Mission High School - Mission Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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THE MISSION The De reli6t's Story The gray sky was frowning down upon the sullen, turbulent sea which had taken as its victim a Spanish galleon, once the pride of all Spain. The waves dashed against the gallantship as though trying to crush out its very life. And this is what the galleon said while the relentless waves went on in their cruel work of demolishing her: To think that I, La Aprisa, the ship that was christened by his Majesty, the King of Spain, should come to my death in this manner! Well do I remember the day, September 12, 1492, when I proudly sailed out of the harbor of Cadiz, silken flags flying, in question of a land far over the sea, a land that was laden with precious gems, shimmering silks, wonderful perfumes, and strange spices. My beloved master was with me then, he who was strong andg fearless, he who could guide me through any storm safely. The first few days out everything went favorably. We enjoyed the smiling blue skies above us, the calm sapphire-colored sea before us, and best of all, a breezy wind that swept us along at ten knots an hour. Then one night we ran' into a bank of dense impenetrable fog. For days we were in a prison of mist. We could neither see nor hear anything and consequently lost our course. The sailors, useless superstitious beings, blamed all this misfortune on my cap- tain. As though he would deliberately turn us off the course and leave us to perish in mid-sea! Finally the fog lifted. The wind began to blow, and we were on our way again. The sailors, who became more dissatisfied the farther we got away from land, mut- tered among themselves and cast black looks at my master. Their leader was the second mate, a huge bulk of a man with the face of wild beast, a man whom I could not help hating. Suddenly we were beset by a calm. My sails hung listless, while over our heads stretched the turquoise-blue expanse of heaven unbroken alas! by a single wind cloud. The waves, which glittered in the sunlight, gently lapped against my sides, not then as now slowly tearing me to pieces. Supplies were low and we had no water. The men were becoming crazed with fear, and my commander had a hard time of it trying to keep them in leash. One night, when the clouds overcast the moon, the men stole into my master's cabin, over-powered him, and murdered him in cold blood. Imagine the agonies I went through. I who loved my master and yet could not help him. Then the villains, wishing to hide their foul act, threw the body of my noble captain into the dark, restless sea. Suddenly, as though to punish them for their wicked deed, a storm burst forth. The rain poured down, and the wind blew a gale. The second mate laughed and said: 'Aha, my hearties, now that we are rid of our hated captain, no need to keep on sailing forward. We will sail back to the sunny land of! Spainl' Then he started to steer me, not gently as my master used to, but roughly, not caring whether he made me go through the most dangerous swells. How I despised him, how I wished to revenge my master! The storm increased, the wind howled as though a thousand demons had been let loose. The second mate lost control of me, and I shot forward. One grim purpose I held in mind, namely to avenge the murder of my commander, anyway, anyhow! I have accomplished my task. The murderers lie at the bottom of the sea, but now I, who was once the pride of all Spain, must join them. A great crash, and the sea took for its own the faithful ship, and the gray sky con- tinued to frown upon the sullen, turbulent waters. ' CAASI BUTTON. IISI

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MISSION HIGH SCHOOL made her take the examination without having studied for it? Or did she think that, because of her father's influence, she could get away with it and win the scholarship despite her failure. Commencement came and went! Mary Nelson had won the scholarship! f'Poor June! said everybody. Poor June? No! June was not to be pitied. Never in her life, not even when she had been the center of all attention, had she felt so keenly happy as in the moment when Mary Nelson was announced the winner of the scholarship. Lois OVERMAN. Fantasy At the edge of the great Forsaken Desert lies a sleepy little village. The drab adobe huts lie silently in the sun, patiently waiting to be worn away by the burning rays. Some of them are crumbling, and some already in ruins. None are inhabited, for long ago the dwellers were captured and made prisoners by a vicious tribe of the North, enslaved by the great chief 5 and humbled forever. N o more are there faces in the door- waysg the steady beat of tom-toms is deadg laughter and song has long been goneg only the murmur of the breeze in the parched grasses is left, to remind us of the life and gladness that once reigned there. But the burning glare of the sun begins to fade. The soft glow deepens to a purple haze, in the twilight. As evening advances, the village becomes slowly alive. Indistinct outlines of the huts are visible. The starlight fills the air with life, and the shadows creep forth one by one, forming mysterious figures in the moonlight, while their whispers are borne away with the soft breath of air. The supernatural dancers sway to the steady beat of the tom-toms. The midnight lark re-echoes the cry of the lost race. The little village awakens again in the light of the glowing moon, on the Forsaken Desert-undisturbed. ELEANOR WREDEN. Night I God has thrown A cloak of blue Across the ever reaching Sky, To conceal an Angel At his post Who guides Our wandering souls At night By a glowing, Sflvff star! SHELAGH Gowns. U71

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