Albion High School - Chevron Yearbook (Albion, NY)

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0l l THE CHEVRON I l 0 That's just it, Bill. I can't, lamented Alan, because I'm the unlucky guy that's going to take her. Help, help! How come? Fan me, quick, somebody! Not so, Al. I won't believe it. How about those darling little babies, Betty and Letha? Yeah, what's the matter, anyway? Well, if you fellows will just be a little patient, I'll give you the low-down on the affair. Been keeping it to myself so long I'm kinda glad to get rid of it. Alan settled himself more comfortably and began his tale with vigor. On the way to school yesterday morning I was strolling along trying to de- cide whether I would take Betty or Letha to the prom. I knew that if I took one, the other would be mad, because I've been going kind of steady with both of 'em. Well, as I said, I was walking along, when who should cross the street and join me but Stuffy Ivers! I had heard him going around begging everybody to take his sister to the prom, but I decided to be rather decent to him because I was already sure of either Betty or Letha. Well, about the flrst thing he said was, 'Won't you take my sister to the prom, Alan?', and, do you know, fellows, all at once I saw my chance. I was darn sure Stuffy couldn't get any- body else to take his sister, so I thought I might settle my own difficulty by taking her myself. Then I w0uldn't have to decide between Betty and Letha. So without thinking further, I accepted, and I've been suffering ever since. Every time I think of what an old-maid she'll probably be I feel just like back- ing out! Don't you even know her name, Al? demanded Jack. Oh, yes, but that's the extent of it. Her name, my friends, is Miss Susan Elizabeth Ivers. Whew, can you beat that? Is she really such a prim? Hasn't she got a shorter handle? I know no more about it than you fellows do, so why ask me? By the way, how many of you fellows are going to exchange dances with me? I've got to get somebody for every dance. How about you, Jack? Well, Al, I can let you have about two, I guess. I'm not crazy about it, mind you, but I'll do that much for your sake. You can have the fourth and seventh, if that will help you out. Thanks, Jack. That'll be fine. Now, Sandy, how many have you got that you can relinquish? Well, I don't know, Al. I've got mine all arranged and I hate to give any up for the old-maid Ivers. I tell you, I'1l wait till tonight. If I find she can dance, I may take a few of them. All right, Sandy. I may have her program all filled, anyway, by then. Bill, I know you want some. Just two, Al. Make it the the third and eighth. That's all right, Bill. I don't imagine many of the other fellows will give me any. They don't like to take chances. Say, is that clock right? I'll have to get home. The family's going out to dinner, and I'm supposed to go over to the Ivers early to kind of get acquainted before the big event. Miss Susan Elizabeth has been visiting her great aunt in Rivermore and hasn't even seen her new home in this town yet,Jso her homliness will be a surprise to every- one. With a heave and a groan, Alan slowly elevated his long frame and moved Page Seventeen

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0I llill l THE CHEVRON sit o CINDERELLA IVERS Are the decorations all ready, Jane? Are you sure Spud brought the balloons? Yes, he brought them, but- Oh Bab, did your dress get here all right? Say, Jim, I've got a last-minute girl for you. Some looker, too. Wait'll you see her! Amid such evidently happy preparations for a mid-year prom, Alan Baird plodded along the hall in deep dejection. Oh. yes, they can all go about making plans. They aren't under a terrible handicap. Honest, I'm in a worse fix than any fellow playing football could possibly imagine. Why did I ever do it? What a state of mind for the most popular fellow in school! As several pretty co-eds approached him for a confidential talk, they were actually frightened away by his appearance. His ordinarily sleek dark hair was rumpled in a very disturbing manner, the well-formed brows met in a most unpleasant, decisive frown, and his heretofore smiling grey eyes seemed glued to the ground. What could be the matter with him? When he neared the boys' locker-room, Alan suffered an inward twinge of pain-or was it jealousy? Of course, all the fellows in there would be talking about the girls they were expecting to bring tonight, and what had he to offer in the line of such conversation? A homely old-maid, probably, who couldn't dance and didn't know how to be a sport! The kid hadn't given any of the particulars in the case and he was free to imagine anything. Where was Stuffy Ivers, anyway'? If he could find him, he had half a mind to back out. But no, he couldn't! The girl was going to arrive in about two hours, was probably on her way now. As Alan paused on the threshold of the dreaded room, he met the inquiring eyes of the fellows in his crowd, who were all lined up exclaiming and talking in unison. They hailed him. Hey, Alan, when are you going to reveal the monstrous secret? Which one are you taking tonight, Betty or Letha? Yes, who's the lucky one, Al? Have you got your dance program all filled out? The dejected hero slumped down into a handy and vacant chair. He had put off the evil hour long enough. He supposed he would have to give the fel- lows fair warning of what they were to expect when he entered the gym that night. He began: Say, boys, have you heard that measly Stuffy Ivers going around here for the last week? Heard him? Why a fellow would have to be stone-deaf not to hear that whining cry! Yeah, contributed one youth Sandy, employing a high falsetto, Won't one of you fellows take my sister to the prom? You know she's new to this town and hasn't got acquainted yet. Please, somebody take her. You wouldn't want a young girl to be lonely and disappointed on such a night, would you? Young girl, me eye, Sandy! l'l1 bet she don't look a day over thirty, if you ask me. Same here, Bill. Well, boys, this isn't finding out Al's secret. That's so, Jack. Come on, Al, show us you can beat the old-maid Ivers. Page Sixteen

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Ol !llZl l THE CHEVRON ! l 0 toward the door. Well, so long, boys, see you later! Amid the vociferous utterances and condolences of his friends, our martyr betook himself to the out-of-doors and thence homeward. He was still gloomy, although somewhat lighter in spirit since he had laid his burden upon his friends' awed and sympathetic ears. As he neared the front walk of his home, he quickened his steps somewhat, for maybe there had been a last minute telephone call that she could not come. But, alas, when he entered, he saw his mother's face at the living-room window with the same placid, pleased look which it had worn when he had first im- parted to her the information that he was taking a lonely, new little girl to the party. How could she be so pleased when she must know that the mere thought of that old maid bored and sickened him to the limit! Well, mothers were certainly funny. Oh Alan, dear, she called, as he was divesting himself of his coat in the hall, I just had a telephone call from that Mrs. lvers, the mother of the sweet little girl whom you are taking tonight. Her mother had such a nice voice, I'm sure Susan must belong to a quiet respectable family. Respectable to grass! Her daughter's probably too respectable for this day and age, muttered Alan to himself, as he proceeded to climb the stairs to his room. What was that, Alan? inquired Mrs. Baird. I just said that it was nice that she belonged to a respectable family, came from the top of the staircase. As he was changing his clothes, Alan thought over the prospects for the evening and felt depressed in his innermost soul. He knew he'd have to dance almost every dance with her, because none of those fellows he'd met on the way home would give him any dances. Well, he was in for it, anyway. He de- cided to prolong his dinner as much as possible so that there should be less time for getting acquainted with the Ivers. Goodness knows, he hadn't the least desire to become acquainted with 'em. if wk 1 ll ll C l When Alan and his partner entered the gayly lighted gymnasium that night, every eye was focused upon them. First, there was an audible gasp of astonish- ment, and then- the boys moved as one man to be presented to this bewitching creature with the curly blond locks and the laughing dark eyes. VVhere had she dropped from, and where was the old maid lvers? But what was Alan saying as he introduced his chum, Jack? Miss lvers, may I present Jack Carrol? And then, No, Sandy, the dances are all taken. I'm sorry but you can't have even one. I wouldn't give any of mine to anyone! From then on the evening and the crowd belonged to Sue Ivers. She held the boys, at least, in the hollow of her small hand. Introductions were sought, even besought, dances were cut in upon, and wherever Sue's exquisite yellow lace frock was to be seen, its wearer was surrounded by a bevy of dark-coated youthsg not in the least of whom was Alan, who was perfectly able to main- tain the privileges due an escort. But the triumph of the evening for Alan was the conversation in the boys' cloak-room just before the dance broke up. Sandy, Jack and Bill gathered around him and demanded in one voice. Say, Al, you knew all the time what she was really like, didn't you? You just tried to kid us, you know you did! Oh, what joy to be able to smile knowingly and walk away! -Evelyn Hamilton. Page Eighteen