Auburn Maine School of Commerce - Ray Yearbook (Auburn, ME)

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AT THE CORNER OF SOUTH AND MAIN A The thundering beat of rain against my window pane woke me from my restless slumf ber. With every passing second the rain seemed to he hurling itself fasterand faster toward the earth. A cool damp breeze blew the curtains back fromthe open window. The ticking ofthe grandfather clock in the hall almost boomed the time away. Finding sleep impossible, I slipped from beneath my warm covers and donned my well-worn robe. Slowly I crossed the room and looked outo the open window. As I peered out upon the wet world I turned the collar of my robe still higher-- the dampness seemedto penetrate my very bones. In the distance the dismal toll of the old church bell could be heard as it rang out the hour one. Everything was as dark as a pool of inkg the only light came from an electric street light directly -across the street. And then for the first time I saw glyg he stood there at the corner of South andNmh1 with eerie pools of light cast about him by the lamp, while the rain poured down upon him. As if seeking protection from the weather, he huddled down deeper into his thinand ragged black overcoat. Then he began to pace back and forth--back and forth--stopping every few steps to stare up a long and winding lane leading toa large white house set far off from the cobbled Main Street--and once again he would return to his constant pacing, back and forth, back and forth. Sud- denly he stopped and bent to pick a small object out of a pool of rain water. Slowly his eyes loweredto the tiny object. Like a man suffering from se- vere shock,he stumbled back to the post resting his bodylmav- ily upon it. In his tightly clasped hand lay a tiny ring with a single diamond-shaped blue stone. If I could have been close enough to see him more plainly I would have seen two large tears appearin those tired brown eyes and roll down withered sallow cheeks, All around him rain continued to fall, but his thoughts were up in the dark clouds of night... The long-awaited day had at last arrivedg outside the merry pealing of church bells laughedat the care-laden world. Nervously he paced to and fro over the thick green rugs. The click of an opening door was heard. With a quick motion his friend urged him to .hurry. Trembling a little,he followed into the candle-lighted cathe- dral. Standing before the altar he drew a quick breath and slipped his hand into his pocket. Yes, that dear little ring with the single blue stone was still there. The soft rus- tle of silk and taffeta could be heard. Looking down he saw her standing there so 'very, very proudly beside him. How beautiful in her simple gown cut to reveal the whiteness of her curved throat! The sweet smell of orange blossoms made a memorable perfume. At last she lifted her delicate head and smiled though her sea-blue eyes were damp with tears of joy. Never. could two people be more in love than they . . I continued to stand by my window. The rain fell more softly, and the white curtains atny side swished occasionaDy.

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l A quiet gray fog had crept in veiling the city in.a mantleof friendly warmness. The hall clock still ticked time away. In the far distance the howlof some tramp dog was carried.hmo the night. Focusing my eyes on the corner of South and Main,I found that the stranger still leaned against the post, con- tinuing to live in the land of memories . . . . It was early summer. Tom lazily, happy and contented, stretched out on the blanket. Turning his head slightly he looked at Ruth who was peace- fully sleeping, her' long dark lashes resting on rose-tipped cheeks. To him she became more beautiful day by day. The gur- gle of childish laughter came to him. His eyes wandered down the grassy slope. Sud- denly a dark head popped up and once again a tiny girl in a grassemained dress was vain- ly trying to catch the bril- liant gauzedike butterflies on wing. Propping himself upon the rough dark trunk of the apple tree, Tom leaned back in sheer happiness. He had every- thing he had ever wanted--life had been so good to him . . . The curtains at my window began to move quite freely. Black clouds rolleda carpet of darkness over the sky. A strong wind pushed the fog out to seag then concentrated on twisting the trunks of the stately elms until they shrieked in pain. The heavens opened releasing an ocean of rain. Even the weak light given off by the street-lamp seemed to shudder as the wind screamed. The man on the corner of South and Main- remained at his post while puddles formed dny lakes around his patched shoes. But he didn't even know how dreary and dark'dw weather had become his own thoughts had turned back the pages una time darker than even the weather . . . . He was standing in the Oakqmnelled court room. Sombre velvet drapes cut off all view of the outsideg thick rugs carpeted the floorg the judge, clothed in folds of black, turned to stare at him. On the face of every person in the room there reflected the same look of disgust and shame. Still facing him was'dB grave- faced jury that had just pro- nounced him guiltyzxm had giVG1 him a sentence of thirty yeana Like a heartbroken child he began to cry. Why, oh why had he been so thoughtless,so care- less? Now he had lost every- thingg first Ruth dying and now--this! They were even go- ing to make him give up all claims to his four-year-old daughter, the exact image of the one he loved so much. And now--and now everything was lost---THIRTY YEARS! . . . . The rain stopped as sud- denly as it began, leaving everything clean and fresh. Even the earth smelled gxd and friendly. Small streams played in the streetsemd occasionally a belated raindrop slid down from above. I saw the figure of the man on the corner of South and Main was still out- lined against the night. He reached into his pocketsg drew out a cigarette, and slowly lighted itghis thoughts travab ing with the thin blue curl of smoke . . . . It is a week ago todayg heis enteringthe dreary office of the warden. His old friend the prison doctoryisthere toon Their grave faces cause him to sense that something is wrong, something terribleis about to happen. At last the suspense is broken by Dr. Hardyg the