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

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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

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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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THE OLLA PODR1DA 13 set to hard, unaccustomed work and night found him worn out and in no mood for writing. Then he began to have doubts, and he feared that perhaps she didn ' t care for him and that she had avoided him purposely. Troubled with such misgivings, nearly a year had gone by and September had come. During this time Jack had heard but little from his college friends and nothing at all concerning her who was uppermost in his mind. But one day the weekly mail-carrier rode into camp and the men, eager for news, crowded around him. Jack strolled up indifferently, not expecting any mail, and was agreeably surprised when he was handed a letter whose writing he recog- nized as that of his chum, the half-back on the team. Dear Jack, he read, 1 suppose you are awfully mad because 1 have not written more often, and bknow I have treated you shabbily, but really between ' digging ' and social affairs and foot-ball practice I haven ' t had much time; and, you know, 1 never was, much at keeping up my end of a correspondence. How I wish you were here, Jack ! The freshman quarter is punk. The men have little confidence in him and the team-work is as ragged as anything. Can ' t you possibly come back this fall, Jack ? Say, you remember Mabel Thurston whom we used to discuss so much up in your room ? — well there is a report that she is engaged to Ralph Gordon, the captain of the Hanford foot- ball team. 1 don ' t believe it, though, for I think she had a ' soft spot ' in her heart for you. Eh, Jack? I have found out a few secrets lately, Jack, and if you are wise it won ' t be long before you are back on Buckeley campus passing the ball for the Varsity and passing your time with — well I guess you can fill in her name, Jack. For the next few days Jack considered ser- iously what he should do. Should he give up a good position to play foot-ball ? No, never ! But when he thought of Mabel Thurston, strange as it may seem, he suddenly became more interested in football and finally persuaded himself that he ought immediately return to the aid of the team. The next week saw Jack passing the ball on Buckeley gridiron, and team work becoming nearer perfect. The Varsity realized as it had never done before how much Jack added to the strength of the team, and so at the election Jack was unanimously chosen captain. The day of the game between Buckeley and Hanford arrived. The air was crisp and cold and the field in an excellent condition. All of the Buckeley team felt hopeful and confident — all except Jack. Too much depended on the game to permit him to be cheerful. Not only the honor of the college but also the brightness of all his future life depended perhaps, on a solitary run, or a lucky goal from the field. It came about in this way. On the evening of the last rally he had walked home with Mabel and had told her all that was in his heart. At this revelation, he felt her arm tremble and with a voice full of suppressed emotion she exclaimed, O Jack! why didn ' t you tell me before? As you never wrote I thought you didn ' t care for me, and now 1 have half given my promise to Gordon. He is so persistent in his suit that he seems deter- mined to win me at all costs. Then, Jack, you know Gordon is a fine fellow, and Father and Mother are as anxious for me to accept him as he himself is. You know Papa ' s busi- ness has been in a bad state lately, and unless he receives help from some quarter, failure stares him in the face. Gordon ' s father is wealthy and is willing to help if I agree. But Jack, 1 have long cared for you and, O ! how 1 wish you had told me sooner. Jack was for a moment dazed but then he said, But Mabel why can ' t 1 do as well as Gordon. When 1 was down in Arizona I ob- tained some valuable mining claims and they are paying wonderfully well. 1 could help your father just as well as Gordon, and though 1 can ' t trace my ancestry back to the May- flower, I think your parents wouldn ' t object to me on that account if you were willing, Is that true, Jack? i never knew you were wealthy. I ' ll admit that the only reason I thought of Gordon was on Papa ' s account.