- white flowing beard. ‘‘The world beyond that obstructive wall is hateful to me. All this time it has served as a barrier between me and civilization and noble has its ser- vice been to a lonely, forsaken man. “But to-day I will take a peep over that hill, just one peep, and then back to se- clusion.’’ So speaking, he closed his door and with faltering steps, turned toward the mountain. Slowly, steadily, he climbed the hill, pausing now and then to makea path with his cane through the tangled meshes of trees and vines. At length he reached the summit. stood gazing at the scene to call forth enthusiastic praise. A He wonderful scene—a study in ¢§ stretched before him,— 5 xreen 71 great lawns, which, uninjured by the so- called improvements of civilization, ri- valled in beauty any park made by man. Majestic oaks dotted the valley and aro- riot of bloom. matic flowers were in a Rippling streams wound through nature’s green carpet. The lowing cattle, pasturing on the grassy slopes, the hum of industri- ous insects and the warbling of innumerable feathered songst ers enlivened the quietude of the picturesque valley. On the opposite range, green roofs of prosperous homes, clinging to the mountainside, gleamed ag- At his gushing spring, with flowers playing on its gressively in the sunshine. feet, a grassy margin, trickled down the mount- ainside. ‘The old man stood in amazement and in- haled the grandeur of it all. ‘To think,” he soliloquized, ‘‘that this Garden of the Gods cannot be my No The Fates are against me. I home! it cannot be! wish But I will say no more, nor wil! I think of such that I had never set foot in England. a misfortune, when Nature, in her silent way, iscallir :o me to share with her, her joys. Itisev lent that this beautiful val- ley of the Cats ills is a summer resort, for hose palatial homes can be none other than he country seats of the wealthy New York- That brilliantly lighted mansion on that hill must bea hotel for tourists. There How well used to ers. gaiety and liveliness pervade. I can remember how Ruth and I indulge in such pleasures. How warm and caressing that sun is and this exhilarating breeze almost makes me feel young again.”’ As the golden sun was receding behind the shadowed mountains, the old man cast one last lingering look over the magnificent sight and reluctantly turned his back upon mocking civilization. But would look closely, he would see a new light in His step was even if one the gentle gray eyes. more steady than before,—almost vigorous. Now the dark and solitary canyon in his eyes was as beautiful as the most beautiful of valleys; his thatched-roof cabin with the the trailing vine over the door was as grand asa king’s palace; the water from his moss-covered well as soft and pure as the purest water from the fountains of old Rome, and his mischievous chipmunk as dear to him as gold was to Midas. Vet there was something on his mind which not even nature with all her splendor could dispel. Nevertheless he was thank- ful to her for what she had done for him. Even his pet chipmunk seemed to recog- nize a change in his master, as he silently greeted him at the cabin door. The ever caressing stroke seemed to be even more caressing than before. As the old man entered, the first thing that met his eyes was the photograph of a young woman. ‘Taking it in his hand, he kissed it tenderly, then studied the Grecian profile, the bright, laughing eyes, the sensi- tive mouth partly opened as if ready to speak, and the wealth of brown fluffy hair crowning the shapely, well-poised head,

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PURRB? AND WHITE. here, I held an important position in the government. I was happy and I had everything in the world to make me happy —a cultured, loving and beautiful wife, a beautiful home in London and a high salary, besides a handsome legacy left me by an uncle. Yes, it was heaven on earth until an insolent sceamp came between us and blighted our happiness. He was a handsome, ‘three-eyed’ Englishman, young, aptivating and wealthy, but far from be- ing faultless. Had it not been for his in- sidiousness, I should not have wasted the prime of my life in obscurity. ‘‘T will tell you what he did. He stole some jewelry belonging toa Lady Fairfax and to clear himself he cunningly hid the jewelry in my house. A search was made for the stolen diamonds, and, with his help, of course, they were found secreted in my safe. the theft, since they were found in my own private safe. “My mother was the only one who be- Even my wife lieved I guiltless. turned against me, for that wretch, by his Was personal magnetism seemed to have hypno- tized her. My pleadings with her were of no avail. Her treatment toward me broke my fled from England, resolved never to return. heart, and before my trial was set I I came to America and fora few months I lived in the little town of Benton, just back of these mountains. Bella Vista valley. I have ever seen it. I knew nothing of the Today is the first time ‘‘One day while I was on an exploration, as you two were this evening, I lost my way and wandered into this maze, as you have expressed it, and I found this little cabin here unoccupied. I was struck with the solitude of the place and made up my mind that it was the only place for a broken-hearted, despondent man, as I was. Now paises bringing the picture from the table, ‘‘is my And here I have been ever since. I have a few pictures to show you. wife. I still worship her.’’ As the girl looked at the photographs she grew pale and her hand trembled. Of course everyone accused me of “What—what did you say your name is?”’ she exclaimed nervously. “Why, I forgot i0tell you. is Langlin—William Langlin.”’ ‘Tanglin! Then you must be my long- lost uncle, for this, your wife, is my aunt.’’ “Oh, my God! ‘This must be a dream! But I believe you. for I see now the strong Ruth. How stupid I was not to notice it at first.” Then they fell in each other’s arms and Between My name resemblance you bear to wept tears, not of grief, but of joy. sobs and laughter the girl told her uncle how she had grown to love him from hear- ing her Aunt Ruth speak of him so often. “But this is the first time that I have ever heard that story you have told me. I always knew that auntie kept a secret from me, but I could never find out what it was. I know she will be overjoyed when she sees you. We are spending the summer at Bella Vista, but we live in Chicago,’’ she explained. ‘But Auntie will have a search party out after us. we must go now, else You will be our guide, uncle.”’ For a moment the three were Then Langlin, with a twinkle in his eye, gaily remarked: ‘‘Happy will our reunion silent. be, but much happier your union.”’ If you get ‘huffy’ at the editor for any per- sonals give your dearest friend the ‘“‘deuce.”’ Isabelle (in Iatin)—Miss Heaslip, is ‘‘tam” all right? Miss H.—Why, of course ‘‘fom”’ is all right. Freshie (to Soph.)—Tho’t you took Algebra last year. Soph.—Did and the faculty encored me.—Ex. We always laugh at the teacher’s jokes, No matter how funny they may be; ’Tis not because they’re really funny, But because its policy. —Ex.