Ashtabula High School - Dart Yearbook (Ashtabula, OH)

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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-

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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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24 S E N I 0 R N U M B E R Lost, Conti n u c d nonce. If you will do this I'll introduce you to Jean Clinton. Any fellow would go through lire and water for a chance like that. Is it a go? “There’s my hand, responded his brother with great promptness, “which house shall I tackle.” “I’d go to that big white one over there if I were you. It looks rather friendly, and as if its inmates might take pity on two stranded innocents. You had better hurry so we can gel started back.” As Dick disappeared around the house Ned fell hack upon the grass, helpless with laughter. At last he managed to gasp: “Too easy, too easy.” In the meantime Dick made his way to the back door and. having summoned all his courage, rappe I feebly, lie did not look up as the floor opened, but mumbled a few words about “a bite to eat.” Won't you come in a minute?” inquired a feminine voice, so marvelously sweet and musical that instinctively Hichard raised his eyes. He dropped them immediately and a dull red glow slowly ovei -spread his countenance. “Matilde,” said the vision to the maid, please get some food for Mr.—” Brown, said Dick quickly. There’s some cold chicken and lots of other things in the refrigerator, Matilde. I got them for my spread, but we can prepare a few for—Mr. Brown. While you get them I'll make him some ehocolab . Did you say your brother was waiting outside? calmly inquired the young lady. Yes. said Dick, and again he flushed as he met a pair of mischievous brown eyes. The dimples came and went in the girl’s cheeks. She was sure that this was Ned Huberts’ brother, for there was a marked resemblance between the two, and besides she was well acquainted with Ned’s propensity for practical jokes and knew that he would lose no opportunity to trick his freshman brother. She liked a joke herself, and although she felt sorry for Dick, she could not resist the temptation to tease him. She seated herself on the opposite side of the kitchen table and began to pour bis chocolate. “What is your line of work?” she asked in an interested tone. Bricklayer. said Dick, desperately gulping down a piece of pie. “Oh! Is it hard to obtain work this fall?” she inquired, leaning on her elbows and cupping her chin in one while hand. Yep, said Dick, with more force than elegance, as he hastily arose. Thank you very much for your kindness. Miss, and, grabbing his bundle, he rushed headlong from the house. He found Ned sitting on the lawn and together they walked down the quiet street. Suddenly before their eyes there stretched a mighty park with many large buildings all ablaze with light. Dick stared in amazement, a queer uncertain feeling stirred in his heart. He looked at Ned with great intentness. Suspicion filled his mind, and when Ned began to laugh he could restrain himself no longer. Ned. w—what are these buildings? They look almost like c—college buildings. he began in a low, shaky voice, as the significance of his brother’s laughter came to him. You don’t mean that you have bamboozled me all along and all this time we have been in the right place—oh gosh!” Exactly, dear brother! I congratulate you upon your remarkable perceptive powers, (lee! It seemed too good to work, hut you bit. You sure are the original sucker. And the house where I went begging—what was that—ITexy’s residence?” growled the enraged Dick. “Calm yourself and prepare for the worst. It was the sorority house of the most aristocratic set of girls in the school. Dick said nothing, for obviously there was nothing to he said, but lie kicked himself figuratively speaking and made secret vows of eternal vengeance against his brother. At length his curiosity conquered his pride and resentment, and summoning his voice from the depths to which it had sunk, he said: “Who was the girl—John I). Hockefeller’s daughter I suppose? “Ah! So there's a girl in the case. The plot thickens. She was probably prowling in the kitchen looking for something for a spread. What did she look like?” I don't know,” answered Dick, but as he spoke the picture of the girl came before him. She had big. brown eyes, dimples, teeth and hair, and oh! I can’t describe her, but she looked all right, believe me. She was a queen, and just look what a simp 1 made of myself.” Cheer up, she’ll forgive you and like you all the better. I wonder who it was—do you suppose—? Say. I’ll bet that was Jean Clinton. When she wrote to Katherine last week she said she was going to give a spread tonight. This is rich! “Jean Clinton—I wonder, said Dick, and he remembered the shadowy dimples in her cheeks, the quick glances from her dark eyes and the flash of her white teeth. Maybe she didn’t utterly despise him even if he had been tricked like a silly little fool. Perhaps, in time, she would even come lo like him— Four years later, when the girls at Jean Clinton’s announcement party gathered around her and demanded the story of the happy couple’s first meeting, there was a whimsical smile around Jean’s mouth as she arose in response to their clamor. “Girls, I wouldn’t dare tell you about it.” she said laughing happily, “all your romantic ideals would be shattered. You see—Dick and 1 met in the kitchen.”