Auburn High School - Bulldog Yearbook (Auburn, NE)

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SCARLET AND GREEN 3 “JUST GREASERS” By Jessie Ciontley Clarke, 0 »» A LETTER? Oh dad, I’m so glad, they’re the l est things that hit this country.” A smile flashed for an instant into her gloomy face, hut it died out again when she had finished and turned to the window. “It's from Elizabeth,” she began to explain but broke off passionately—“I’m sick of sand and plains and snakes and greasers, I want to go back home—to Chicago, where there’s life. Oh don’t say it all over again. I know your defense back-ward’s and up-side-down.” she interrupted as her father started to speak. “Of course you think they need you here, but surely there are other doctors in the country. Elizabeth wants me to visit her, but of course I won’t leave you. Dad,” she ended more kindly. The doctor’s kind, tired eyes followed her wistfully as she left the room. And the old question arose in his mind. Was it right to keep her here when she hated it all so much? That desolate little corner of Texas represented all that she disliked. Her nature seemed to be only in atone with gaiety and frivolity. But surely she was not incapable of sympathy! He himself was so alive to the pain of othei-s that it hurt him keenly to think that his daughter was unsympathetic. He often told her of how parents rode for miles to get the medicine that would save their children’s lives. But she only said, “Don’t try to influence me into liking this wretched sand by playing on my sympathies. Besides they’re just greasers.” And her father would sigh and leave her alone. “If her mother was only here,” he often said, and then he would live a while in the past. He arose after some time and ordered his horse fora long ride in the hot sun to see a patient. Before leaving he sought his daughter. “Ethel I’m going over to McKeen’s ranch now, and I’m going to think over this thing of giving it all up and going back home; I don’t want to keep you-here against your will, child. But I must try to see the right thing, to do as your mother would have me. So perhaps I’ll have good news for you when I come back ,” he said, trying to smile. After he was gone Ethel stood at the window for a long time. Before her lay the long rows of low, “doby” stables. A lizard stretched himself lazily under a bunch of cactus. But her thoughts were far away, with a crowd of gay young people in Chicago. “Person asking for the doctor Miss,” said a servant at the door. “Who is it Jerry, just a greaser?” “No’um its a woman, specks you better see her Miss,” and the privileged African closed the door. The girl leisurely made her way to the rear of the house, where the doctor’s office was situated. But she quickened her step when she saw the excited movements and scared eyes of the Spanish woman, who stood in front of the office. She was untidy, though more respectable looking than most of her kind. Her dark, passionate face was the look of anxiety. She clasped and unclasped her long Angers nervously, as she tried to make her wishes known. She wanted the doctor quickly—yes, she had walked and the sun was hot, but it did not matter The doctor was not there?—Then the child would die. Ethel looked on half afraid of her wild ravings, when she learned it. But the woman collected herself and begged the girl to go with her. The child would die she moaned, and she was afraid to be alone. The girl moved by a sense of pity she had never felt before, left word for her father to follow as soon as he reached home, and went with the woman. The child had taken ill very suddenly while playing in front of the house, the woman explained on the way. Her husband was away from home on the range. When they reached the hut, she bent anxiously over the restless form of the child. It was flushed with fever and at flrst, Ethel was frightened, thinking it might be the dread disease. But her attention was occupied by the woman’s distress. Her husband soon returned. He was just a greaser, but his grief was pitiful.

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SCARLET AND GREEN Jessie Clarke Minnie Hath Krigrar ('line Clara Hickey I faille Workman Martin Sonders Yarro Tyler Walter York Bert Parker STAFF ( V “SCARLET AND HRKKV

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4 SCARLET AND GREEN The girl, whose sympathies were aroused to the fullest extent, wished with all her heart that she might do something to releive the suffering child, the long, restless, idle, hours she had spent, arose before her. How she wished she had learned some of the things her father could have taught her. Now she could only hope for his coming. fie came at last, surprised to find her there. But he could do nothing. It was a snake-bite, he said, and with immediate treatment the child could have been saved. Ethel went home with her father. Af- ter comforting her, in her sorrow over the scene she laid just witnessed, he told her of his resolve to take her back to their old home. “1 have decided that it is'nt right for you to waste your life here,” lie said. But to his surprise a small hand was pressed over his lips. “No—Don’t dad—They need you here and, I think in time they are going to need me. To-morrow I want you to show me how to cure a snake-bit, lets not talk about ourselves any more now.” “How like her mother, the child is,” the doctor murmered as he leaned back in his chair. BILLY’S BIRTHDAY PRESENT By Ha I lie Workman, 10 BILLY sat upon the high board fence, swinging his chubby little legs. He was six yeai-s old that day, and was feeling quite proud of the fact. Elsie, his little sister, stood on the ground looking up at Billy reproachfully, with teal’s in her big brown eyes. “Billy you know I can’t climb that fence, and besides I don’t want to.” “Girls can’t climb fences at all: all they know is to dress dolls and play house.” “I'm most a man now,” said ltoastful Billy “and of course I can't play dolls any more.” But Billy,” cried distressed Elsie, “you played dolls yesterday, and it was only the other day you made me such a nice doll hat, and—” But yesterday I was only five years old. Today I am six, don’t you see? But girls never understand. ” Well, I suppose they don’t,” sobbed poor Elsie, “but I don’t see why you can’t play dolls today, if you played with them yesterday.” “Hurrah! Hurrah! Here comes Uncle Will,” and Billy in his haste to get down, fell from the fence, but hastily jumped up, to run towards a young man, coming in at the gate. I told ma you’d come, 'cause you never miss my birthday,” cried Billy, as he threw himself into the arms of his uncle. Uncle Will swung his small nephew to his shoulders, just in time to catch little Elsie, as she ran joyfully to meet him. Of course, I wouldn’t miss your birthday, would I Elsie?” said Uncle Will; “but jump down, my little man, give me a chance to see sister Nan,” and Uncle Will ran up the broad veranda steps. When Uncle Will had removed the dust of his travel and eaten his dinner, he was dragged out doors by the children to see their pets. This was a yearly occurrence. for Uncle Will came to visit them each year on Billy’s birthday. He generally brought them a new pet, but this year, to Billy's and Elsie’s disappointment, he showed no signs of giving them anything. The coming of Uncle Will meant presents, lots of fruit and candy, and a general good time. It was no wonder then that the children were disappointed. They were restless all the time, they seemed to be expecting something, they knew not what, but down in their hearts they were really waiting for Uncle Will's presents. That evening while they were eating supper, Uncle Will glanced uneasily at Billy. “Billy, you seem unusually quiet this evening, and for your birthday, I think that is quite unusual.” Billy's chubby little face flushed, but he was silent. “I didn't give you your present today, ( Hon tin Hf! on Ut)