New London High School - Whaler Yearbook (New London, CT)

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BULKELEY NEWS 3 hesitate, but finally consented. They sat talking away on trivial matters she telling him that she had set out for the railroad station to meet a girl friend from Chicago, but the machine stalled on the way and was wondering what to do, when she spied them coming up the road. “It was lucky I saw you,” said Helen, “And I am glad that I ran into you,” was the reply, Tom thinking of both his appetite and of further intimacy with this girl. They were growing quite intimate when all at once they were interrupted by the sudden purring of the motor. “All ready,” yelled Jack. Tom whispered something into her ear. She smilingly turned to Jack saying, “Won’t you please drive it to the station for me? Just follow the road.” Jack understood, but said nothing as he took the driver’s seat, while Tom and Helen took possession of the rear one. Arriving at the depot, they saw that the train was in. A girl, standing on the platform watching the auto approach, began to wave her hand, which signal was answered by Helen. Jack increased the car’s speed and soon drew up alongside the platform where the three occupants jumped out. An affectionate greeting took place between the girls, making Tom envious of the new arrival. Smilingly she turned to the boys and proceeded to introduce them to the newcomer. “Allow me to introduce Mr. McLaughlin, Miss Anderson ” and turning toward Tom, said, “and Mr.—” stopped, remembering she didn’t know his name. He had only given her Jack’s name but had forgotten to introduce himself. Her face flushed and she began to look confused, but Jack came to the rescue with his ready wit, saying, “Tom Vaugh doesn’t need an introduction. He generally makes himself known anywhere.” A laugh followed this assertion, but by the grateful smile Jack received from Helen Huntley, he knew it meant more than a laugh to her. They did not waste any more time but piled into the auto and started for home. If Tom and Helen seemed to take to each other, there was no reverse in the case of Jack and Esther, for at times the party was in danger of running into a telephone pole or a stone wall. Breakfast was over. The boys had had their trousers and shoes cleaned by the valet. Tom and Jack were chuckling in glee for they had not anticipated that this was to be part of their adventure when setting out. The Huntleys lived in a large mansion with surrounding grounds of many acres. It was one of the most beautiful places in the Catskill mountains. Their excuse of not being well supplied with clothes had been la ighed away and they were invited to stay for the day and resume their journey in the morning. Therefore, they had changed clothes for breakfast while the valet was busy cleaning their flannels and white shoes. They had been washed in gasoline as the faint odor which still remained testified, but that did no harm. Just at present they were waiting for the reappearance of the girls who had gone in to change their dresses for tennis

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2 BULKELEY NEWS socks, neckties, shirts and a pair of shoes, in case they should have occasion for their use. They were now on the third day of their journey in a little place in the upper part of New York State, with no town or railroad within a radius of several miles. The fire was now started and Jack had returned from his dip. He glanced over at Tom who stood scratching his head in a perplexed manner. “Say! where did we put our eats,” he finally asked. “I believe we put them in the hollow of the tree,” answered Jack. “That’s what I thought, but I can not find them now. Both made a thorough search but the missing rations were not revealed. “Some hoboe’s work, I guess. Lucky we used our bags as pillows, or they would be gone too.” “Yes, but standing here won’t get us any breakfast. We had better start along to find a place where we can buy something. Picking up their bundles they halfheartedly set out across the fields to join the highway. They had not traveled far before they noticed in the road ahead of them, a stalled automobile, its sole occupant a young girl of about nineteen, trying vainly to crank it. Looking up and spying them coming she sat down on the running board awaiting their approach. Nearing the scene, Tom lifted his hat and said cheerfully, “Good morning, roadmate.” A smile flickered across her face as she answered, “It might be for you, but to me at present it is quite the opposite. If you can fix this old horrid thing, I would be very thankful.” Tom, infatuated, stared rather rudely at her. He could not help it, —her beauty held him spell-bound. Their eyes met and held each other for a moment. Her face flushed and then she lowered her eyes. Tom, confused, and enchanted by her singular beauty, just coughed as a reply, but Jack, the machinist of the duo, came to the rescue with the reply: “I will fix it for you if you promise to give us some breakfast.” Helen turned to the speaker and replied, “I will give you anything you wish, if you will only fix it.” Jack proceeded to investigate the engine, while Tom, who had no knowledge in that line, sat down beside his new acquaintance. She gave him a quick look, then turned her eyes away, asking, “Do you really want some breakfast?” “Do we? Oh no! We don’t eat.” But then getting embarassed as she looked at him, he said, “Excuse me, but you see we are taking a long hike and were expecting to cook our own meals, but somehow our food supply disappeared last night. We haven’t had anything to eat yet, so we are looking for a place where we can buy something. Do you know of any place near here?” She thought awhile before answer- ing and then replied, “I would be very glad to have you come and have breakfast with me if you don’t mind eating with a girl.” Refuse? Oh no, not Tom. Here was a chance not only to satisfy his appetite but to make a better acquaintance with the girl that had struck his fancy. He pretended at first to

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4 BULKELEY NEWS togs. The remainder of the morning was spent at tennis. Both boys had had a little practice at this, but were no match for the girls who easily outplayed them. Getting tired, they sat down on a bench, well hid in the shade of the trees. They sat here idly for a spell. Finally Helena asked Tom if he would like to go canoeing in the afternoon. Now this was one of Tom’s chief sports, taking up a considerable portion of his time when near the seashore, so he readily consented. The question was then put to Esther who was also eager to go, while poor Jack’s heart sank within, but he could not refuse. His mind went back to the time when he was nearly drowned as the result of a capsized canoe. He had never been in one since. They were on the river. It was a beautiful sight; the rippling waters lapped on the beach; the green swaying trees reflected in the waters below. To the south a quarter of a mile was a sudden drop, which, with jagged rocks jutting from out of the water, formed a treacherous rapid. To the north all was smooth and level. Tom struck out toward the middle of the stream, then cropped his paddle to watch his cousin who was awkwardly striking out, making sure at the same time that he remained near shore. For him it was no pleasure, for at each movement of the craft his heart gave a sudden thump. Tom glanced over at Helen who was interestingly watching the other couple, but his eyes drew her around. This time as their eyes met and re- mained so fixed, she did not become confused, but quite to the contrary as they soon forgot where they were. All the time they kept on drifting. Tom’s back was towards the rapids so he was unaware of their nearness, while Helen’s parasol was so fixed as to exclude them from her sight. They probably wouldn’t have noticed the nearness, they were so occuppied in each other. Tom’s paddle lay idle in the bottom of the canoe. They were only about twenty yards away when Helen became aware of their danger. She gave a sharp cry and a sudden move. Tom, with disregard that he was in a canoe, stooped over to regain his paddle, but at the same time leaning far over to one side. It was fatal. The canoe tipped, hesitated, then went, sending the occupants into the water. Helen, although she was able to swim, was terrified at the nearness of the rapids, so that she grabbed Tom about the neck as he swam towards her. They had not reached the rapids, but if they had, no one knows what the result would have been. Luckily they were near shore so that they were able to reach land in safety. Tom’s foot finally struck bottom. He stood up and still the girl clung to him. If she was w'illing, Tom was, so he gathered her up in his arms. A sweet feeling of contentment stole over him. He had her in his arms. Her arms were around his neck; her face near his he could feel her soft breath on his cheek. The sweet perfume of her hair floating to his nostrils intoxicated him with delight. He drew her closer, he shut his eyes—a noise, lie opened them,, in bewilderment he glanced around.