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

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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

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doctor tells him that theylmwe decided to give himlus freedom although he has served only twenty years of his sentence. And then they tell him why he is being released. HE HAS ONLY SEVEN DAYS. TO LIVE! Ks he ileaves the office he inwardly resolves to do the one thinghs has always wanted to dog the one thing he has lived for, and--and now only seven days. A bright yellowtaXi'gUded up to the curb and a beautiful young girl and her handsome escort stepped forth. After conversing earnestly they sep- arated and went step by step toward opposite corners. De- spite the rain they searched every inchcf the ground slowly and carefully, intent upon re- covering the lost article when she reached the man standingon the corner of South and Main. As she shyly lifted her per- plexed sea-blue eyes to him, a lookcf tenderness and humility flashed into the eyes of the man. Reaching into his pocket he drew out the tiny ring with the single bluesmoneand passed it to hero A. sigh of relief escaped the girl so close to him and a dimpled smile of gratitude was his rewardas she slipped the ring over a tiny gold band on her finger. When her companion called from the other corner s1e turnedto leave, waving a graceful hand to the man on the corner of South and Main. She joined her husband and together they ran up the long brick lane leading to the white house. They reached the entrance. As the girl stood by his side soft lights from the interior of the house formed a glowing halo around her head. Slowly the door swung back and the young man stepped inside. Once again the lovely lady in white turned to wave tothe man on the corner of South andhhhn and then she stepped into the lighted hall. The heavy oak door swung slowly back Tinto place n a o 0 The stranger continued to stand by the lamp-post long after she had left. I remember the hall clock striking twoand three. At last he started to leavq 2he seemed to have grown old in one night. Hisshoulders began to quietly quiver as he passed the long lane leadingin the fine house setcff the Main O D C 0 O I I 0 0 O I ' The last I could see of him, he was dragging himself into the dark shadows of a neighboring alley. The stars began to slowly fade away. All was quiet on the cornerof Scum and Main. ' --Bethelyn Sweatt