Bloomington High School - Aepix Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

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The Aegis 1 920 Dr. Scott wanted me to take a position as head surgeon in his hospital-but I turned him downf' Turned him down I she exclaimed gladly and then added But what a won- derful opportunity-why didn't you take it F Because I thought these people needed me,'l he answered slowly, And be- cause I thought perhaps you'd need me a little too. I wonder if you think so--Nan dearf' V You know I always agree with you, she answered, smiling up at him shyly. The Tooth That Bit Back ALTA MAE HARRISON Second Prize, Short Story Club Contest Oh, josey, come here. .-Xin't she purty though. Rosey I'ostek's dark illum- inating eyes were glued fast to a large portrait of Mary Pickford on the sign board of the lloujoue. Oh, gee, ain't she though. lYhat's she in? Oh Daddy Longlegs. Gee, Rosey, l wish we could see that. Don't you just wonder what that show house looks like inside? Look here. She's drawn pictures for all those little kids. Do you suppose we'1l ever git to go in here, Rosey F l'd give most anything I had. Rosey's small voice was very pathetic. If Blom 'ud only let us keep some of our money. Josey, we just got to sometime. I know it Rosey. lint ginks-we'd better hustle on. Mom 'll give us the flickens. just ta think Rosey, we each got three dollars and passin' up a movie house, we ain't never been to, in our lives. Rosey and Josey Postek had been destined to pass this movie house many times with their pay envelopes clutched in their tiny hands. But they dared not touch a cent of it. It was for Mom. And Mom would be very angry, if a penny were gone. After a long walk of almost silence, except for the occasional burst- ing forth of unhappiness, they climbed the creaking stairway to their unfortunate home. Stealthily they turned the knob, and entered an almost uninhabitable room. josey quietly closed the door behind them, while Rosey walked into the kitchen, where a small woman with a much worn face was bending over a wash tub. Im- mediately she turned. Did you bring it, Josey? VVhere is Roseyys. Give it to me. Now you two see about gettin, supper and hustle upf, Tired out from a hard day at the factory the twins took off their torn coats and handed the pay envelopes to their mother, with their eyes full of tears. Rosey put on an apron, many sizes too large for her, and Josey busied herself setting the table. without a word the girls began preparing supper. After the meal the girls cleared away the dishes, and tidied up the bare room. ,Iosey, Rosey whispered, I,m just sick of making flowers, ain't you? I do so want to see that pretty girl at the movie show. V I 'age Twenty-Three

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1920 The Aegis g,Vv'e're going to make you well, he said cheerily, Are you two all ready now . They wheeled Mrs. Allen to the office. VVaiting there was a distinguished looking man. This is Dr. Scott, an old friend of mine, Madison introduced, 1 asked him to come down and help me. Late that afternoon Dir. Scott and Madison sat talking in the oflice. You performed that operation like a master, song she came out of it fine. I think you have proved that you are a man, and here's my proposition. l'm getting old and want to retire and in light of your excellent work the staff requests me to offer you the position of head surgeon at the hospital. Dr, Scott, you said that l've proved myself a man. lf that's true, then, it's being with these people tnat has made me one. Conseffuently l'll stay here where l can do some good. Hut Richard, think of the social position and money. It was my social position that made me lead a dissipated life before, sir, and as to money, l was notified this morning that 1 was sole heir to my uncle, the late li. R. Madison. T'hat will provide me with better quarters and a corps of assist- ants. VVhat more do I need ? 1 can't understand-you'd rather do charity work in the slums than be th: head of a large hospital- Dr. Scott ejaculated. My time is employed to much better advantage here, sir. But what of Evelyn ? lt would have been a great mistake for us to have announced our engage- ment. Uur ideas and ideals are entirely different. .l don't think Evelyn ever cared for me. I noticed in the Town Talk that society is expecting the announce- ment of her engagement to Lord Radcliffe. He has been very attentive to her this season. lplut there is no formal en- gagement-she was waiting to talk to you again, Dr. Scott replied. Please tell her that I hope we shall always be good friends and l thank you very much for assisting me this afternoon, Dr. Scott. We'll probably meet more often now. If 1 can help you at a consultation at any time, let me know. I'll do that, Richard. l'll tell Evelyn what you said-your decision is wise- Evelyn would never live this kind of a life. Come and see us when you have time. Goodbye, Richard, and God bless you. Goodbye, Dr. Scott. Madison replied and when the door closed he felt that he had shut out his old life. Life was a peculiar thing he thought, how one strug- gled to attain something and then when that was attained one needs must have something else! The door from the bed-room improvised for Mrs. Allen opened and Nan entered. He smiled at her and asked gently, How's the patient ? Fine, she answered, She came out nicely and is resting well. How much l owe you, Dr. Madison! You've made Mother well. What would you say if I were to leave here ? he asked teasingly. She started, but answered bravely. T have often thought that a man of your talent needs a better place than this. When are you going? Page Twenty-frc'o

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1920 The Aegis But Rosey, answered Josey in the same low tone. VVe ain't got a cent to our names, and why it 'ud take forty cents to git us in. We never could git that much. .Iosey, came a harsh voice from the adjoining room. You girls take this washing over to Mrs. Bergers. She's goin' out a town, and wants it tonight. Now hustle up. Don't ya kids be gone more 'en ten minutes. Then ya get home, and git to bed. XVhat a relief to get out into the cool fresh air. But it was most too cool. The wind blew chillingly across their faces. Iosey, Rosey clutched her sister's arm. l'm goin' to see that picture. NVQ just got to go. Think hard how, josey-an-an pray. A-oh there's Katherine. So deep were they in thought that they had not noticed the tigure which passed them. She turned and recognized them. I-Iellow kids, where you going? I was just coming up to your place. Katherine was a cousin of the twins, and she was the only person with whom their mother allowed them to be. Oh Katie, Josey fairly screamed. 4'Gee, I'm glad to see you. Come on, Mom's so cross you better come with us. VVe'1'e goin' over with Bergers' wash- mg: All right kids. Guess I will. I'm kinda tired, been stuffed up myself.- VVas awful busy at the office today. Seemed like the most people had the tooth ache, and I didn't git to sit down once hardly. Katie, said Josey, almost as in a whisper. Tell us more about the picture shows. Been anyways soon P Yea, laughed Katie. VVent to see Mary Pickford last night in Daddy Longlegs. Real good too. 'tTell us about it, questioned Rosey. No, said josey sternly. I don't want to just hear about it. Katie tell us about the nice ladies that come to your office. Did you see any purty clothes to- dav ? A'Clothes, gee yes, and diamond rings that sparkle like everything. VVhat do they have done to their teeth P Josey asked innocently. Have 'em pulled or have 'em crownedf Don't it hurt to have 'em pulled ? Sure it does. What do they crown 'em with P Oh, gold. Gee, gold? Oh wouldn't you like to have a mouth full of gold? just think of it, Josey, real gold carrying it around in your mouth. Sure ya could, Katie explained. K'You could have it melted up. lt's worth lots of money. You kids just ought to come up to the ofiice sometime. If ya ever git the toothache, come up. l know Doc Yictor, and 'ud fix you up. He sure is a peach, and l'd tell him who you was. That night when the twins were quietly tucked in their bed, Iosey whispered to her sister. ' Rosey, we're going to that show. Vtle really are. Hut how ? Rosey whispered back in pure astonishment. Tomorrow is Pcme Twenty-fo ur