Ball High School - Purple Quill Yearbook (Galveston, TX)

Page 126 text:

ixivzvzvi' W HIS AD Q 1121010 COMPLIMENTS OF TH E INTERST TE THEATERS MARTINI STATE QUEEN KEY TREMONT rn. - - W '25 WorId's X Most L' Complete Store A It Your Hbgertllos CALL 9346 sms cnmon sms nm. GaIveston's Most Complete Dept. Store FREE PARKING 23rd and Broadway Phone 1-4 9346 u1uiuioioio14110303 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 irzuinluzuinz

Page 125 text:

to remark to her companion, You know who that is, I suppose. Yes, isn't she .lane Martin ? just to show that she was up with the latest, one contributed, She and her mother came here just so they could be near her father. Can you imagine? Being loyal to a criminal! No, and just think, she'll be going to school here this year and might sit next to one of us. 'fNot me, if I can help itfl I was glad when they were gone. Their talk was stifling. The day grew hotter, the ground was scorching and dry. The voices of those thoughtless girls kept echoing back and forth, and then the ex- pression on Janeys face would come to me. Oh, those thoughtless girls! VVe had an early fall this year. By the beginning of school my branches were already a little lighter, and the leaves that still clung had already changed their summer green for the reds and browns of autumn. It was good to see all of the familiar faces together once again. They all seemed willing enough to begin a new school year, but everywhere there were still remnants of summer. Most everyone wore a coat of sun tan left over from vacation, and they carried with them the atmosphere of summer freedomg though some had a more serious, determined expression in their eyes than was there when school had closed. There were a lot of faces that I missed-the faces of those who had graduated and gone on into the world. But there was an equal number of new faces. I looked for Jane, but it was a whole week before I saw her. The lunch bell rang, which stirred up the whole school at once. A group of laughing girls had assembled under my branches to eat their lunches and exchange experiences. f'Gee, Betty, wasn't that the worst history test you've ever taken?,' Oh, it wasn't too bad, but I think it was mean of Miss Rodgers to pop it on us without a warning. Oh, Rose, you should be in my English class. You know, that cute Richard Brown is in there, and today the teacher moved us around and he sits right behind me. I can't wait until English period now. 'KI don't know what you see in him. I can think of millions of boys I'd rather have sit behind mef' One man's opinion. Say, are you all going to Mary's birthday party ? I never found out if they were going or not, because I lost track 123

Page 127 text:

of their conversation when I saw Jane coming down the sidewalk. She was alone, walking along as if she were not concerned about the others, as if she were alone of her own choosing. But I caught the hungry look in her eye. She had obviously eaten her lunch, it wasn't food for which she hungered. I watched the expression on her face and could see her mustering up courage as she approached the little group under me. They were girls in her class and she had made up her mind to be very friendly to them, and maybe they would ask her to join them. But when she reached them, all she could force out was a weak Hhel1o and a timid smile. They turned toward her, said their dutiful hellos, and turned away. As I was saying, Betty, you must come home with me after school so I can show you my new formalf' Jane walked on and disappeared through the door. A wind came up, and I sprayed them with my dryest leaves. The bell rang and they went in, laughing and brushing leaves from their hair. 21 is Pls Dk Pk The winter was bitter. My bare branches made a harsh outline against the cold sky. Almost every leaf had died, and in Jane some- thing had died, too. She came to school and went home immediately after school, always keeping to herself. I-Ier only interest was in her studies. She worked hard and made top rank grades. She had come to realize a lot of things. To her, our school was filled with nothing but selfish, snobbish girls and conceited, thoughtless boys. So why should she even bother about themg why should she care if they were her friends or not? 'Why should she? But she did. School was dismissed and Jane started home bareheaded. It was colder outside than she had anticipated, so while carrying her books in one hand, she tried to tie her scarf with the other. A gust of wind picked it up and carried it away before she knew what was happening. Turning around to retrieve it, she was confronted with the smiling face of Alfred Gerrick. In his hand was a blue scarf exactly like the one that had just blown away from her. Dropped something, he smiled. Oh, thank you. The wind really surprised me. Here, let me hold your books while you put it on. I haven't seen anyone yet who could tie a knot with one hand. V I guess it was kind of silly of me to try. Jane put the scarf on as carefully and slowly as she could. She wanted these few minutes to last. just think, here was Alfred Gerrick holding her books! But Alfred made no attempt to surrender them. Say, you can't really think I'd let a girl carry a heavy load of 125