Ashtabula High School - Dart Yearbook (Ashtabula, OH)

Page 23 text:

THE DEBATING TEAM-NEGATIVE

Page 22 text:

THE DEBAT1NG TEAIVL-AF F IRMAIIVE

Page 24 text:

FIRST PRIZE STGRY AND THIS ONE STOPPED BY THE WAYSIDEH LOUISE TILLEY' '14 Equal were they in the tourney and equal on the battlefieldg equal also in the heart of a maid. The rays of the setting sun fell through the castle window on the fair face of the Lady Jocelyn, and slowly faded away. Still she looked into the dis- tance, and twilight darkened about her, leaving her still with her question unanswered. And the nightingale repeated it again and again, as he burst into song- VVhich shall it be? W'hich one, which one P -but he gave no answer. One by one the stars appeared in the dusky canopy above, and the summer night breathed softly upon her. She was aroused from her reverie by the clatter of hoofs, and saw, as she bent her glance, Sir Anton riding through the gate. He had returned from his quest victorious, and she knew he expected to win another boon. She fell to dreaming once more and broke the silence with a half-whispered question, Which one would turn back? Either -or both ? A sudden fire was kindled in her dark eyes. Lady Jocelyn had found her answer. The crimson curtains fell behind Sir Anton as he stepped from his chamber next morning. A'message from My Lady, Sir Anton, and Merwin, the page, bowed low. Her answer, at last, Sir Anton thought. Ahl womanis heart is always thus won. She must have heard of my victory. Aye, 'twas glorious! Well worth reward, He broke the seal deliberately, 'confidently, but as he read, a look of surprise came over his face. The Lady Jocelyn had written thus:- Obey this without question. When the sun is highest today, set forth by the forest road un- til thou comest to the edge of the wood. Take then the south pass to the Castle of Sir Kedric. If Sir Quentin has not reached him first, receive his message and return by the same way. One thing more: I shall give my answer, only if the victor returns in four and twenty hoursf' Sir Anton laid the message aside and smiled again.- Her demand is most easily fulfilled. I have covered the distance in full two hours less, when time was mine own. What thinkst thou, Anton, has not fair Jocelyn given thee advantage of some three or four miles? Does not favor smile on thee P - At this instant, another was smilihg also. The other was Sir Quentin, and in his hand he, too, held a message from the Lady Jocelyn. And does she think Sir Anton will bring back the message, My Beauty, when thou art in the field? She must know we have done far more for a prize whose value, compared with this, was a trifle to be thrown aside-no more.-Yet the world counted them great. At the appointed hour two of the noblest Knights of the Guard rode forth, brave and fresh in their youth as the earth herself, in all the hope of early summer, charmed as it were, by the love of a woman as the earth by her ardent wooer, June. And one left by the north gate, the other by the south. Full three hours before, another rider might have been seen, departing to the south, at full speed. Sir Anton's path led through the shady forest, where the sun shone like flecky gold through the green archways. It was nearly sundown when he reached the outskirts of the wood. His charger lifted high his head, and pulled the rein hard. Then he stopped, with pricked-up ears. And his master, as he listened, thought he heard a groan of despair. He rode on, and he became more cer- tain that he heard a feeble cry for help. There was a turn in the road, that brought him to the open plain and here his steed again sniffed the air and stood motionless. Before them, directly in their path, lay an old woman, whom Sir Anton recognized as one of the servants of his lord's retinue. O noble Knight, take pity, take pity! I can go no further alone. The way was long and the sun was hot. Help me, and she stretched her arms pleadingly. Sir Anton answered not. He thought of his vow to help the weak-. He thought of Lady Jocelyn. He thought also of Sir Quentin, passing by the other way. He looked down upon the high- way where their paths crossed. No charger had passed upon it recently. He was first. No, no, he could not turn back now to lose. And yet-. But no, his decision was made. He tossed a gold coin to the woman in the path, I am on a quest and have no time to pause. Take the gold. Another may pass here soon, and he rode away, his armor glistening, his head thrown back, but his heart was heavy.