Ashtabula High School - Dart Yearbook (Ashtabula, OH)

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SENIOR N U M B E R The Color of the Anne had thought to remain in town another day, Init she suddenly decided to lake the afternoon train for Cabot in order to superintend the last Saturday issue of The ‘Times under her editorship. Perhaps Al. who was her advertising man, would continue the paper, hut if he didn't she would simply close it up and sell at the first chance. She looked around al the people in the train, hut she did not like them. They tired her. She was uncertain of what she did want until it suddenly flashed upon her. She wanted to sit before a blazing lire with Alice on her lap and listen to Mrs. Foster tell of Mrs. Andrew’s chickens. The next morning she sal at her desk by the window with her pen poised over a letter to the editor in New York. She had written: “After duly considering your proposition I have decided that- ” She knew then she had not decided that she would accept and she looked out of the window, up the hill where she discovered that the bright sun was turning the grass green and that the gray firs stood lip against a bright blue sky dotted with fleecy white V e s t , Continued clouds. A robin was building a nest in a tree nearby and painters, half way up the hill, were applying a coat of snowy white paint to the grayest house of all. Utile Alice Foster came running down the street with a bunch of yellow dandelions in her hand. A smile came over Anne’s face and she finished her sentence. “I have decided that I must refuse your oiler. There is work and opportunity here that I must not neglect and friends that I will not.” A sentence she had read in her magazine on the train the evening before came to her mind. “It’s not the color of the vest that matters, hut the color of the heart underneath. “Here their vests are gray, but their hearts are bright, while in New York it is just the other way. I am going to look al hearts after this. Oh. Al. if you are going to the poslolTice will you mail this letter for me? Oh. yes! and I’ve something to tell you. Ve are going to run a fashion page in The “Times.” 1 think the women here in Cabot will enjoy it. L o s r Second Prize Story SHIRLEY PECK— 15 (il’KSS 1 won’t go with Barbara any more. said Dick complacently, “she’s a pretty girl and I like her, hut she is a punk dancer, she doesn’t make good candy, and she laughs too much. Anyway, a high school junior shouldn't expect attention from a college man. When I gel down to school I’ll pick out the best looking, most popular girl there, and I’ll go with her. His mother smiled and said nothing. She was very proud of her handsome, athletic young son, and his self-assurance only amused her. His sister, Katherine, however, viewed the matter with less calmness. Is that so. she retorted, “I wonder if it ever occurred to you that maybe it won’t be a case of your dropping Barbara, hut it may be just the other way. Ellen Browning told me yesterday that Barbara wasn’t going around with you from this lime on. Barbara said that she just hated that green necktie you insisted upon wearing, your mouth was too big and you were positively the most conceited fellow she ever knew. So there, smartie. Another thing, Dick, did you ever pause to think that when you have discovered the most popular girl in the college perhaps there will be others beside you who will desire her company. There might even be one whom she would prefer to you.” “I bet she’d take me if she got a chance, asserted Dick in a tone that he strove to make confident. As for that tale about Barbara, I suppose you manufactured it for the occasion—not that I would care if it was true. I should worry either way. I— He was interrupted by the entrance of his older brother, a tall lad with mischievous blue eyes, a large humorous mouth, a stubby nose and a fair skill. Ned Roberts had the power of making friends despite his tendency for practical jokes. Just now he was in an especially happy mood, which indicated that lie had some plan on foot. As he slammed the door he shouted: “Dick, you’d better go finish packing your trunk. We’ll have to catch the three o’clock train.” Bless you, Ned, said Mrs. Roberts with an amused smile, Dick has had that trunk packed for at least two weeks. The expressman will come after your baggage in a few minutes. You’d better gel your things on. for it is time you were going. As the boys were scrambling into the wraps, she continued: “Now, Dick, if you get sick send for me at once, and don’t forget to write me once a week and tell me the news. Look after your brother. Ned. and don't play any more jokes on him than you can help.”

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S E N I O R N U M B E R 21 The Color of the Anne was surprised l find herself going in, for she had had no such intentions a moment before. She was ushered up the steps and through the door into a living room, whieh surprised her with its cheery tire. After Mrs. Foster had divested the newcomers of their wraps, she led the way to the kitchen. It seemed to Anne that she had never seen so many children together before, and such a racket ensued that she would fain have placed her hands over her ears. A tally-pull was the occasion and everyone seemed to he enjoying it greatly. Soon she found herself possessed of a large sticky lump of taffy, and she was instructed to “pull it by Hilly. She pulled and pulled and was surprised to find herself proud of the luscious white pieces which she finally carried to the living room. There she and Mrs. Foster sal before the fire while the children romped and Mrs. Foster talked. Anne heard the names and histories of the live Foster children and all of their accomplishments. She heard, too, of how the croup had threatened Alice no longer than a week ago. Finally the conversation turned to the neighbors and Anne heard of Mrs. Andrew’s chickens and the marvelous number of eggs they bad laid. They ended with a discussion of whether the minister’s rheumatism would become better here or if he ought to go to a different climate. Anne went home puzzled. She did not know whether she was amused or touched, whether she was bored or interested, but she did know that she had not missed the butler, that she had been invited to return whenever she should wish, and that Billy had run to bring in The “Times as soon as it had been thrown on the porch. She decided to take the earliest train the next morning for New York. At the station the station master greeted her with a cheery “Good morning. Miss Havelock. You’re getting an early start today. Going far?” .lust to New York,” Anne answered. “Well, I sorla guess you’re going to have a pretty nice day to do your traveling. For the first time Anne noticed that the sun was peeping up over the hill and that the air had a spicy, spring fragrance in it. Several other people who were standing on the platform spoke to her, and, impatient to reach her destination, she climbed into the train. She went direetlx to her old office, where she was greeted with great joy, and asked if she hadn’t had enough of the “simple life” and wasn't ready to return to “Little Old New York. She laughingly refused to tell and was offered her old position with a slight increase in salary. It was just what she wanted and she was delighted, but it was not policy to show it, so she promised to think it over and write her answer in a day or two. Vest, Continued “Good-bye, Cabot,” she sang to herself as she walked briskly up the street. She had an appointment to lunch with a friend at her favorite tearoom at noon, and she determined to spend the two intervening hours buying herself a number of pretty gowns. She went gaily to the store where she was accustomed to buy and prepared to revel in fine clothes. She was disappointed, however, for somehow she did not find a great amount of pleasure in making her purchases. It seemed rather shallow to her as she looked from one beautiful gown to another. They were none of them to be compared in beauty with Alice Foster's golden curls and blue eyes. She finally purchased hut one simple dress and was rather shocked as she thought about it later, to remember that it was of that hated color—gray. She looked at the people about her. They were all hurrying, hurrying, each one pushing himself forward with no thought of his neighbor. They were stylish, but they were not interesting. They all rushed forward and were gone out of your life in a moment. There was no one whom you would recognize again; no one who would speak a friendlx word to you; no friends. Anne had a wild thought when she wished she could see only their backs. When you saw their faces you were disappointed. Their clothes were all different, but the expression on their faces all alike. Hach person was merely a part of the crowd. She met her friend at the appointed place and was greeted effusively, hut try as she might all her words seemed hollow. What did she, Anne, count for among so many? Now in Cabot she was a personality- hut she shook herself impatiently. Anne ale her deliciously cooked food almost silently, answering a few words to her friend’s long tales of the dinners and dances and plays which she had attended, and. at last, of the latest scandals in society. Finally. Anne, wondering what connection there was between Mrs. So-andSo's latest divorce and Alice Foster’s croup that the one should suggest the other, asked about her companion’s little daughter. “How is Adela? You haven’t told me about her yet. Does she still remember Aunt Anne?” “Oh, I suppose so, I really haven’t much time io give to her, and then Marie is such a splendid nurse that I need not worry. As I was saying, everybody thought that she really didn’t care anything about him any way. so when he----” Anne gasped. Had she reallly ever thought Adela well cared for, when her mother would rather talk of some town scandal than of her adorable liltl daughter? She remembered Mrs. Foster holding the tired Alice in her lap and laughing as Anne spoke of the work she would have in cleaning up after the party.

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Dick gave his mother and sister a pcrfunelorx and embarrassed kiss, grabbed his suitcase and dashed forth with his brother Ned. The train had pulled in when they reached the station and soon they were well on their way. Richard was happy and excited, he felt that he was about to step into a new world, a world made chiefly of athletics, pretty girls, moonlight serenades and thrilling adventures. He listened eagerly to Ned’s easy conversation, which dealt chiefly with a certain young lady named Jean whose beauty, vivacity and charm had never, so it seemed, been equalled. All tin college hoys were willing victims and Ned cheerfully admitted that he was numbered among the wounded. He warned Richard that if he wished to preserve his heart intact he had better keep out of the girl’s way. Dick, however, was undismayed. and despite these warnings he began to look forward to seeing her. As lie sal silent in his seal and looked at the flying landscape, his vivid imagination began to portray their first meeting— perhaps he would rescue her from drowning or save her life by stopping a runaway horse. He could see her pretty face as with tears in her eyes she thanked him for his noble deed. He would stop her with a few modest, eloquent words and she—but just then the train came to a stop with a sharp jolt and put an end to his dreams. The brothers jumped from the train and Dick surveyed his surroundings with great interest. Ned, however, had seen them many times before, and so with a curl hurry up” he started from the station. “Hey, Ned!” shouted Richard, “aren’t you going to take a cab or go over in a machine?” “We can’t very well unless we wait an hour,” responded Ned. “You see no carriages or autos meet this train. Scarcely anyone ever conies at this time, so it wasn’t worth while for them to come over. We had better walk, I think. It’s only three or four miles, and you wouldn’t mind at all. Come on.” In the still beauty of the twilight another day was being laid to rest, and as Dick walked along the warm, dusty road the silence of the dusk seemed to bring a feeling of peace and well being to his heart. After a time they came to a division in the broad road, one branch running toward the sunset and on; winding its way to the north, where the evening shadows were falling. Dick paused for a moment. “What road?” he asked. Ned stopped short, then said: It's the one to the west, 1 guess. No, that’s not right. Let me see, it’s the north road. Yes, that’s the one.” Sure? Whatever we do we don’t want to get on the wrong road, Gosh! but you certainly are brilliant. I hope after I have been over this road a few times I'll know my directions bettor than you do. You really ought to carry a compass. Some day, my child, you’ll get lost on the main street of your home town.” That’s right. Dick, rub it in. I was just confused for a minute. This is the road all right. I hope so for your sake. If it isn’t your life insurance man takes a big risk. Let's hurry now. it’s getting late. (ice! Ned, it seems great to realh be here, actually here in the college town,” he exclaimed, with a rapturous intake of his breath. I feel—well, for mercy’s sake, what is the matter with you.” N—nothing.” Ned gasped faintly. “That is nothing much. 1—we—that is to say—oh! thundering guns what will we do?’ Cut the Sarah Bernhardt stutf and come across with what's hurting you, snapped his brother. There, there, Dick. Don't gel excited. Y—you see I’m afraid we are lost. I can’t place a single thing in this blamed town. We must have taken the wrong road.” Lost! What do you mean, you big simp, you infinitesimal sliver of nothing? So we’re stranded in a strange town?” I’m sorry, awfully sorry, but it looks that way. We’ll go to the restaurant for supper and then start back. It’s tough luck, hut it can't be helped. As Ned spoke he reached in his pocket for his purse. His mouth dropped open and when he drew out his hand it was empty. “(Ice whiz! I’ve lost my pocket book. You big idiot! If you’ve got any more pleasant surprises produce ’em. If you wern’t bigger than I am, there would be another death notice in tomorrow’s paper. Well, you got us into this scrape, what are you going to do now?” Don't ask me. Shut up a minute and let me think,” Ned said angrily, and after a pause of a few minutes he exclaimed: I have it—the very thing. Listen, because we will have to act quickly. You go hack to one of these houses and pretend we are beating our way to the next town. Tell them you’d like something to eat and something to carry to your brother, who is loo bashful to come in. It will he great fun.” Wow! You prince of ignoramuses, dream on. Do you think I would go begging just because you didn’t know enough to find your way over a perfectly familiar road? So you'll wait out here, will you, while I go in and do the prodigal son act? Well, it will be a hot day in January when I do. Oh! come. Dick, be a sport! I can’t very veil go to the door. This place is so near the college that I’d be very liable to run into some acquaintance. Nobody here is familiar with your handsome counlc-