Bloomington High School - Aepix Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

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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

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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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The Aegis I 1 920 HYes, replied the nurse graciously. This is Oteen, a T. B. Hospital belong- ing to the United States Government. 'fAnd will you please inform me what has become of my daughter and what good she can do here ? She is the dearest girl imaginable, and-Oh, how we all have missed her. Wihy, Mrs. Mcljride, she comes here early every morning with her car loaded with fruit, candy, and chewing gum. And it is not only what she brings, it is the girl herself that does the most good. She- But here Miss May was interrupted by the quick, soft steps of another snow-white figure. Come, mother, I am going over to VVard I, 7. VVe will start there this morning. I know you are going to have the time of your lifef' Nancy, how could you ?' asked Mrs. Mcllride in a hurt to.ne. All her pride was completely crushed to see her only daughter in such a place and such an outfit. And to think, Nancy, your father died- Yes, mother, I know. That is one reason I came. By this time they were at VVard I, 7. As Xancy opened the screen door, fifteen pale, haggard faces were raised from as many white cots and, too, there came over the same fifteen fa-ces a smile, the first for many days. Nancy stopped to explain in a low tone to her mother, These out here are the worst and will not live long. You see on the inside there are two rows of cots. Those 'boys are a little better, but will really never get wellf' She passed from cot to cot, stopping at each for a pleasant remark and, as the boy frowned as she turned to go she smiled and promised to return soon. So, down the row she went. In the last bed was an Indian boy of twenty-one who could hardly speak English. Nevertheless he had been in three of the largest bat- tles of the Vlforld ll'ar, had been gassed twice and returned to America consump- tive. He had been in bed ten months, but was still ready to smile when the pretty pale-faced squaw came to his cot. VVhen Mrs. Mcliride was left alone, she stood aghast, but those soft brown eyes wandered-down one row. up another. How sad ! Une boy had a guitar and was picking a familiar tune softly. On one cot was some cards, on another a checker board. just outside under the trees were several hammocks and a couple of young looking boys were tottering slowly toward them. The boys coughed-Oh, so much 5 Nancy, dear, whispered Mrs. llcllride as she came to her daughters side, have you an extra white dress here ? An Excerpt From Senior Salamagundi To the all-highest, Haybad Cep Ti Khan, Chief Rice Gatherer of Ajmir: My four years of exile will soon be over, dear Haybad, and l will then be able to leave this land of infidels and barbarians to return to the beauty and culture of our native village of .-Xjmir. Many tales of strange and unusual customs will I relate to thee and I swear by the beard of Mahomet that every word is true. Everything that is done in this Page Tweiity-nine