Berea High School - Prima Luce Yearbook (Berea, NC)

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PRIMA LUCE shouted r Ir ' tea ch vo 1 VC ' y man ,ost control of his temper and snouted, x it teach you to know where you are!” passldand kmmheh! ' fu ft ft ° ther made for him - but missed and P he di d so “T ft ft ft T S W,th a Hght blow to the shoulder, and added as he did so I sometimes do tins not very far from home.” jumpedTnto ' his tu JtuS 1 ' ' ft P U ft b is mule, co a a r t prick f ed h ft hS appearance! WaS ° Ut by the wind resembling a jelly .fish in - Sstsr-r si- fro ; r 1 8 — Orlando Stone. The Moving Dune One fatal remembrance— one sorrow that throws Its bleak shade alike o’er our joys and our woes to which life nothing darker nor brighter can bring hor which joy hath no balm, and affliction no sting — Moore. aud lisfenhitr ftp “■ Judah Na , rrows watching the angry white caps on Pamlico west er 21 Vn fS lr Tftft Slappm F ° f r ° peS against the «nasts- The North- old oil SnL and r l E° r dUCb g and °« r only amusement was tinkering on the o an encouiuor 1 P 1 1 Capt Hugh ’ as b e concluded an account his weaEft fti tyft!. 1 ; 3 at lhe bead 0 Juniper Bay, twisted that yftftnftftft” ° f thC eXpCrienCeS Whkh y0U have had ‘ 1 know excellent remife ft? ' 1 ° ft! ° Ut W ’ tb Us f° r a Sticking trip, was a detective of Sendee In late vft had been once connected with the United States Secret known to himself u’ oucier ’ e had retired from active work for reasons best p left ire °i n hA terdn . tha t 5 ft UnaS ftT! g nlan a d always seemed to take more After ? listening than talking. Probably this was an effect of his profession After the second request, the detective lighted his pipe and began : ' P In the early ’90’s I was called from Baltimore hv the „,ti, „ , A young lady had disappeared under mysterious circumstances ' Her peoplftin a frenzy were confident that she had met with foul nbv r ,1 , ! Webster, the girl who had disappeared, was a chofti ft in the fttftchS and an active worker. In her personal relations I could discover no amours and 1 passed her as another E»a Mitchell. A week ' s mvestigatioTol? afforTed me 1 Page 62 ]

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Soon the 11:30 farm bell sounded good news of dinner and shade. The negroes in different parts of the fields threw down their hoes instantly and gave a loud “Hallo” and then broke into some familiar tune, reminding one of the musical resonance of frogs on the salt marshes of Eastern North Carolina. Cunningham glanced out the kitchen door and exclaimed, “Yonder comes Mr. Jerrup.” The expected guest in an open-buggy driving a donkey-like mule, was coming up the winding path from the main road. Cunningham went out to meet him, and after greeting him with a good handshake, remarked, “Henry, you’re looking older.” Yes, replied the other, I m at least a year older than I was twelve months ago.” “Let me put up your mule,” Cunningham said as he started undoing the reins. “Oh, no!” Jerrup insisted. “They fed him about ten o’clock. He doesn’t need a thing.” As dinner was not quite ready the two gentlemen retired to the shade of a large oak which stood adjacent to the porch. The visitor tried everyway to start an argument. He talked about politics, religion, diplomacy, and other bones of contention; but his friend was too agreeable for a heated discussion. Just as the conversation was becoming interesting, dinner was called. The table was buried in ham, bacon, vegetables, over-sugared pies and cakes, and other sources of indigestion — in fact everything was jammed so closely that the table cloth could hardly be seen. Jerrup gave a smile of satisfaction as he seated himself at the table “Now, Mr. Jerrup,” enjoined Mr. Cunningham, “make yourself at home ” “Yes,” his wife supplemented, “we want you to feel and do just as you would at home.” J Jerrup appeared especially amused and pleased at these remarks. Dishes jingled ; and the conversation was light and flippery. Apology and praise intermingled; and jokes, first told by one and then another, fought in the arena for brilliancy. Often Mrs. Cunningham would chide Master William, the seven-year-old boy, for being out-spoken or acting unmannerly. Suddenly William said, “Mr. Jerrup, pass me the sugar bowl please ” “Well, sonny, wait till I can get the sugar out,” Jerrup answered as he poured the sugar mto his coffee. “You’re trying to get smart, ain’t you,” William retorted. Jerrup deliberately slapped him, remarking, “This is the way I do boys at home when they act impudently.” J Mrs. Cunningham was a bit excited, but tried to conceal it by apologizing for Williams conduct. Cunningham seemed slightly puzzled but continued his conversation. Dinner was now over and as Jerrup arose from the table he violently embraced Mrs. Cunningham who blushed and uttered a half-controlled cry. This is the way I do at home,” he hastily explained.

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PRIM A LUCE one little minor clue. A jobber told me that he had seen Miss Webster standing in front of the bank on the day of her disappearance, talking with a fellow named Mahoney. He further stated that he was not well acquainted with this gentleman, that he was a hunter and trapper from across the Sound. “My purpose now was to learn more about Mahoney. From every indica- tion he was not well known in Beaufort. A couple of days later I went across the sound to Swan Quarter. In this little town Mahoney was better known, but nothing could I learn of his inner life. In company with Mr. Sawyer, who was connected with the police department, I spent an evening at the home of Mr. Crawford, a retired merchant. As supper was nearly over I mentioned lightly the name of Mahoney. My host immediately took up the conversation : “ ‘Mahoney is supposed to be one of the wealthiest men on the Sound. He has had a rather peculiar history. About nine years ago he moved down from the central part of the State with his wife and two little chldren. During the first two years of their stay in this community, his wife, who was several years younger than he, taught school, while be peddled fish. Mahoney was intelligent and carried himself well. He was once a student at Wake Forest College. The people considerd him eccentric and secretive, for he would never divulge his personal affairs. But, notwithstanding this, no one had the reputation of being more prompt to pay a debt or more accurate in keeping a promise. He cared little for associates and friends, but always defended his rights with the utmost energy. Some intimated that he was a very undesirable citizen, while others said that he would never bother you so long as you did not molest him. “ ‘During the third year of his residence in this community, Mahoney built a sloop. He did it in a rather spectacular way. He went to the swamp alone to cut the junipers and worked out the timbers with his own hand. The craft was a good piece of workmanship. The man took great pride in his constructive ability. With the aid of the sloop he became a trapper. Soon he was considered the best otter trapper on the Sound and his associates would try to induce him to reveal the tricks by which he caught the cunning animal, but not once would he unfold his methods. Each following spring his stock of furs was large and rumors about his wealth were circulated. Some said that he accumulated this money by following the trap-line. Others intimated that he had inherited it and would not talk about it because he was covetous and wanted the honor himself. One theory had it that he had found a treasure on the Banks — perhaps that of Kidd. Another that he had obtained the money by foul means. In fact, none knew how he made it, but all seemed to know that he had it. “ ‘With prosperity came seclusion. He isolated himself more and more, and about fours year ago he bought a place on the Banks. This purchase stamped him as more mysterious. Along the banks, between Cape Hatteras and Beaufort, there is an abundance of sand that has been washed up by the ocean. This sand makes the region worthless, for the Southwesters of March carry it over every- thing. It you were caught in one of these storms the skin would be pelted off your face. I would rather be “henpecked” than sandpecked any time.’ [ Page 63 J