Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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SENIOR MAGNET 27 a sharp knife had cut the air. Defense filled the word and agony of spirit was the echo. He looked again into the eyes and he was sure they understood for they were filled with tears. Hejturned away and when he looked again she was gone, lie called aghin and again but no reply came except the ech J of his own words. Going home through the dark iin-lighted streets he thought of rm ny things, most of all, of Nellie. Co dd she shave been a spirit that had comq to helj} him or taunt him with its evasive-nes!. But as he thought of the te irs a si rengthening of purpose crept into his mind and he was the nearest hjip-py he had been for over three years He opened the door of his niothei room cptietly so as not to disturb her if asleep, but ready to tell her the day’s happenings if she was awake. He walked o the bed; whispering her name but receiving no answer, lie stooped to kiss her as was his custom every night Torching the smooth white cheek with his lips, a cold tremor shook him Why did that check that was always so warm now feel so cold to his touch ? Cotfld this one who meant more to him than honor or life be—oh, could sliej could she? Turning on the light he bent, gazing, almost fascinated into his mother’s face. She was still, so still, but a happy, yet sad smile lit up the transparency of her face like a lamp and he knew that a soft breeze had carried her patient and willing soul into the great beyond and—he was free Then sobbing like a small boy he laid his head on her pillow and wept, as only a man can weep, for it was no easy burden to carry with no one to comfort him. TJiree days later she was buried in the tiny graveyard on the hill, at her feet her husband, on either side, her daughters and at the head of the new- made grave stood the only one left to bear the toils of the woHd. Norm stood there as if he could not leave this place which contained all that was rightly his, but still he was free to go. Go? Yes, but where? Then there arose again the struggle anfl now no hands or eyes stayed him and Mars had another plaything added to his list. Three days later at the recruiting station on James Street, London, Norm handed his name for active service. Surgeon Howe glanced up as Norm was taken in for examination. “Private Eslinton, sir, for examination, sir! Again Surgeon Howe glanced sharply at him. “Eslinton! Norman Eslinton, presume?” “Ye sir’’ answered Norm earnestly. “I have a letter here, Private, stating you are known as—ah —‘The Coward,’ is that not right? Norm was dazed but answered, “Yes, sir.’’ “Have you no explanations? came sharply from the Surgepn. “No sir,” Norm answered firmly. A smiling amused look lighted up the Surgeon’s face and he said, “All right; my lad you will do, and I am afraid the sender of this letter is mistaken, much to my pleasure. Now go in and win for--------’’ he looked at Norm and smiled but Norm shook his head and said, “for England, sir. The Surgeon grasped his hand and said, “She is my bride too.” Long weeks of training followed There were hard battles to.be won, tactics to be mastered before he should prove efficient for active service. At last orders came to embark and all was made ready. Everyone seemed to have someone to say good bye to but Norm who stood alone at the prow of tin; transport while others were saying their last farewells. Gazing into the crowd of mixed faces he realized that he was alone, having not even a friend

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26 SENIOR MAGNET his finger tips as he lessened their speed, when glancing up and across the room as if seeking the latent force that would give him definite motion he met a pair of eyes. They had no color to him. It was only their message he read, which was, “I understand, .but wait.’’ Norm dropped his chisel and the clang as it hit the cement floor yoke him from his revery and again his hands began their sure rapid work and with mechanical regularity ;the shells were finished. All thought exfcept the work at hand had vanished. That night he worked over time, finishing up extra shells that were needed for the shipment the next day; working untiringly. He did not notice anything to fight or too young, and Norm Eslinton. Norm was the subject of ridicule and the principal actor in our story. He had stayed at home now through three years of war, answering no call to the colors and, as everyone thought, feeling no pride, no love, no loyalty to his mother country. The name of “Coward” had been given him, shouted at him with all the vehemence of an old loyal Tory, and it had been his only name fo]r two years. He had worked untiringly and had kept his mother, his only relative, the only one he had to love, and who cherished him with a selfish mother-love that grew with every feeble beat of her old heart. He had kept her as few in those troubled around him, not even the hands that times had been cared for. Spending, and taking pleasure in spending his all on her, he seemed to get his only solace, from the tender smiles of this wasted body, hiss mother. It seemed impossible that this fragile tiny woman of fifty-one could possess, body and soul a boy—no, a man; twenty years old, tall, clear-eyed, not handsome but clean and attractive. But this was so, for Norm idolized his mother. All the sneers, even his name, Coward,” seemed to fade when she smiled. But they came back with the night, and reject them as he would, they rose and taunted him with their truth. A desire filled him to prove them false but with the day light this thought fled, and again he endured the jeers with downcast eyes and worked steadily finishing the shells that his army needed so badly. Today the struggle seemed harder to bear. He must go away. Anything but stay here. Even remembering his mother’s clinging hand and smile only handed the shells to him at the needed moment nor took them away when they were finished. A shell done but the hands did not supply another. He turned impatiently and a low vpice spoke, “That was the last.” Curipus. he glanced up and met the eyes, gray tliey were and steady, but, still greater, their owner was a girl. Norm was bewildered and annoyed What right had she to put him in such an embarrassing position and what should lie say? Then realizing that he must say something he blurted but “Thank you.” “Oh, that’s all right. I knew you were tired and w'orried and the shells weren’t heavy. I saw that you were thinking only of the work and I wouldn’t be noticed so I just had to. help—England. My name is Nellie.” A strange feeling filled Ncrm for these were the first kind words he had received, except from his motier. for so long that, boyishly, he had a big longing to cryr. “It was mighty good of you—ah!—Nellie, but vou see, it seemed to strengthen his purpose. His might place you in an embarrassing po-hands grew clumsy tightening the cop- sit ion because I am known as the per bands. Once the machine scraped ‘Coward.’ ” The last word came as if

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28 SENIOR MAGNET to shake hands and say, “See you later.” He was standing there gazing, hoping that a fleeting, teary smile might find its way to him when an ensign brought him two neatly folded notes. A business like farewell from the Surgeon and another read, “Prove, boy, that you are what I know you are and bless you.—Nellie.” These two little messages brightened the whole universe and were tucked away in his breast pocket, to be always kept there, and when the boat left the dock, Norm was whistling and being called heartless by all but a few. The summer of 1916 was drawing to a close and still the lost forts, Martin-puich and Courcellette had not been recaptured. Every hour of daylight was used in an unrelenting drive by the English, concentrated at these two points. Line after line of the German trenches had been captured but for weeks this trench had held out against attack. Charge alter charge had been made but at one curve of the trench two machine guns were placed and all attacks were repulsed. Many tricks had been played in the effort to win this point but still the line held. This line was Germany’s last stand and to hold it until winter insured the possession of these two forts, so heavy forces were concentrated here. Order came from Sir Dorcas Huey, commander in chief, to have a man creep to this curve and bomb at close range these machine guns. Volunteers were many so Norm kept one machine gun manned instead of offering himself. Watching the man creep cautiously across the space only to be spotted by a search light and pathed or shot, acted as a brake on himself. He was not weak, he only saw that that plan could never work and his mind was busy with a new plan. Noting that each man left at about two o’clock and that the trench was quiet until five when the flag was raised, and also that each man was dressed darklv as he started across the intervening space he at last had the basis forj his idea. Going to General Havick he was re fused admittance because of a council going on. Again he sought admittance to the hut but again was turned l)ack. That night for the first time the autumn mist crept over the trenches. Realizing that if the forts were to be taken before winter something must be done quickly, he again sought General Havick. The council was still on for the tent was lighted, so plunging past the guards he entered the hut. '1'he men around the table started up, reaching for their revolvers, when one of them spoke, “Well, well, boy, if it isn’t my friend the------.” A pleading look passed over Norm’s face and; the voice finished, “Norman Eslinton.” Norm reached out his hand and grasped that of Surgeon Howes, too overcome with conflicting emotions! to speak. General Havick, dealing bluntly with the interruption asked, “Well, sir, what news?” Again Norm was all business. “I wish to speak regarding the destroying of the curve machine guns. May I outline a plan I am sure will succeed?” General Havick looked questionly at the faces around ; the rough table. They all signified consent, so he said, “Proceed.” Norm began, “As you have noticed, when a searchlight strikes a dark object through the mist the figure is distinctly seen, outlined, but if it strikes a white object through the mist the figure is hazy and the outline obscure and it is almost impossible to hit the figure shot at. Now, sir, we have sent out men at two or three o’clock and the German trench has been accustomed to the time. So here is my plan :—