Stadium High School - Tahoma Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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30 TI-IE T ned a little trip up toward the moun- tain Sunday, and l'm sure to see some along the way: in fact, l know of a spot where there are just stacksf, All right, then, We'll have wild honeysuckle Monday. lt's one of my favorite flowers , lVl1'. Irving declared. The girls all liked it, too. This being decided, the next thing that came up for discussion was the assembly of the same morning. After the speaker's dress and hat had been thoroughly reviewed, and Bobby's opinion given in passing, Beth sighed and declared that she was going home. ul know the car isn't waiting for me. Mother thinks it so undemocratic to have it meet me after school, she said with a little pout, 'Td make the janitor clean up all this mess, she called back, as she and the rest of the girls went out. Beth stamped her foot and scolded as she placed her little panama on her wavy hair, and took a squint at herself in the little mirror that was the common property of a dozen or more girls. Mother doesn't realize how nasty and hot it is on that miserable Springdale car, for she never rides on it herself. Oh, yes, we all know that you are a very unfortunate childf' Jess said with mock pity. I only wish my dad could boast of an automobile at allv, she laughed carelessly. Well, you are unfortunate, Jess, the others remarked. Oh, goody, thereis your car, Annie, half a dozen girls cried mer- rily, as they emerged from the stuffy basement into the hot afternoon. They and more, piled into the auto, shout- ing back good-byes. Stop in for me tomorrow afternoon, Bethg we'll all go down to Dot's together, was the parting salute. AI-IOMA All right, good-byew' Beth an- swered merrily enough. After a fifteen minutes' walk to the lnterurban de- pot, Beth's good spirits were consider- ably lowered. Sh-e climbed on the Springdale car two minutes before it left the station. It was filled with farmers, seedy and unshaven, and their wives, dowdy and tired. A coarse- looking 'man got up and gave Beth his place, with an awkward grin. Beth's tip-tilted nose went higher in the air as she sat down. Within the next few blocks a young woman, red and perspiring, got on with two large baskets in her hands. Oh, hello, sisterf' she called, smil- ing as she stopped by Beth's seat. Beth's body straightened visibly. 'il-lello, Helen, she answered coldly. One of Bethis neighbors farther up in the car rose and offered Helen his seat. 'Tm tired, because I'm late getting through with my delivering, so I think I'l1 sit down, Beth. Beth's critical eyes noticed with displeasure how her hister's dress drooped, how old and run down her shoes were, in short, how dowdy she looked. l-ler eyes wandered again and again to her faded blue dress, and the faded flowers on her hat, and she remarked, also, that her sister had grown round-shoulderedg that her finger-nails were worn, and her hands and arms sun-burned. A feeling of aversion came over her, yet she could not but notice how soft and line her voice was contrasted with the shrill, coarse ones around her. I do love l-lelen, but- she thought to herself and that but be- came enormous. After a ride, long enough to get one thoroughly out of sorts, they arrived at Springdale. They said nothing till l-lelen commented at the gate, in front of their little cottage, Aren't the snap-dragons lovely, Beth Y'

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Tl-l'E. TAI-IOMA 29 pieces, but l've decided to spend these last ten minutes as I please. Jess, your nose is simply glowing, she said teasingly, as she wiped the perspiration from her own. Oh, say girls, close those old manuals and let's talk about Dot Farrell's party. You're all going, of course?,' Oh, sure, came in unison from the girls as they closed their manuals. If I only had something decent to wear. Our dressmaker is out of townf' Beth began in a mournful note. Wlnhat .little crepe of yours is too dear for anything, remarked Jess. 'LOh, Jess, it's decades old though, l've worn it half a dozen afternoons. I suppose you're going to have some- thing darling. Tell us about it, Annie dear. Oh, is it a ready made one? Mother and father simply forbid those. I know there are lots of exquisite ones, but Bourque does all our sewing, al- ways has, you know. That sounds awfully sweet at any rate. What's yours like, dearie? turning to another girl immensely interested. uBoys, you are making too much noise, lVlr. Irving said, without looking up from the flower that he was examining. Yes,', remarked one culprit, he could actually hear the color of the gowns WC,1'C going to wear. The girls' heads came close to- gether and they did try to whisper less audiblyg but they didnit stop, and till the bell rang they discussed the details of their dresses, and then contemplated what the rest of the girls would wear. The boys stalked out of the room, when the bell rang. The girls im- mediately became busy with the parts of the dandelion they didn't quite un- derstand. They found Mr. Irving most interesting then. They surrounded his desk, and discussed a hundred things. They began with the flower in question, and ended with the most interesting accounts of picnics, fishing trips and shows. Oh, Jess, do you remember what I ,specially needed to question about?!' Beth asked with a twinkle in her eye, a minute after the bell shruck. Don't be particular, Jess dear, she added as Jess tried to look thoughful. Say, Beth, Mr. Irving began, before Jess had time to conjure an opening, did it ever occur to you that dandelions are excellent conduct- ors on hot days? 'ilt struck me forcibly enough today, at any rate. Beth laughed. lsn't this the most hideous place imagin- able? Bobby sighed expressively, and as Jess whispered in a girli's ea-r, grace- fully even. What shall we study next, Beth? he asked. Oh, there are just hundreds of flowers blossoming out at Twin Firs. Twin Firs, you know, is the most beautiful place in the world in May. Of course, so many of the flowers are rare cultivated ones , Beth ans- wered with a dreamy voice, enjoying the effect her words made on the girls. I was wondering if you girls could get some wild honeysuckleu, Mr. Irv- ing suggested. Oh, that's quite as bad as dande- lions, Jess decided. lt isn't, either, Jess Winslow , Beth declared, it's simply beautiful. Oh, just as you say , Jess answer- ed carelessly. Could you get some, Beth? Mr. Irving asked. Yes, to be sure. Father has plan-

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TI-IE TAI-IOMA 31 No, theyire awfully clumsy and old-fashioned, she said throwing a school book down on the steps. She pick-ed up a story book, and making her way out under the maples, settled leisurely back to read. Saturday came, bright, and clear and hot, butwith the pleasantest of sum- mer breezes blowing. Beth scolded a little about her crepe dress, that she was doomed to wear for the sixth time to an afternoon party. Oh, you look so sweet, l-l-elen said as she gave the rose-colored sash an extra pat, and stood back to get a better effect of the pr-etty little hat, which matched her sash and was so becoming. Beth smiled and hurried away. She said hello to the Springdale boys, who were congregated in the school- yard with bats and balls and dogs, to play the boys of the neighboring town. Say, Jimmie, she called to one, do you know where there is some wild honeysuckle? ushucks, what a question! Jimmie said with disgust, as he came up to give some particulars about the game. Oh, sure I do, l'll see you tonight, he said, hurrying back to the group on the school steps. Beth and two or three other girls were chatting gaily about their dresses, as they walkedlalong the fine, shady street towards Dot Farrell's residence, when around the corner came the adored Bobby, with his mother, an elderly lady of evident culture. Whe1'e are you going, my pretty maids? he asked, smiling. UA party, I'1l bet. Right, laughed Beth. lVlother and l are off to the coun- try for a lark-a picnic first, and then an informal call on a friend of m':-ther's he explained as they passed. lsn't he adorable in that suit? the girls began, while Mr. Irving in- formed his moth-er that these were some of the wealthiest and nicest girls in the school. It was evening when Beth returned. The air was cool and fragrant. 'Springdale isnit such a bad place, she thought to herself as she came tripping along the crooked path, over- grown with wild roses and tall pink foxglove. The girls are easily duped, she laughed, and started to hum a little tune. Helen, where are you, sister?,' she called at the gate. No answerg so she decided that she was in the little hot-house watering her tomatoes, and made her way thither, humming the rest of the tune. Say, Helen, she said gaily, rush- ing in. Helen was talking to some one. 'Tve made a fairly good living with my gardens. l've kept my sis- ter in school, she was saying. ln one corner an elderly woman was standing, admiring l'lelen's little garden of ferns and heliotrope. Beth knew her as Mrs. Irving, and Bobby, the adored, turned around quickly at the sound of her voice. Oh, gasped Beth, starting back. This is my sister, Mr. Irving, Helen said, with an admiring glance at Beth. Oh, ah, how do you dof' he said mechanically, looking first at Beth and then at Helen, and ending in a whistle, as he always did when thing surprised him very much. l'low?-why--H Beth began stopped while a deep Hush spread over 'her face. ln a moment she was mas- ter. l-ler head came up, and she said calmly, even with amusement, Why, Helen, Mr. Irving and I are old friendsg he's my botany teacher. A strange little smile came into l-lelen's eyes that Beth didn't see. Yes, indeed, Beth and I know all about a hot laboratory and dande- lionsf, M1'. Irving laughed good- naturedly. low any- and