Bloomington High School - Aepix Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

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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

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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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l 920 The Aegis see you aren't going to tell, so I'll just see that you stay with me for a few monthsf' W'ith that she left the room, locked the door, and took the key with her. Near the end of the second week Nancy was almost in hysterics. Her mother had not been two inches from her, she could not write, she could not telephone- what should she do? One afternoon Nancy pleaded a headache, so Mrs. McBride took her to her room, tucked her in bed and pulled down the shades. When all was quiet Nancy crept stealthily from bed and wrote the following note in the semi-darkness: My dear Miss May: It is mother, just as I have feared all the time. I just can't tell her, she would worry so, and then she would not let me come back. How are the boys? Tell them I am coming tomorrow morning at any cost. INANCY NICBRIDE. With a sigh of relief Nancy fell asleep. Of course, dear, I'll go with you for a drive. XVhy, you haven't been out for two weeksf, r No, mother, and it's a grand morning. Nancy had been driving east and as this puzzled her mother she asked, Where are you going, Nancy ? No place in particular. just anywheref, Another five minutes of silence and then from Mrs. McBride: Nancy, please do not drive so fast. VVhy did you choose such a road? There is not a straight place in it. I know it, mother, it is one curve after another. It is so beautiful-that is why I came. It is too early for other cars to be out, so I can make the bends easily. Don't be nervous. Another fifteen minutes of continual winding around the mountain they were almost at the summit. At a distance could be seen about two dozen large, grey, oblong buildings. Nancy, what on earth is that ? Nancy's whole thought was absorbed in the narrow grey streak of pavement ahead of her. Every moment the little car shot on slightly faster than the moment before. She gave three short honks and the khaki-clad sentry recognizing them, jumped aside just in time to save his life. The next instant Nancy was on the ground. She fairly dragged her mother from the car and up the steps of the nearest buildinlg. The young lady did not speak, but pointed to a large white cardboard, turned the corner and was gone. Mrs. Mcllride collected a few of her scattered wits, got out her reading glasses, and read the glaring white sign which had only one word and that was Silence, She turned and saw another which said Speak Very Softly. . At the far end of the almost bare room sat a woman in white behind a large desk. As she was the only other occupant, M rs. Mcliride naturally made her way to that spot. Good morning, Mrs. McBride, I am Miss May, the Superintendent. Superintendent of what? VVil1 you kindly tell me where I am F asked the bewildered Mrs. McBride. W M APage Twenty-eiight