Balmoral Hall School - Optima Anni Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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l8 walked silently to the door of the forbidden room for fear of waking Miss Amelia. Before I entered I glanced around to make sure I was alone. I quietly turned the handle and entered. I had not brought a light nor did I need one for the moon was shining in at the window. Its eerie rays revealed a bare room except for a large oak chest. It was beautifully carved and something made me hasten toward it, lift the lid, and discover its secret. Before I reached it a voice said coldly behind me, I see you have disobeyed my orders, Mr. Stephenson. I turned swiftly to find Miss Amelia standing behind me with a candle in one hand. I couldn't resist it, I finally managed to say. Something in the steely features of Miss Ame- lia's face softened then and she said, Since you have found the chest I will tell you its secret. Come to my sitting room. We walked across the hall to her sitting-room. It was warm in there after the coldness of the hall. She began to tell her story. It happened when I was young, I was married and had a little boy. I was very fond of my child, and I seldom left his side. But one dark day I was visiting my mother who was ill, and I left john alone. When I came home I could not find him. Panic began to take hold of me, and I rushed blindly from room to room calling his name imploringly. When I came to the front room I burst in, but I was too late. I caught sign of a small curly head under the lid of the chest. I tried to stop it from closing, but I could not. I never saw my little john again. I am very sorry, I said softly. Never mind. Good-night, Mr. Stephenson. Late that night when the village church clock began to strike midnight, Miss Amelia's door softly opened and a figure appeared. It glided down the hall like a shadow and stopped by the door of the front room. It looked around -fear- fully, as if afraid of being seen, then pushed the door open. Softly, silently, the lid of the old oak chest opened, then closed. Down in the village, the church clock sounded its last strike of midnight. Susan Dickinson, Grade VIII. Destination Driveway The corner loomed 'before her. She straightened, bolt upright. just how was 'she to manage, With the light-'post on her right? Slowly, is-he eased into it, And squeezed past two parked cars. The truth was, she'd come through it all, With no new 'battle scars. Destination: Driveway. But, much to her dismay, A snow-plough, very early, had gone past And blocked her way. She retreated, then she halted. I-Ier anxiety was enhanced. For, as dinner was at six o'clock, She didnt stand a Chance. Again, she backed up hopefully Stopped, then trying hard- The motor roared: the tires spun And forward lunged the car. Once over the disaster, She observed the welcome scene. PK Pk Pk A driveway, is of no use With a snowbank in between. Judy Smith, Grade XI. King I think I'll take this one, Larry Willson said to Mike the Trader. He'll do nicely, When can I have him, Mike? Now, if you like, replied the Trader. They were making the sale of a handsome, black dog, called King. King was an extremely 'handsome dog of part Husky and Wolf 'breeding with a well- slhaped head and ears. H-is coat was rich, dark, black, thick, and deeply ruffled at the throat, only partly concealing the ripple of musoles elsewhere on his magnificent body. Standing on his hind legs, he could easily kiss his six-foot master. King weighed ninety-two pounds. Larry was with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and his recent lead of his dog team had died, so Larry thought he would try a younger dog as a leader. Larry didn't use King immediately as 'he had to 'break 'him into -the 'harness Erst. King was very

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felt a crushing sensation in my chest. And, at the same time I beheld the gaping mouth and vicious fangs of a huge snake which I realized was an anaconda, the world's largest constricting snake. The pressure increased to such an extent that I became almost breathless and was fast losing consciousness, and then . . . I wakened. During my struggles caused by the excitement of my dream, the upper bed sheet had become entwined around my chest like a tendril. There's nothing like a nightmare for a hair- raising adventure. Shelagh Kelsey Grade IX. Unfortunate Bear The polar bear, That mighty beast With shaggy hair Is so un-happy! King of kings, But not of ice Or snow and things, But 'twelve square feet of concrete! He's rather fat, And finds it hard Because of that To clamfber from this pool. His other world Is seen through bars, Of people, children, Dogs and cars And moving life. He longs to sit In quiet undisturbed repose, Upon an iceberg Trailing his tired -toes In Arctic water. Oh, unfortunate Bear! This life which he And others s-hare Is really very bare And void of life. So children when Next at the Zoo, Throw our friend bear A word or two Of sympathy. Dorothy Richardson, Grade XI. g, I7 The Chest Miss Amelia will not be able to see you for about half an hour. Will you sit down, sir? I sat down and waited for Miss Amelia to appear. While I am waiting I will tell you some- thing about myself. My name is Archibald Stephenson, I am a bachelor, and I live in a small cottage with a maid, a dog, and two cats. I work in a bank but for a hobby I am very interested in old houses. This was why I was waiting in the hall of this huge, gloomy house. Nobody knew much about the place, and some believed it to be haunted. However, I decided to discover the truth myself. In spite of the warm, sunny day and the good luck some people had hoped I would have, I felt nervous when I reached the huge, iron gates. I managed to summon enough courage to rap on the great bronze knocker, and introduce myself to a rosy-faced maid who ans- wered my knock, and then bustled away to inform Miss Amelia of my presence. While I waited for Miss Amelia I looked around the hall. It was large and gloomy and had many statues and pictures in it. A portrait of a lady and a little boy arrested my attention. Both had dark complexions that made them look attractive. The lady, I presumed, was the child's mother. I was so engrossed with looking at the picture that I did not hear Miss Amelia come down the stairs and walk over to where I was standing. Her voice violently interrupted my thoughts. I see you admiring my picture, Mr. Stephenson. I whirled around to find I was facing a middle- aged lady with iron-grey hair. I found it very beautiful, I replied softly. The boy is my son, that is me beside him. When she spoke of her son, her voice faltered, and her eyes grew soft and tender. But she recovered herself quickly and decided with me what price I should pay for a visit through the old house, As we were walking upstairs to see my room, she suddenly halted and said, Mr. Stephenson, you are free to go where you like in the house but please stay out of the front room upstairs. Now come to your apartment. During the week I roamed the old house and its garden but never ventured into the front room, though I was often tempted to. However, one night the temptation grew too strong for me. I opened my bedroom door and slipped into the hall. The house was as silent as a tomb and I

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,,l9 intelligent and quickly mastered the use of the harness, Larry noticed King was always wanting to -be ahead of the other dogs in the team. One day Larry 'tried him in the lead. King was finally the -head of his team where he always wan'ted to be. Larry kept King there all-ways. 'Well King, Larry said one night a few months later, I guess tomorrow we'-ll leave for the winter patrol. King seemed glad and snuggled 'his nose closer between Larry's knees. King was kept in the house as 'he kept Larry company and enjoyed playing games with him. King wasn't 'happy about being 'left outside. Each morning when Larry fed the other dogs, King would march beside him, and if a dog was over-anxious he would growl at him until fhe quieted down. Early the next morning Wilsion packed and hitched the 'team to the sled and left the little lonely settlement on the Arctic Coast. One night, about 'three days later, Larry was fixing ca-mp when he slipped and sprained a ten- don in his leg. It was very painful and 'he had to bandage it. For a day Larry 'had to ride on the sled, and this was very hard -on the dogs, slowing them down considerably. They were going over rough ice now and had to make their own trail through the deep snow. . One evening near the end of their journey, the sky was clouded over and it looked like snow. Larry shouted at King for more speed as he had to go about five miles before he would reach civilization. He wanted to beat the snow. The weary dogs strained in 'their 'harnesses at Wilson's command. They, too, knew home was not far away. A few minutes later, a howling wind came up an-d it began to snow heavily. The temperature dropped, and Larry was beginning to worry. The dogs were slowing down steadily and King was straining in his harness to make the other dogs go on, Larry could just see the outline of Kings tail through the gathering darkness and driving wind and snow! It would mean freezing to death if they stopped, or getting lost if they went on. Larry picked up his whip and snapped it over the dogs' heads. Later on he had to stop for a brief pause as one dog collapsed, It was one of the best and he p-ut it on the sled. His left hand and both feet felt frozen. Wifth the driving snow in his face and the cold wind whistling about him and his team, they proceeded slowly. Larry didn't know what direction he was going, but he left it up to King who seemed to know where he was going. Brut was he going in the right direction? Larry began thinking. They had been about five miles from the settlement when the storm came up so they must be close now if they were going in the right direction. Suddenly there was a s-harp sound of snapping willows above the storm. This meant that they had left the sea ice and were on the main land! King seemed to give a bound of more speed as though an electric shock had hit him and his whole body seemed to become alive. This same burst of speed happened to all the dogs as they straine-d harder in their harness to produce more speed through the deep snow. Something must be near, thought Larry as he pressed his hand on his frozen nose. Suddenly, Larry saw a light shining through the snow and darkness-a cabin was only a few feet away! They reached the small cabin and Larry stumbled to the door and knocked. The door was quickly opened, only to find Larry Wilson covered with snow, hungry, tired and unconscious on the doorstep. When he came back to his senses, he found himself in bed with Doctor jamson and King standing beside him. He looked around the room and saw sun streaming into the room. The storm had passed! Larry tried to sit up, but a big paw gently 'held him down. King, King, muttered Larry, you are truly man s best friend . King growled gently and lay down as Larry was asleep again. Kings eyes were half open, but they were filled with contentment and admiration for his master! Barbara Sid gwick, Grade VIII. if' ta 87'-S Egg 55,4 O ,Q-HN? Quilt I if ii ,,. ids. l sat ' rear ll! at if I 5 A EXAFI 'lime