Astoria High School - Zephyrus Yearbook (Astoria, OR)

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lently out of the darkness came a milk- white man, in a milk-white boat, rowed with milk-white oars. It slowly crept near the shore, and, when within ten feet of the horror-stricken people, the man gave one yell, “Murder!” and then the apparition disappeared. All of this came to Fred’s mind as he sat right at the very scene of the story. He became uncomfortable: he tried to think of something else; he tried to smoke. Nonsense! he didn’t believe in ghosts, but somehow he was very strangely affected, and he began to wish that he and Daisy hadn’t quar¬ reled. He lokoed at the moon to be sure of its existence — and lo! the face in the niocn was enwreathed in a hide¬ ous, broad grin. A sort’of cold, clam¬ my feeling came over him. The beat¬ ing of his heart was annoyingly loud, and the dry leaves on the ground did make such a noise. To relieve the monotony of the hor¬ rible spell that had come over him, he picked up a pebble and threw it to see it skim along the water. He threw it tovard the west, but just as it reached the place where the boat had been wrecked it suddenly turned and almost instantaneously dropped into the wa'ter at the very spot of the wreck. The awful feeling that came over Fred is indescribable. Before he had thrown the stone the water was very quiet; but now it began to move and bubble, as if disturbed by an angry demon. And silently and steadily out of the water rose a figure, milk-white. It was eagerly looking over the side of a milk-white boat, which was rowed with milk-white oars. The boat rocked as the ghost gloomily stood up and waved' its white, elfish-shaped hat at Fred, who by this time had become weak and was unable to move. He wanted to yell, tO' do something, any¬ thing to break the horrible silence. As the ghost approached it took on the exact likeness of Daisy — the tall, slender form, the well-shaped head and flowing hair gracefully drooping on her rounded' shoulders. Yet it was so ghastly and unnatural! Slowly the boat drew near, but Fred could not move. He tried to call, but found no voice, while nearer, still nearer, came the phantom. It was within five feet of Fred, and eagerly he watched it, when suddenly it leaped at him. caught him by the hair, which was by this time standing on end, yelled “Murder!” with a horrible, un¬ earthly scream — and, oh! with that he awoke. “I am so glad it was a dream. It was all my fault that Daisy and I quarreled. I guess I'll go down to the house and see her.” THE TALE OE THE EROGGIE By Blodwen Davies. Down in a well on a great mossy rock which the sunbeams ne’er lighten. Alone in the dampness and darkness a little green froggie sat craoking. Pausing a moment as if he were listening for some far-off answer. Shrilly he’d keep up his calling; then, pausing, again he would listen. Soon in a neighboring swamp where the rushes grew thickest came answers — One. then another, another, until a whole chorus of voices .Joined in unmusical singing, though welcomed with gladness by alk For their voices did herald the spring¬ time and' pleasures of summer. Thus a small song in this great world of ours oft giveth joy unto many.

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an old man. No second glance was necessary to reveal his nationality. He was a second “Isaac of York.” These two men grasped the situa¬ tion immediately. Here was this old man, very rich, probably, left alone on the vessel, apparently because he would not part with his chest, which was too cumbersome to take on the life boat. At first the old man was not aware of the fishermen’s pr esence. Then Johnson stepped forward to speak to him and the pleased, sur¬ prised express on cii his face would have done one good to see; but, as his piercing eyes sharply scanned the countenances of his visitors, a look of terror overspread his ov n. After gaining his composure he of¬ fered them each five dollars if they would take him and his chest to land. Five dollars wouldn’t do. He kept in¬ creasing the offer until it r: ached half of all he had with him. At last John¬ son roughly informed him the price of his passage to land would be' all of his property. In vain the old man pro¬ tested, and at last, rather than part A STUDY with his goods, he resigned himself to fate. The bolder of the two fishermen seized and held him v hile the other laboric’.nly lugged at the chest. John¬ son then locked the old man in the r:o:ri and rushed off to help lower their heavy burden into the fishing boat. It was daylight by this time. The wind had' begun to raise and was soon blowing quite a gale. The fierce storm had abated on the ocean, but before passing away played some pranks on the river. Great waves ar ose. One of the men in the little boat was kept busy bailing, but, in spit: of their efforts, the sail gave a sudden lurch and the boat capsized, its cargo sinking to the bottom. These two fishermen, being excel¬ lent swimmers. succeJ'ded in keeping themselves afloat until some passer¬ by picked them up. With the ebbing of the tide the hulk was again carried over the bar and nothing more was heard concerning it cr its solitary occupant. IN WHITE By Winifred Higgins, ’06. Fred and Daisy had quarreled, and, Fred had' often heard the story how thinking that Daisy would follow him, theboat had been wrecked and all save Fred turned away and walked he knew one man had gotten safely to shore, not where. While in Daisy’s sight his and he, poor fellow! had been drown- head was up in the air, and he walked ed. The man who had been drowned with a deliberate mien, but when the was very disagreeable, and consequent- houses and the trees hid her from view ly greatly despised by his fellow-pas- his independent spirit left him and a sengers, whO' did not attempt to re- morbid, unapproachable mood came cover his body. A few nights later, over him. He walked on, on, and on, after the people had made themselves d'eeply buried in his thoughts. comfortab’e for the evening, the Walking up the beach he threw him- watchmen were alarmed by the hollow self on a log, and, after a short revery, lapping of the waves upon the smooth looked about him and discovered that shore and the sound of a boat plying he had walked almost to Tongue through the water. The trees whistled Point, and that he was directly oppo- and seemedi to scoff at the watchers, site the place where, many years ago, and the men afterward declared that one of the boats of the Astor party the moon actually laughed at them, had been wrecked. They looked toward the river, and si-

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THE APPLE BLOSSOM AND THE DANDELION By Mary Settem, 06. It was a bright and sunny May day; the wind was still cold, but “the spring Is come” was said softly from bush and brake, from field and stream, and a little apple tree which stood close by gave back the words in the gentlest of whispers. The little apple tree had one single bough just breaking into blossoms, and, so covered with its beautiful fresh buds, it Vr as a perfect picture to behold. It knew this quite well, so that it was not in the least surprised when a grand carriage which was passing along the road drew up before It and the young princess who sat in the carriage exclaimed, “Oh ! what a beautiful blossom, the loveliest apple- blossom of the season.” So one of her attendents broke off the bough: and, shading it with her silken para¬ sol, she carried it home with her to her father’s castle. The apple-blossom had never dreamed of such a place as that. On the table of a state drawing room was the blossom placed, and I am sorry to say it began to be very much lifted Up with its change of condition. Many people kept passing to and fro through the room and every one had some¬ thing to say about it as they looked admiringly at the beautiful bough. “What a difference there is between plants!” said one, which, of course, the apple-blossom took as a compli¬ ment to itself; and it held' its head higher than ever. The vase stood at an open window which looked down Into a garden and also into a field; so that there were many plants both wild and cultivated within sight, and with which it could compare itself. Some were very ordinary and com¬ mon. “Poor rejected plants,” said our friend in its contemptous pity; ’’there Is indeed a difference! How unhappy you must feel! at least, if you have feelings like we of the upper classes. But there must be a difference, other¬ wise we should all be alike.” As it made this remark, it fixed its atten¬ tion upon one kind of flower, with which the field was covered; that which grows everywhere, even be¬ tween the stones of the pavement; that which nobody cares for, nobody gathers because it is so common — the dandelion. “Poor despised creature!” cried the apple-blossom; “it is no fault of yours that you are so common; but you al¬ ways have been so and you always will be so; but as it is with men, so it is with flowers; there must be a differ¬ ence.” Something echoed back the word “difference;” it was the sunbeam, and it kissed the apple-blossom, and then the yellow petals of the dandelion; for the sunbeam makes no diffefence be¬ tween the favored and the unfavored flowers, it loves them all alike and counts them all as brothers. The ap¬ ple blossom had not thought of the Great God’s love for all His creatures, small as well as great; but the sun¬ beam knew better; he had come down from the very source of light, so of course it was all clear to him. “You do not see very far nor very well, my friend,” he said'. “Which is the poor weed I heard you pitying just now?” “The dandelion,” was the reply. “Nobody binds it into nosegays, every¬ body tramples it under foot; it is much too common, and when .it comes into seed it flies about, hither and thither, and sticks to people’s clothes, A weed it is and a weed it must re¬ main. How thankful I am that I am something better than that!” At that moment a little troop of