Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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THt OLLA PODRIDA But that afternoon, the History examination was much more difficult than Elsa had bar- gained for. Indeed, she was at a loss to ans- wer several of the questions. She could not even attempt them. But she was wise enough to keep from being overcome by nervousness, and for about half an hour she gave herself over to hard thought. Finally, the answer to one of the questions, slowly dawned upon her, like a figure approaching in a dense fog — in- distinct at first, but gradually, more clearly defined. Elsa hailed it with delight, and seiz- ing her pencil jubilantly, she proceeded to write down her thoughts. Suddenly, abruptly, the joyful expression on her face, vanished: the pencil dropped from her fingers, as though it burnt them, and fell, noisily, to the floor. Elsa had seen that ques- tion before, and she remembered it, only too well. It was the fatal one that she had ans- wered years ago, unfairly. The wording was entirely different, of course, but the same thought was there. She had not seen the question, since then, until this moment, and would have been unable to master it now, were it not that her good memory served its purpose. Surely, I may write the answer down, now, Elsa argued to herself. All the other is past and gone, and I have obtained my ideas fairly, this time. I see no reason why I should not write down my own ideas. Her own ideas ? Yes, her own; — but stolen possessions. However, if they are her own now, why may she not use them for herself ? Elsa had been taught, in her childhood, that the eating of stolen fruit was as wicked as the stealing of it. The old lesson recurred to her now, and she applied its principles to her own case. If what Aunt Jane said was so, then it is as wrong to make use of knowledge, gained by cheating, as to cheat. I will never cheat again. But I must give the answer, or I will fail in the examination — and that means that 1 may not graduate with my class. Elsa Green, a left-over ! Oh! what shame, what disgrace! And Aunt Juie, I must not fail. But if 1 do give the answer, I know what that will mean, too. The bitterness and dissatisfac- tion that I have experienced since that other time, will be doubled; and I know I cannot en- dure that muchlonger. Perhaps, if I am honest this time, it wili atone for the other. At least it will not add to my affliction. Oh ! how can I dare to do it ? Aunt Jane, the face and the prophecy will be out of the question. Oh ! it is hard, and 1 will suffer for it. But I will do it. Elsa tore the paper into small bits, and threw them into the fire. Elsa, cried Aunt Jane, sternly, when the news reached her that her neice would not graduate that year. What ailed you? What on earth was the matter ? I am heartily ashamed of you, and surprised beyond expres- sion. A Green failing in an examination ! A Green lacking in intellect ! It is good your poor father is dead, since he may not know this. The family pride has received a deep cut from your ignorance, miss. I wonder at you ! Aunt, listen to me, Elsa demanded in desperation. You call me ignorant. But I tell the truth, when 1 say that, if I had wished, I might have graduated with the rest of my class I chose not to. Am I ignorant ? You say so. Perhaps 1 am. But 1 do not regret my choice for an instant. The family pride has suffered from my actions, 1 know, and I am sorry. But, aunt, I have preserved the family honor ! And whereas I have been miserable all these years, now I am happy ! ROWENA ELSTON, ' 03. j£? JZ? j£? Does beat expand? the teacher asked, If so, examples cite. The days are long in summer, Said the student, who was bright.

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10 THE OLLA PODRIDA Ah! here was the opportunity to confess! But, in that moment, Elsa ' s courage failed; oO she went to her seat, her heart bursting with sorrow and shame. School closed, soon after, and Elsa never saw Miss Jackson again. She felt that her last chance had gone, for making restitution. She had little comfort in her promotion, for it always seemed that she had no right in that class; she did not belong there. Of course, being a child, she often forgot all about the af- fair, but then it would appear again sudden- ly, bare and ugly. One day, as she walked along the path, she overheard one little girl tell another, That girl is Elsa Green, and she never told a lie. Elsa ' s face flushed with pride, at first, but then the awful truth swept over her. There had been the time, yes! — but that was all past, and things were different, now. Oh! why had she never confessed it? Could she never be called honorable, again? After a few years, Elsa ' s grandmother died, and she and her Aunt Jane moved away to an- other city. Here was the chance, Elsa thought, to make amends for her sin. She would begin a new life here, and would w ipe out her past error, with a new and spotless record. Elsa was very popular in her High School life; but never did she forfeit her school-work for any sort of pleasure. High standing in school was her first thought. She felt as though she owed good, hard studying to some indefinite being. She was making amends. But somehow, with all her earnest labor, and efforts to obliterate her early mistake, the memory of it would remain — she could not forget. It is not the cheating, exactly, that haunts me so, she explained to herself, although that alone is bad enough. But it is the knowl- edge that, all these years, I have lied to my aunt, and my teachers and my friends. I have been acting one long lie. 1 have allowed them to give me undeserved honor, when 1 should have undeceived them. It was hard, at first, to confess. It is impossible, now. ' Near rhe end of Elsa ' s Senior year, her class gave a reception to the parents, friends, and the faculty. Elsa was very happy that night, and moved about gaily in her white dress. Her heart was care-free, and she laughed and talked with the rest. She was an import- ant person about this time; for she was to be the class prophetess, the heroine of the class- play, the leader of the cotillion in the dance, and a prominent factor in the class affairs, gener- ally. And, so, Elsa was happy, because she was young. Once, during the evening, Elsa discovered her aunt conversing with one of the professors. We have just been discussing you, Miss Elsa, the instructor said to her. Oh! don ' t go, as the girl started, laughingly-,-- to with- draw. Stay, and I will tell you what nice things we said about you. I said to your aunt, ' there have bee n many more brilliant scholars in the school, and many more digs, but in all my years of experience, here, I have never seen a more earnest student, or a more honor- able one, then Elsa Green. ' I would like to clasp the hand of an honorable student. I am not able to do so often. And the professor extended his hand frankly. But Elsa grew very white. Her arms hung limply at her sides, and she dared not raise her eyes. I will tell them both, now, she said to herself. I will tell them how — . For shame, Elsa! ' ' cried her aunt. Shake hands with your teacher, quickly. We Greens have always prided ourselves on our honor, you know, Mr. Krillan. And so, with burning cheeks, Elsa extended her hand. The cruel memory of another un- truth was heaped upon her. The burden of them all was so heavy — so hard to endure ! Soon after the reception, the day came that was set apart for the final examinations. It was a time of unhappiness for many, but others were more fortunate. Elsa, when the noon hour came, went home, rejoicing. She was well-satisfied with her morning ' s work, and did not dread the afternoon.

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12 THE OLLA PODRIDA J . Game of Hearts. The musicians were playing Jack ' s favorite waltz. A fine violinist rendered the air grandly on an equally fine violin, the other instruments bringing in the accompaniment in a dreamy undertone. Round and round, the dancers whirled upon the waxed floor, the gay gowns of the ladies flitting in and out the scene like the ribbons of a Maypole dance. I must have one more, Thought Jack, as, glancing among the soberly gowned chaperons, he caught a glimpse of a slim, brown-eyed girl in white. In another moment one of her hands was within his, the other resting lightly on his shoulder, and his arm around tne slight waist. Your step is so like mine, Mabel, he said with a smile of content. This is the highest praise one waltzer bestows upon another, for whose step can be better than one ' s own ? Mabel smiled in answer; she danced well and had often been told this; still, Jack ' s praise was not like that of other men. It was his last college football dance, for not only was the season over, but he was going away. An offer he could not afford to reject had come to him from a mining company in Arizona, and he must hasten thither. Should he ask Mabel to go too ? He was more than half in love with her before, but to night under the influence of the entrancing music, her per- fect movement, her close presence in the dainty- trimmed gown, he was in love altogether. He weighed his chances, as he looked down on her fluffy, dark hair, the white brow and the refined, womanly face. His heart was ready to speak, but his lips less apt at framing words than usual . If she cared for him she made no sign. Her manner was guilt, but tinged with delicacy and reserve; it won his admiration — but did not lure him on. One corner of the room had been turned into a quiet nook by the aid of heavy curtains, a seat wide enough for two, a lantern that gave a soft, dim light, and a tall palm; to this Jack conducted Mabel when the dance was done. I wonder if you will miss me, he said, by way of prelude, but alas! he was defrauded cf his answer. One of her young admirers, Ralph Gordon, captain of the football team of the rival college Hantord, sighted this scene from afar, and made what haste he could to break in upon it. He came forward, speaking as he neared them, and although he advanced with a halting step, there was nothing lame in the words he uttered. Jack, vexed at first, be- gan, against his will to laugh at Gordon ' s wit, and soon forgot the interruption. Then every- body found out how late it was, and how tired they were; the excitement dropped from fever heat to far below zero; the worn-out dancers and on-lookers went home, some carrying re- membrances of fancied or real conquests and some wondering, since it had been so stupid, why they had gone to the ball at all It was with a deep pang that Jack thought of the little figure in white set in its niche under the palm. He called upon Mabel at her home but she chanced to be out. Again Jack called, upon the eve of his going, but found her pouring tea and the drawing-room filled with many ladies and a few gentlemen, for it was her afternoon at home. She said her good-bye before them all with cheerfulness, and Jack went away with a heavy heart. The next day amid cheers and cries of good- will from the football team, Jack took ' his de- parture. The speedy quarter-back was a fav- orite on the team and, as the players walked slowly back to the campus, they wondered how they would fare without him in the next annual contest. Jack determined to write to Mabel, but on arriving at the mines he was speedily