Stadium High School - Tahoma Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

Page 13 text:

'IHE TAI-IOMA ll then he saw Trent ahead of him stop, turn and wait. As he came up to him Bert did not speak. Trent sneered. You're a swell sport, you are! But Gratton looked past him indiiferently and walked in. He sighed with relief. That was over and the words had not cut at all. Oh, Bert wait! suddenly thrilled him. It was Nan, and he did Wait. He tried to be cool, but the frank eyes were too friendly and he took the impulsive hands she held out. Oh, I'n1 so glad you wo11, Bert ! And she colored. I wanted you to win, and I wanted Iaxon to win, and I didn't know which I wanted more 'till Billy passed you. Then you were just being patriotic, huh? when you cheered for Billy. No-no. I wasn't really cheering-I was just afraid he was going to win and in And you wanted me to, Nan? looking narrowly into the gray eyes nearly level with his own and beautiful with all candor. She flushed again, tried to laugh, and then admitted, Yes, Bert, I did. I - 3 , ' S .

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I0 THE. TAI-IOMA at Nan. And it seemed to Bert that she too looked back at him across railing, and Bert knew he must pass her. I A The shot, and they were off-allieven for the first hurdles, Knox and Gratton ahead and even, for the second, Gratton ahead for the third. The Canadians in the stand went crazy, the-hopes of three years materializing below them. The old exhiliration was upon Bert, and he ran for the sheer joy of it, but Knox could not keep up with him, and so he had to slacken impercetptibly. Billy felt it, and just as they neared the place where Nan stood, he passed Bert. The Jaxon pennants waved frantically and their yells now drowned out the minority of the Harmonites. Gratton glanced up at Nan, but she was looking at Billy with something in her eyes that he had never seen, and he distinctly heard her voice above all the howling-her voice unsteady with anxiety., Oh, Billy, Billy ! she cried. Instantly Bert's purpose changed. He saw things differently. His school love vanished like mist before the sun. Knox was a half dis- tance ahead of him--Knox whose pace was ridiculous, Whose record had never been penciled, and whom girls cheered-he, Bert Gratton. to lose all to him. It was idiocy. So he reasoned as he ran. Angry, jealous, outraged, he leapt ahead. Not because he honored the gold maple leaf over his heart, but that same spirit which had pushed him to sacrifice the honors due him for his school's sake, now rushed him on to wing to save something of himself-his own that was receding from him to nothingness. They were nearing the last hurdles, and with the dash of his old record he passed Knox, who, astonished, tried in vain to catch up. Five yards more, and the tape thrilled across Bert's outstretched hands and he had won. Iaxon had lost the hurdles for the first time. The Canadians were frantically delighted. He was pounded and hammered by enthusiasts. The other stragglers slunk off without a cheer. The race was played by two. Bert went to the shower room, wholly indifferent to the results of the other events. Huhl no wonder Billy was squeamishf' he mused, as he dressed. And cold and smileless, he came out again into the sunlight. Though he watched the broad jumpers with apparent interest, he still thought of Nan's words. But Trent-he had forgotten Trent until that instant. Xvhen the dragging afternoon was over and the crowd began to scatter, he started to followpthe Harmon men to their dressing rooms:

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I2 TI-IE TAI-IOMA Promise VE sat upon the porch railing. She was watching the dauby streaks of red and green and violet in the sunset. Beside her sat the God of Promise. He was with her always. There was the charm of mystery about him, and his presence was glowing always with the promise of things to come. The sunset faded into dusk tints. The girl watched a tiny patch of blue above her until the heavy clouds closed over it and it was all gray. Yes, that's the way, she mused, bright blue for a mo- ment, and then the gray clouds again. She laughed. She seemed one of those rare people who never take their own philosophy seriously. But the god was always grave and his eyes were bright with understanding. She jumped from the railing and flung her arms high above her head. She was very young and full of the joy of things. Her eyes were shiny with high lights, and her lips were veryired. She ran into the house and locked the door of her room. UOI1. if you would only tell me, she cried. But no, I don't want to know g-it's the mystery, the glorious mystery that fascinatesf' These are only preliminaries, she told herself. There is so much, life is so full, there is not a moment to be lost. She wrapped her arms about the god and hugged him tight. The time passed quickly for Eve. Her life had never been so crowded before. Que day some one noticed that her eyes were bright as if they had been polished, and her lips were scarlet. It's only the excitement, she told them. But they told the doctor to drop in on his way home. He was very jolly and laughed at her protestations. How long have y-ou coughed like that? he questioned. She had not noticed it. It was such a little cough. It had been there for weeks, though, and it did tire her, but she had not time to be sick, she told him.