Bloomington High School - Aepix Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

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T H E A E GIS EVENTIDE NINA TAPPE. The soft, dim, gray of twilight, With the yellow after-glow Of a sun that has gone to slumber, Where the Western sky sinks low Behind the tall' dark steeple, O'ershadows the woodland trees, Which wave and toss their branches, In the frolicking evening breeze. The birds have ceased their singing, And the flowers nod their heads, While the dimming clouds are soaring In floating azure beds. Then the moon in soft dim splendor, Through a hazy atmosphere, Casts phantom shapes on the hillside, Where the violet blooms each year. THE GIRL AND THE TRUTH EARL EWERT. Chapter I. Grant Richards, bending his hea.d, walked slowly out of the room. To be accused was bad enough, but to be accused falsely! He recollected his past With Mr. Bennett-how he had steadily risen until he was this man's confidential sec- retary, and now-the climax of it all! That miserable Clayton! Richards shivered as he thought. Yes, he left Clayton alone in his room. And Clayton was his friend. But Clayton stole the money which Richards had neglected to put in the bank, stole it and lost it! And then the worst came. Mr. Bennett accused him of taking the money, and Grant would not tell on Clayton. But Mr. Bennett was kind in his way, he only dis- charged him and gave him one year to pay the one thousand dollars back. One year! And Mr. Bennett said, One year from today, at precisely half-past two, the money must be here. And if it is not, you suffer the penalty. Good-day. ' Grant went swiftlyvto the elevator. After he had descended to the ground floor, he pushed open the big, bronze doors of the massive building, and walked out. Instantly he felt the intense heat. The day was hot-maddening. The heat, radiating from the shining, glaring walks, filled the air with its awful op- pressiveness. And no one could stop it. Man can do many things, but he cannot stop this. Yet the streets were crowded, as they always are in New York. 18

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THE AEGIS Miss Aurelia came down to the gate and watched the drip of the lingering raindrops as they fell from the locust tree to the flowers below, there to hang on the tips of the leaves, little iridescent balls of crystal that trembled and slowly fell to the cool damp earth. Oh, said Miss Aurelia, my flowers are in tears ll' Thus it is, that the dullness of human comprehension blinds even the keenest of mortals, to the real moods and humors of Mother Nature. THE SEVEN BROTHERS CLYDE EDWARDS. Long ago in the dim forgotten ages before all magic had gone from the world, a certain Indian tribe, had a village beside a peacefullly flowing river. According to custom, there stood in the center of this village the large Council House in front of which was the Council Place or sacred dancing ground. There was the usual number of small children in this camp, but apart from them were seven small boys who were known as the Seven Brothers. These boys did not seem to care for the usual sport of childhood, but instead seemed to prefer the more serious side of life as they spent all of their time at the Council Place, danc- ing the mystic dances of their people to the measured beat of a. war-drum. For a long time the mothers of the boys paid little attention to this thinking that they would soon tire of it, but as time went on and the boys still continued their useless dancing the mothers grew angry and often called to them saying: lf you do not help me dry these fish-nets you will get nothing to eat. But a full meal always awaited the boys at' sunset. C Finally the mothers made plans together. That day as the sun went from sight and a full moon rose, as usual the boys ceased dancing and went to the wig- wams. There they found instead of the customary bowl of meat only a bowl of stones. In silence each boy arose, gathered up his bow and quiver of arrows, stepped forth into the moonlight and returned to the Council Place while the mothers followed behind to see what would happen. Still in silence the tiny warriors began the slow, sad Death Dance and the mothers saw to their surprise and horror that as they danced they were slowly ris- ing from the earth. One mother, more quielq-witted than the rest rushed forward and siezing her boy by the foot before he passed from reach pulled him back to the ground, but the solid earth opened and he disappeared into it. The other boys danced on and continued rising until they reached the heavens where they have remained to this day, and on moonlight nights they may be seen dancing the sad Death Dance and perhaps on a. very clear night one may even see the seventh brother who disappeared into the earth for these Seven Brothers are now the constellation called The Pleiadesf' 17

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THE AEGIS Grant watched the passing people. He saw the rich limousines trace their way through the trafiic-filled street, and at last speed out of sight. Wealthy men in elegant carriages also passed by, going-always going. Then he saw frightened, bewildered, poor women and children try to pass through the streets with self- important people brushing against them on all sides. The heat oppressed him, and he clung to the friendly walls of the great build- ing. Friendly ! Was it friendly? Grant gazed at it, and his eyes traveled upwards until he saw the window with the glittering gold letters on it-W. R. Bennett. No, it was not friendly. Besides, this was not earning the thousand dollars. So, Grant Richards started up the street, and was soon lost to view in the passing pop-- ulation of New York. CHAPTER II. Three months later, after a noon meal, Grant was sitting on the porch of his western home, resting from work. He had left New York at once, and bought 21 small piece of land in southern California with his savings. He had enough left to buy the material for a little house, which he built himself. The land consisted of only twenty acres. He had a truck farm, and also raised poultry. He found a ready market in San Diego where garden produce and poultry sold at extremely high prices. After awhile Grant arose and stepped inside of his house. It consisted of one room. There was a cot in one corner, a small table in the center, a gasoline stove in another corner and other furnishings scattered around. The condition of affairs showed sadly the lack of a housekeeper. Yet he was happy. As he was standing there, Jack Reynolds, a friend of his, came in. A Why, hello, Grant, why are you so sober today ?7' Grant laughed, Sober, he answered, A person can't be jolly all the time, I was only thinking of New Yorkf' Say, will you ever forget New York ? Jack inquired. Never,,' positively declared Grant, I have good reasons not to. Oh, but you would if there were only a girl in the case. UA-girl Pi' Yes! Say, by the way, Grant, an old gentleman from Boston is coming here with his daughter, and is to live in the new house tha.t's just finished over there on the hill. Grant sighed, and asked, Why should a Boston gentleman come here ? Heis broken down in health, and I suppose he's heard about our climate, and so on. Well, we have a iine climate, replied Grant. And-say Grant, old man, he-the Boston man-has a daughter? A daughter? How old? About fourteen-or forty ?', VVhy no, not that old. She is about twenty or twenty-one. Is that so? That's interesting, remarked Grant. Anyway, I have to be off. I heard they might cometoday. Good-by. Grant smiled and walked to the gasoline stove to prepare his evening meal. Jackis worked up, he thought. ':But I am twenty-three and never was in love with a girl, and I suppose I never will be. 19