Butler High School - Butlerite Yearbook (Butler, MO)

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Ellyn ihvriuit nf Thr iBvavrt-Olnntinurh could see that she was still lovely. Oh, how he both loved and hated her! Then ran that terrible thought through his brain. Why should he give them water? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. His life was a living death. Why not leave them to the mercies of the desert? lt would tell no tales, its eternal sands would take revenge for his life's ruin. Then with a shuddering groan he sprang to fetch water, for like a flaming picture in his mind he saw the words of the Master whom he had learned to love so well: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.' ' As the lost travelers revived he was relieved to find that the woman did not recognize him in his long beard and quaint garb. He showed them where to rest and then sought to welcome sleep himself. But old memories ever rose up to haunt him and the terrible desire to take revenge came to him stronger and stronger. All night he wrestled in agony with the demon that tried to seduce him, but as the gray dawn broke over the yellow sands he finally won, though spent and worn. After a long rest the travelers were given a compass and ample provisions to take them out of the desert. As the moment for leaving came, the hermit es- corted them to the door and, pausing on the threshold, spread his pious hands over their heads and reverently blessed them. God bless you, my children, were his last words as they stepped out into the silent dusk spreading over the barren sands. joyously they went on their way to a better morrow, leaving behind them a man, young in years but old in spirit, whose frame was racked by dry sobs and whose soul was filled with the bitter loneliness of the desert. ELMER SODERSTROM, 'l7. ,ll I li ,l Sixty-eight

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' I A' X 'J ' 4 V 'A ' 'aiuQ'Mfr'-P4-1-'uvgaa-1.5--'+-eip-sv.s.a.n-.xz--. - V .. , ' ' V ' ' ' ' -1--H '- JT F '4 'L': f:1 : ,'g-'1',1- ,-'- - ?f f?1'f'1f'1'fS '2f?1f:'ri2-f-:-ar2'2--sf::f-'-::--- .za -.--- ..,...a,..,,-..,, I l Igrizr Svinrira Uhr ihrrmtt nf Thr Brarrt FIRST PRIZE STORY Far and wide, with a limitless reach that made one feel small and lonely, the great desert stretched away beyond the horizon. Like a monster, supine, lifeless, basking in the torrid rays of the fiery disc in the sky above, it lay. A world-old mystery seemed to permeate its sands, a vague oppressive sense of some occult, mystic force, an echo from the ages of centuries ago. .. But like all other deserts this one also had an oasis. In the midst of the burning sands, like a solitary emerald in a setting of rough gold, therenestled a little green clump of trees and grass watered by a trickling diminutive spring. Here, in a tiny hut, dwelt the hermit of the desert. Whence he came or who he was no one knew. Silent, solitary, he lived his life alone, seeing no one, speak- ing to no one, perhaps for months. His favorite occupation was to sit by the little spring, piously poring over his prayer bookor more frequently losing him- self in meditation, his lean, ascetic features taking on an expression of somber thought as his eyes would stare across the vast sands. ig . It is thus we find him sitting at the end of a blazing hot dayf Suddenly his vacant,staring gives way and he springs to his feet with a puzzled expression on his face. Peering from beneath his shadowing hand he sees two objects ap- proaching his dwelling, Reeling, staggering, step by step they come nearer and as he goes to meet them he discovers them to be a man and a woman. Grimy, dusty, and with the terror of the desert in her eyes, the woman lurches toward him. Water! Water! is all that comes from her parched, blackened lips. The man, crazed by his sufferings, is incoherently babbling of cool rivers, beautiful flowers and green meadows that are to be seen before himf only just out of his reach. T ' ' The hermit does not offer to help them. He only stares at the womanas if she were an apparition, his mystic eyes taking on 'an expression of mingled love, hate and terror. Yes, it is she, she who had spurned him because he was poor, choosing instead the glittering show of riches offered by a more favored rival. In vain had been their search for a wealth-bought paradise on earth and now they stood tottering before him, having just come out of the terrible grip of the relentless desert. I i Even as he gazed wildly upon her his spirit again filled with the bitter hatred of mankind she had caused him to feel and which he so hard had tried to stifle in his own solitary existence. Through the red mist that clouded his eyes he ' Sixty-seven

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... .- - ..,.k,e..-4D...g,1.e-..hu-.3-.54 g.Aeq-...pac-:-6.1.2.-..w...uL--.-..s,...,.....-...-..J v.ea..-x?,..4.. - .-i.. ,,. - 1..,.,,-, , ,L , , ,,,,,,,,, v ,uw-,B--,- Unmmga 'Qwuvngv SECOND PRIZE STORY T0m11ay Walters was angry, yes, very angry. The injustice of the world bore heavily upon him and he felt as though his last friend had deserted him. It's not fair! It's not fair! he roared, as he threw sticks at the chickens. They always let the girls have anything they want, but when I want anything, why, that's different. - . You see Tommy had an older sister and he considered that the very worst calamity which could ever befall anyone. Tommy, however, made the best of things and continually teased her. Of course she resentednthis and complained to her mother. So this was the state of affairs in the Walters home. That very morning Tommyhad asked his mother's permission to invite some boys to his home on Friday night. Gertrude fthat was his sisterj had immediately exclaim- ed, No, you can't, because I'm going to have my friends here and mother has already promised me, so there. And Gertrude turned up her nose and marched triumphantly away. But, mother, you promised me the other time she had a party that if I didn't bother, I might invite my friends here any time I chose, and now Gertrude wants to have another party. I won't stand for it! And Tommy stamped his foot angrily. I But, Tommy, his mother had interrupted gently, you may invite the boys here some other time. Your sister is older and so you must give up to her. So now run away, for we shall be very busy today. F Tommy had marched to the door, opened it, walked out and shut the door again with a bang. Then he had sought his favorite refuge, the hollow sycamore tree in the barn lot. And now, as he sat there, he meditated over his many wrongs. I I'll get even with 'em, see if I don't! he muttered. Then he crept from his hiding place and departed for the home of his friend, William Watson, called Billy by his friends. He found Billy busily engaged piling wood in the wood- house. ' I Hi, Tom, what's the matter? Billy inquired curiously as Tommy came within hailing distance. p I've been wronged and I'll have my revenge! e'Tommy muttered fiercely. tHe had recently been reading some dramatic novels.J Q!7iA All right, I'll help you. What they been a-doin' to you now With many gestures and much emphasis Tommy told his grievance. Billy listened sympathetically and then said, , Now, what we have to do is to think of something to pay 'em back. Well, I have it, and he quickly outlined his plan to Tommy. , We'1l do it! shouted that delighted individual, dancing wildly about. And we've got three days to do it in, he finished. Let's begin right now. Come on l So the two boys started off to secure the instruments of revenge. si xty-nin .---. ... ..- -.- ---..-.-. .............-4---.. -1---5:ga-fsres:-zz-3,gf-:as-af:-tar.:-sag-'31-1-+'s-Lsrsaerf-e-A+'areaasassaseqe-'E-is-is-at-49+rs'9Laa24afsaas-ver:.wzasw-an