Bloomington High School - Aepix Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

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1920 The Aegis .-X-yes. l should say it did-but-'T And she whispered, but, did ya git the gold? Oh Rosey, just think we can see the picture show. Yes, answered Rosey timidly to the pawn dealer. We want some money instead of this piece of gold. How much will you give us ? No sooner said, when Rosey felt a severe pinch on her arm. Turning she be- held josey, holding her jaw, her face as white as a ghost. On the other side of josey, was a large brass buttoned policeman. A-a-.Iosey-let's-let's-keep it- The two groped for each other's hands. Where did you get that piece of gold? The stern voice moved closer. l.et's see it. Rosey felt faint. She could hardly stand. W'hat could she say. .Iosey be- gan to cry. Oh, why had she had her tooth pulled. It hurt her so. And the gold. They were caught. It was such a new thing for such young little girls. josey, so completely worked up from her operation, could no longer keep the secert. We-we-a-got-it from Dr. Yictor's office. VVe wanted to go to the movie show so bad. Please don't send us away, she begged, Please don't, Mr. Police- man. His voice was less stern. COINS on with me, l'll see what l can do. Ilefore the juvenile court, josey between sobs, told her story. And we wanted to see a picture show so bad. Rosey and me, and Mom made us give her all our money. VVe don't dare to keep a penny. And, we ain't never been nowheres except the factory-we wanted to see Mary Pickford so bad. We never been there in our lives, and we're most twelve years old. It's a pitiful case, said the judge sometime later. I'll see that these poor children have part of the pay envelopes. It's their mother's fault. They're inno- cent themselves. And I'll have my daughter see that they see Mary Pickford to- morrow. Straight to the Heart EUGENIA HERMAN Third Place, Short Story Club Contest Mrs. Mcllride removed her reading glasses, wiped them, and put them in place for the second time. She was going to be certain that the letter in her hand was read correctly. If she could only read between the lines, she was sure of an ex- planation in this letter from the Peerless Clothing Company: but it was a little deep, for all she saw before her was: 4 white cotton poplin dresses--- -... 325.00 10 yards white lndian head ---- -- 8.00 1 1-2 yards India linen -.----. -- .25 3533.25 Page Twenty-si.v

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The Aegis l 920 Saturday, and we git our half day off. I'm going to git the toothachefand go ta l-latie's office. Hut, that's not a picture show. Now listen, Rosey. 1'll have him pull my tooth, this one right here, see, feel, and while he's pulling my tooth you get a piece of gold and put it in your pocket. Then we'll take it to the pawn shop, and see, Rosey, we can see that pretty girl. Oh, that would be stealin'. But, we'll never git to see the show, if we don't. llut Katie said it hurt to have your tooth pulled. Well, I'd rather have my tooth pulled, then get the gold. No, let me have mine pulled. No, I want to, we'll draw straws. Sh-be quiet. Don't wake Momse. sl at .4 ,losey tiptoed to the kitchen, and produced two straws from a stubby broom. Now he still. The longest one gits to have their tooth pulled. Now draw. Oh, I git to. Goody, oh Rosey, now we can go to the show. The little fingers fairly flew as they wrapped stems of roses at the factory next morning. By noon, as the whistles were blowing, two little bright eyed girls hur- ried in the direction of'the business district. Do you ride in that car ?', breathed Rosey sometime later. Oh, I bet that's the elevator Katie told us about. Lets see. It's on the sixtn floor, she said, didn't she? Hold on to your hat Josey. It might blow off, ya can't never tell. Oh, ain't this fun F' W At the end of their first r.ide, they had little difficulty in making out the sign. Dr. Victor-Dentist--VValk In. As they cautiously opened the door, a well dressed woman hurried out. The room was empty. flosey, look here at this big soft chair. Oh there's another for you. Oh ainlt this grand P , Another door opened softly. It was Katherine. X'Vl1y kids, I-are-did-H ,Iosey's tiny hand was carefully protecting her painful tooth. Katie -explained Rosey. A-a-a Josey has got an awful-a tooth ache. Do you suppose Dr. Victor 'ud-a-pull it for a me? I mean her. lt hurts her just aw- ful. XVhy Josey. I'm so sorry. Come here, hon-ey. Doc Yic ain't left yet for lunch. I'll ask him about you. Been hurtin' you long, Josey ? All nightf, ejaculated Rosey. Dr. Yictor's kind heart went out to the little twins. Poor little things, he thought, f'Let's see it. After a careful exmination of the tooth, the doctor could find no cause for her pain. Josey played the role splendidly. Real tears rolled down her cheeks, as she insisted that the tooth be pulled. Sympathetic Katherine held her hand, and per- suaded the doctor to pull it, for that would surely stop the pain. Meanwhile Rosey made a careful examination of the office, at last Ending a small piece of gold on an enamel tray. She carefully slipped it away in her pocket, as Katy helped Josey from the dentist chair. f'Did it hurt you much josey ? Rosey asked tenderly. Page Twenty-Five

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The Aegis - 1 920 It was addressed to Mrs. Rex Mcllride, but she well knew that she had made no such purchases. Of course, it must belong to Nancy, but what would she need of such peculiar costumes, and too she had not shown them to her mother as had always been her custom. lf Mrs. McBride had only 'been able to reason out what Nancy could do with all that white material, her mind would have been at ease once more. The Mcllrides could trace ancestry, that is those who had really done some- thing worth while, for no less than five generations back. This placed them in that fine old, proud, reserved, Southern aristocracy. VVhen Mr. McBride's health had begun to weaken they moved to the mountains. VVe still find them two years after Mr. McBride's death, in the same large wfhite house on Montford Hill, about a fifteen minute ride from Pack Square in Asheville. Mrs. McBride, high in the social circle, was just a little past middle age. There were only a few streaks of silver through her well-dressed black hair, and her brown eyes always glistened, even when she was slightly angry. lt was not a family trait for a Mcllride or a Conley to show a high temper. Her one ideal in life was her daugrhter, who was a pure duplicate of her mother. So you can readily see, when for three months Mrs. McBride had hardly seen Nancy, she would have some cause for anxiety. Their invitations to the dinners, luncheons, drives, mountain trips and the like had always come to- gether, and it hurt not only Mrs. McIr3ride's feelings, but her pride to accept for herself only. And too, her excuses for Nancy's many refusals had long since be- come trite. Nancy was always sleeping when her mother came home in the evening and was usually gone by the time Mrs. McBride woke up in the mornings. So far, only one statement could be extracted from N'ancy's old,Mammy Jo. On being questioned, Mammy would just say, Law me, Missis Mac, dat chile's done gone Z1 ridin' in heh cahf' First a dark red roadster swinging into the gravel drive, then a navy blue clad figure walked slowly from the garage, and then--two slender arms were thrown wildly around Mrs. McBride's neck, and Oh, motherll' from Nancy. For a moment Mrs. McBride almost forgot her brave resolution to straighten Nancy out, even if she must speak crossly. Mother, dear, did you stay home just to see me? Aren't you missing some- thing tonight F No, Nancy, I'm missing nothing. l'm really gaining, if anything. My, how tired you look. Go straight to your room. Mammy will bring you some tea and I will be up in just a little. Nancy went without another word, for she was tired, she wanted hot tea, and most of all she wanted her mother, only she could not answer the questio-ns she was sure her mother would ask. Nancy, did you buy some dresses and white material from the Peerless. pu Yes, mother. XVhat for ? Wliy mother, what a question ll' It was plainly seen that Nancy did not intend to tell, so Mrs. McBride did not ask further questions. She merely rose and said, Nancy, I've got to know and I Page Twenty-seven