Athens Area High School - Athenian Yearbook (Athens, PA)

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26 THE ATHENIAN I e used to write a “billy-deuce” to Miss Peppar every day and everybody expected they’d get married, when he up and went to sea. Belle — Didn’t she ever hear from him ? Frank.—Naw, and I don’t believe he ever intended to come back although he said he would some day. Well, Miss Belle, I must be going on so’s 1 kin git all my mail delivered. Good-bye. Belle.—Good-bye. Frank. (She returns to the porch and reads letter aloud.) Miss Belle: I’m writing for my mother to tell you that if you don’t keep your dog home, she’ll have the constable shoot him. He was here today and almost spoiled our flower garden, so I guess you’d better keep him home. Yours truly, Thomas Peabody. Belle.—Why—why that insignificent little—(stops and begins to cry. W hy, my Jackie never got in his mother’s old flower bed. The idea of writing “Miss Belle” to me when I’ve always known him. I’ll never speak to him again and I—liked him—too. (She goes into the house crying.) Scene 2. (Peppar Home. Miss Peppar is in kitchen when some one calls.) Miss Peppar (going to the door).—Hello, Frank. Frank.—Hello, Miss Peppar. Here’s a letter for you. Gentleman’s handwritin’ too Looks kinda suspicious. Miss Peppar.—Now, Frank Trotter, don’t get funny. You know no man has interested me since Ed. went to sea. Give me my mail and go along with your funny talk. Frank.—I always thought I was popular with all the ladies in town, but I guess my popularity is decreasin’. First Belle Warren makes me move on when she got her letter from a genl-tleman and now it’s you. There’s nothin' left for me but suicide, I guess. Miss Peppar.—Yes, you poor man. If you are never going to get over talking this nonsence you might as well commit suicide. Who was Belle’s letter from? Frank.—From Thomas Peabody. Miss Peppar.—I notice that Tommy has been watching her pretty close lately. Well Frank, maybe we will all be invited to a wedding soon. You never can tell. Frank (joking).—Miss Peppar, you don’t mean Ed’s coming home, do you? Miss Peppar.—Who said anything about Ed? Go peddle your mail and leave me alone. (She enters house and reads her letter.) Dearest Belle: This will be sort of sudden I suppose, but I can’t keep it back any longer. You know I’ve loved you since the first time I saw' you. I haven’t got nerve enough to ask you to marry me when I see you but I guess a letter will do. Yours truly, Thomas Peabody. P' S. Answer Soon. Miss Peppar.—Well of all things, what will be happening next? The idea of that young rascal proposing to me. Why, when I was engaged to Ed., Thomas was a little boy, (Her mind goes back and she talks.) Ed. and I would have been married now if he hadn’t got that notion of bein’ a sailor’ He’s been gone thirteen years now and I’ve never heard of him. He said he’d come back some day but I guess he’s forgotten it. I guess the best thing to do with this letter is to keep quiet and treat Tommy the same as I always did and I think everything will come out all right. Act II. Scene 1. Peppar Home. (Miss Peppar and Belle are talking.) Belle—Have you seen Tcmmy lately, Miss Peppar? Miss Peppar (thinking Belle knew of her letter).—No, but I expect him to drop in some time today. Belle.—Oh, well, I must be going then. I don’t want to see him. Miss Peppar.—Why not ? Belle.—Because he wrote me a note the other day and told me to keep my dog out of hit mother’s

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THE ATHENIAN 25 As they slowly approached the house she read the letter once, twice, three times. She looked up, her eyes shining. “Oh, Daddy, Daddy,” she cried. “You will not have to work so hard any more. Aunt Elizabeth is dead and she has left the entire estate to me.” Suddenly she noticed a sad expression cross her father’s face. He glanced at the house, lawn, and beautiful surroundings and sighed. When he spoke he had perfect control of his voice. “I suppose, dear, that you will want to go back to the city and its society. Perhaps we can buy the old home back again.” Marjory glanced at her father and then her eyes went to the new ring on her third finger. “No, Daddy, I have learned to love this little house and I will stay here with you and— John.” Alice Lindslev ’20, Dorotha Dettra ’20. THE WRONG LETTER Act I. Scene 1. Peabody Home (Thomas Teabody is chasing a dog from the garden. Mrs. I eabody stands in doorway.) Thomas Peabody. Eey! get out of here. Do you want to spoil all them flowers fer my mother ? 'Throws stone at dog.) Git out of here or I’ll hit you with a rock. Mrs. Peabody.—Tommy, do chase that dog out of here before he destroys my flower bed. I didn’t have any flowers last year on account of that dog and it did not do a bit of good to tell Miss Peppar to keep him tied up. Thomas (after chasing dog awayi. Gee, ma, that dog is awful. Te bothers everyone in town I guess. Mrs. Peabody. I know. Tommy, and it is a shame too. You come in and write her a note and tell her that if she don’t keep her dog home we will have the constable shoot him. Of course we wouldn’t, but maybe she’ll try to keep him home then. Thomas. All right, ma, maybe that will make her keep him home. (Coes to room; sits down and looks at photo he picked up.) Thomas (to himself).—rCh, gee! but it’s awful to be in love with a nice young girl and ain’t got nerve enough to pop the question. I almost did this afternoon, but I always get a sort of shaky feeling and back down. (I is face brightens up.) I know what I’ll do. Maybe it won’t work out good but I’ve read of it in books. I'll propose by proxy—naw, that ain’t it, but it is proposin’ by writin’ a letter anyway. I’d better write that note to Mis Peppar too. If her dog don’t keep out of ma’s flower bed. she’ll have her arrested. (Sits down and writes. Mother enters.) Mrs. 1 eabody.—Tommy, are you writing that note to Miss I eppar ? Thomas.—Yes, ma, here it is. (l ands note to mother who starts to read it.) Mrs. Peabody.—Why, Tommy, what is this? (Thomas grabs note from mother’s hand.) Thomas.—That’s the wrong one. I ere is the letter to Miss Peppar if it’s all right. (l ands the letter to his mother.) Mrs. Peabody. Well, it’s short but to the point. (Mrs. Peabody leaves the room.) Thomas.—Well, that’s done, thank goodness. I might as well take them down and mail them. (He leaves the room.) Act 2. SCENE 1. Warren Tome. (Belle Warren sitting on front porch) Belle. T here comes the postman. I bet he’s got some mail for me ’cause he’s coming in here. (Runs down to gate.) Belle (to postman).—Pello. Frank, got any mail for me today ? FYank.—Yep. Got a letter here for you. Look’s like somebody’s handwriting you and me knows. Belle.—Why, Frank Trotter, you shouldn’t be examining my mail. Frank.—No offense, Miss Belle. But you see ’twas mailed here in town so 1 couldn’t help but know who ’twas from. Reminds me of the days before Ed. Summers joined the navy.

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THE ATHENIAN 27 flower garden or he’d have the constable shoot him. My dog never got in their flower bed, but he had to write that old letter. (Miss Peppar suspects something because her dog had often caused trouble in the neighborhood. Tommy goes by.) Miss Peppar.- Just a minute. Belle. (Goes to the door and calls Tommy.) Miss Peppar.—Tommy, come here, will you ? (Tommy enters room.) Tommy (a bit nervously). Hello, Belle. Belle (coldly).—Fow do you do, Mr. Peabody. (Tommy looks surprised.) Miss Peppar.—Now, children, no quarreling until I find out what’s the matter. Tommy, did you send me a letter the other day ? (Belle looks at her surprised.) Tommy.—Yes. Miss Peppar.—Well, I got one from you and I certainly was surprised to receive a proposal from you. Tommy and Belle gasp and look at each other.) Tommy.—Why-------- Miss Peppar.—Now wait just a minute. Tommy, did yousend a note to Belle, too ? Tommy (hesitating).—Yes. Miss Peppar.—What did you say to her ? Tommy (trying to seem brave).—Why, I asked her tomarJy me. Miss I eppar — Now cu two see that scrr.ethirg is wrcrg. I got the letter intended for Pelle and she got mine. quiuioy.—v hy, 1 must have pvt them ine wrong envelopes. Miss Peppar. Yes, Tommy, I think you did. Belle, Tommy meant to propose to you instead of me. I’ll leave you alone until you settle this. 'Miss Peppar leaves the room.' Tommy. -Ch. what an awful mess! You mad at me and maybe Miss Peppar thinkin’ of suing me for breach of promise. Ch, I’m a ruined lad! Belle (laughing). Oh, Tommy, not as bad as that. I’m not mad at you and I don’t think Miss Peppar will sue you for breach of promise because you know she promised to wait for Ed. to come back. Tommy.—Do you think he’ll ever come ? Belle—Yes, I think he will, some day. (A man enters the room with Miss Peppar.) Ed. Summers.—And you’re right, too. 1 said I’d come back and here I am. Miss Teppar (laughing at their astonishment Don’t you two know Ed.? He’s certainly come back although I never expected to see him again. I thought he had forgotten about his promise. Ed. Summers. -Fergit nothin’. I’ve come back to git married and settle down. Tommy (with enthusiasm’. Let’s make this a double wedding—that is if Belle is willing. (He turns to Belle.) Belle. All right. Tommy, if you won’t have the constable shoot my dog. Ari.eigh Wiggins ’20, Aileen VanDyke ’20. SNAPSHOTS Most Musical Greatest Enthusiast Funniest Most Carefree Pest Cook Most Silent Most Smiling Fp t Sinapr Dorothy Stevens Anita Thorp Pauline Lynch Elizabeth Allis Kathryn Birney Anna Smith Marjory Cotton Aileen Van Dyke Most likely to Succeed Pest Natured French Shark Most Studious I east Conspicuous Most likely to be a Teacher Movie Actress Ruth Dibble Florence Kellogg Arleigh Wiggins Kathryn McClarty Myrtle Jones Myrtle Havens Letha Kinner