Rockland High School - Cauldron Yearbook (Rockland, ME)

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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.

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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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16 THE CAULDRON Fireflies appeared and a soft breeze stirred the trees bringing with it the drifting fragrance of the Wisteria to add to the beauty. It was while gazing upon this star spanglecl night of beauty that he began to think of the many things that were yet within his grasp. He looked at his watch. June had telephoned that she would arrive about ten. It was only nine now. He still had an hour before June arrived--june who had freed herself of sorrow and the past. She was stepping forward to meet the adven- tures which awaited her. Couldnlt he, too, reach for life in all its brightness and beauty? He was sure he could with June's understanding and sympathy. They two together would venture forth into a new future. He rose and gazed Heavenward. The breeze made a choir of the pines. The maples bent in prayer. For a moment he knelt and offered thanks for such a worldl such a place, such a companion as June. Then he went into the house with a new light in his eyes and thankfulness in his heart. Margaret Meldrum 'KSLOWVLYD Slowly, I opened my eyesf, sang the girl in a lilting, haunting voice as Duncan listened. Faster and faster turned the wheels of his black convertible coupe as he heard tlie girlis charming voice come over the radio in his fashionable ca1'. Anyone meeting Duncan for the first tfme would notice his immaculate clothes and well-groomed appearance. 'Ihey would also notice his unsteady eyes and weak chin. Duncan was not a good person to know. He was one of the smart 400', of Riverview who always had his own way and his difliculties were always straightened out for him by his uncle, Judge Adler. But tonight he was running away because his uncle was dead. . . murdered by Duncan. He could no longer straighten out Duncan's troubles for him. The young man winced as he remembered Uncle Homer's anger at him the other day and how he had said: No, I will not give you any more money and I refuse to pay your racing debts for youf, The older man did not often lose his temper, but this time he pounded his fist on the desk in his study and shouted: ,nl have tried to bring you up in a Way that I thought best and you wouldn't pay any attention to me, but now, he continued in a towering rage, I am through, absolutely through! You will have to earn money for yourselff' With these last words he had slammed out of the room and