Shortridge High School - Annual Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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X THE LIGHTS THAT FAILED RUTH ALICE ROBINSQN ,seem QR 5 T. CLAIR was commonly known as 'the snob. A few f l cadets, seized with a desire to be original, called him a IMS' ENWS dub, and others, after making sure that they gave the a 'W' the proper English baa spoke of him as 'the cad. C3 Q NNN Oakly Military Academy was pretty well shaken down into y X routine at the end of the first month of the fall semester, I and St. Clair had had plenty of time to show himself up in ,yi - an his true light. He had entered the second class by special examination, and had seemed at first a pretty good fellow. But as one petty prejudice after another sprang up against him, and asthis snobbishness, due to his father's great wealth, developed, the reaction against him set in, and he was ostracized completely, save from thecompanionship of three. Two of them, who were his equals in family and wealth and his superiors in everything else, tolerated him in a bored kind of way, and knocked him with the other cadets in his absence. The third was the young officer in charge of his section, Brownly by name, and by reputation the most systematically hated personage in the entire institution. By reason of the good effects of his hateful system of espionage, which effectually checked all mischief ere any rumor reached headquarters, he stood in high favor with his superiors as an officer competent to keep his section in good order. As far as was compatible with his tlrlank, ge made St. Clair his boon companion, incidentally bringing more dislike a amst e ca et. g Things were in just this shape, with Brownly and St. Clair hand in glove against the majority of the second class, when Boyd arrived. He was the most po ular fellow in his class, and when his friends learned that the crisis in his father's illness Iliad passed, and tlllaltlhe was to returlrc immediately they hastened to find the time of his arrival, and ave an ovation at t e tram. 8 A few days after his arrival Boyd strolled, during recreation time, down to the edge of the pier. He had noticed the general aversion to St. Clair and honestly pitied him. I-Ialf the class was collected on the pier and float, swapping the summer's experiences, and planning various amusements to come. Near the edge of one of the groups, but entirely apart from it in spirit, stood St. Clairg and Boyd, approaching him for the first time, and following his glance out toward the wind-rufiled lake, remarked, Fine weather for sailing, isn't it? St. Clair turned, and let his eyes follow every detail of his uniform up, from sleeve to collar, from his collar to his chin, as if, said Jones afterward, he'd never ov Q 'ml '- 1, 0 ,J?gz.m 'fl Qin' 5 if- I-,if it ' PZ 2425 X . J I , I 0 : .ig 1,1 4' X' ::1Am' Q mx 1, a l X Q ' Ti e xib?.'1Q0wly

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'P I . ,g , I J QW? 'wP', '- A- 3 l my H M1 l P H' il n l n n 5 K 9 ll I 2 I 1 lvl A R T H A l ' t RUTH ALICE ROBINSON t l They called her Martha-name so quaint and sweet With dim suggestive memories replete, 4 Bringing the fragrant scent of lavender i l And half-forgotten memories from afar f , Of garden gay with Haunting holly-hoclrs l And lillies stately on their slender stalks, And clearer still-as mem'ry grows less dim, 4 As if I peered again o'er box-hedge rim Within the garden as the sun goes down E ix Like picture quaint with scarf and fresh sprigged gown- l il I see her at her rustic tea preside, K lt. 1 The china clear and thin her hand beside, 9 , The liquid amber in the gold-rimmed cupsg . :l Thrice happy he who with my lady sups. l Ah! Would I could turn back to long ago tl When Martha to me Hehe's arts did show. p V i 4 ev- ef ee - ae a ff 4-V. . 5 . ns ,,- v N 5 , ' km E rag frfvgg .AQ my - ff 1. f ' 'MP' YA J' ' mm, ,,,-,,',,,f Q Y - A

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THE LIGHTS THAT FAILED seen the blooming duds before, and then resting them full on his face, said slowly and with emphasis, Eh, have I ever had the honor of your acquaintance? Behind Boyd, McLean, his best friend, and most sincere admirer, heard St. Clair's words, and step forward grabbed the latter as he turned away, with the words, 'I No, but I'Il introdiuce Liu with pleasure: Boyd- 'The Cad,' and without more ado pushed him into the e. It was not many hours ere McLean, the identified assailant as Brownly called him, was missing many recreation hours and doing much extra guard dutyg for St. Clair, lacking the honor which sealed the lips of the others, had immediately given Brownly his own revised version of the affair, and received perfect sympathy in return, and thereby were gained two things: A new name for St. Clair, namely, the Puppy, and a new feeling for Brownly, namely-contempt. I-Ienceforth and thereafter, though outwardly angelic in demeanor the cadets occu ied their spare time cudgeling their brains for suitable revenge for McI..ean and Boyd, against Brownly and St. Clair. The long mess room belonging to section two was well lighted and warm, and the wintry wind outside accentuated the solid comfort within. Brownly at the head of the table, could hardly suppress a little feeling of pride at the good form that his cadets showed upon occasions, attributing it, with naive conceit, entirely to his personal training. The young officer, who was somewhat of a dandy, was looking his best to-night, seemingly more immaculate and well groomed than usual: and he smiled condescendingly upon St. Clair, who sat at his right hand. Neither realized how those eaceful cadets could, with the aid of a slight accident, assume the' role of fates, and bring retribution upon them. In the center of the mess-table reposed a huge dish of baked potatoes, and as these were going the rounds, Brownly took occasion to rebuke some cadet for a trifling breach of table discipline. While he spoke, the eyes of all centered by habit and training upon his face. Suddenly the room was plunged into pitch darkness- the electric lights had gone out. A moment of silence, and then a sibilant little whisper ran from mouth to mouthg and if Brownly had had the eyes of a cat he could have seen on the faces so dutifully towards him, a malignant grin. There was a sudden clatter of china and silverware thrown together by hasty movements, a swish of upthrown arms- and then Brownly swore, as a chorus of thuds at his end of the table indicated how well those hands had been aimed at him, their target. Then, as suddenly as they went