Rockland High School - Cauldron Yearbook (Rockland, ME)

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14 THE CAULDRON noticed that she was crying, and asked what was the matter. She di,dn't seem to see me, so.I started in. I could see another neighbor inside with Mom, and they were both crying. As I entered, they were facing the other direction. I spoke, but they didnit seem to hear. I heard the other XVOUIZIYI saying that it was a terrible thing, but that he would have wanted her to be brave. Alarmed, I stepped for- ward, in time to see Mom lay a piece of paper on the table. just a little slip of paper, that was all . . . I picked it up, and with growing realization and horror 1'ead, The VVa1' Department regrets .... Paul M. Payson OUT OF THF1 WILDERNESS The house stood at the top of the long sloping emerald lawn, which was like a carpet of rich green velvet. Sometime before dawn, nature had dropped a lacy blanket of blossoms into the outstretched arms of the dogwood tree. The tulip tree was a flaming mass of red. The Wisteria vine was a dripping fountain ol lavender that filled the air with exquisite perfume. Tall hollyhocks nodded to and 'l r'O in the soft summer breeze. On this particular afternoon the sunlight and fragrance gave to the big, silent house the warmth it somehow lacked. Yet care was here, and charm and beauty too. There was the faint creak of a rockng chair on the veranda, where George W'illiams, pretending to read, sat grave and quiet. I-Ie thought of all the things le could not forget. The pain, the joy, the bewilderment, the losing struggle he had fought-then death which was so final and gave you no choice and left you no answer. After this he had gone abroad in desperation, only to return to Valleyview. his old summer home. Here he had come as a boy, with his mother. And here he had spent all his time during those sixteen years of hate, joy, fear, and sorrow. It seemed more like home than any other place on earth now, with memories in every corner--a house of memories of the past. He was free. The time had been so endlessly long. Sixteen years, the best of his life. he had given to his invalid wife. His thoughts Went back to the very begin- ning. He .was back in college playing on the football gridiron Above him some where among the shouting crowd was a girl with curly black hair and big laugh- ing blue eyes. They were married shortly after he graduated and they came to live at Valleyview. Wli-at-'aatease she was. It was during one of these teasing moods that she had gone out driving with his best friend. He had objected because Bill was a reckless

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THE CAULDRON 13 A SLIP OF PAPER-THAT'S ALL U My name? IfVhy, you know that we have no--. Oh, back there? That's differ- eut. I was called jimmy Waterman then-just an ordinary, carefree kid like all the rest. Mom spoiled me though, 'cause I was all she had. Dad had died when I was ten. Mom took over the store, and I helped her as soon as I was old enough. Everything was all right until a certain Sunday in December . . . From then on I became restless . . . all the fellows were leaving and everyone was doing all he could to help. I didn't say anything to Mom about it though, because I knew she needed me. But she seemed to sense that something was wrong, and one day she said quietly, jimmy, I know how you feel, and I'm proud of you. If you want to go, I think I can take care of the store by myself. Dad used to, and I know he'd have wanted it this wayf' That was Mom, the grandest gal in the world, always thinking of the other fellow. And so, I became a Marine. Then, after months of intensive training, we were shipped out. I don't remember much about the war . . I don't want to. Anyway, I hated it! It was all so futile, so senseless! I'm not say- ing that it wasn't a just war, if any war can be called just. It was the mud, the fog, the insects, the not knowing when the fellow next to you was going to sud- denly drop at your feet, a gaping hole in his chest. It was watching the splendor of a tropical' sunrise, knowing all the while it might be your last. And worst of all, it was the thought of all the telegrams being sent home to mothers or wives, and the rows of white crosses . . . mute testimonials of man's inhumanity to man. I was among those who strove for a foothold on that most desolate spot of all . . . Iwo Jima. My buddy and I were in the front lines that night. We had been toge.her for some time, and I knew him as well as I know myself. I thought as much of that lug as though he were my own brother. Anyway, he was unusually light-hearted that night, and it bothered me. It was almost as if he knew .... With the rest, we were advancing on a nest of snipers, when suddenly there was the deadly whine of a bullet, and he fell. I knew without looking that now 'there would be another cross, another telegram. I-I guess I went completely crazy then. With grenade in hand, I started for the cave from where the shot had come. All I wanted to do was get the guy that got 1ny buddy! I threw the grenade as hard as I could and dropped down to wait. It was then that I heard the whine of a mortar shell . . . it grew louder and more intense, with a deafening scream that could mean only one thing! And then everything went black . . . After a long, long time I awoke, shaking as from a bad dream. But I wasnjt on Iwo, I was on the outskirts of my own home town! I couldn't remember getting there, and yet it clidnit seem strange that I was. I started down the street on the double. Yes, there everything was, just as I had left it . . . the church, my old school, the drug store on the corner, and then, the little white house that was home to me. And there was a light in the living room. Mom must still be upf' I thought. As I reached the steps, I met Mrs. Burton. our next door neighbor. I

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THE CAULDHON 15 driver and the roads were icy that December day. But she had only laughed. Then, a short time later, the car had skidded and crashed. Bill had been killed, and jean had been dragged from the wreckage more dead than alive. The shock had left her half paralyzed. I-Ier speech was only a mumble. When she recovered she was told she would never walk again. After this she never ceased to rebel against the fate which bound her. She just lay on her pillows with tears coursing down her cheeks, her eyes begging him to understand. The days dragged by and he gave up his business that he might be with her more. Gradually the people of the town came to understand him and his tragedy. Wise old Dr. Ross, who had watched his slow retreat, suggested to him that he adopt a child of about seven or eight, preferably a girl. . It was by some curious act of Providence that a short time later his brother, driving from the north to visit him, met with an accident. Both he and his wife were killed, but his daughter, june, was thrown from the car unhurt. Arriving in answer to a telegram, he took her home with misgivings. jeaifs joy was unmistakable from the start. She clasped the child in her arms and kissed her gently. Her great blue eyes filled with tears, a rush of mumbled sounds fell from her lips. For the time being she was happy. Time passed and as june matured, jean changed. Perhaps it was her long ill- ness or jealousy of -Iune's increasing beauty. He never knew. She would let neither of them touch her or do anything for her. Her eyes burned with hate and anger and triumph over these two chained by pity to her. She became more and more revengeful toward june. One morning when june brought her breakfast she seized her wrist and bit her until blood came. After this he had always been there to guard and shield june like a glass flower that would break at touch. It had all ended suddenly one evening in an unexpected way. june was about to mount the stairs to jean's room. But before she could do so a cry was heard overhead. It was like an animalis cry of hurt or fury. He looked up with a cold fear in his heart. He commanded june to remain Where she was. jean stood above them swaying uncertainly. She lifted an arm high in the air and hurled a large vase with all her strength down the stairs straight at june. It missed its aim, and before anyone could catch her, she lost her balance and crashed down at their feet. A moment later she was dead. He was awakened from his unpleasant dreams by Busty, june,s dog, chasing a stray cat across the lawn. It was now twilight. The sky burned 1'ed and then faded into a glow like a great pink jewel set in gold. Then came the darkness like a cloak wrapped around him. Trains of radiant white stars appeared followed by a large orange moon, which rose high into the deep velvet sky. The world was bathed in a golden splendor.