Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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SENIOR MAGNET 29 Send out a man as usual, then about five when the mists are clearing I will go out wrapped in white and when you hear the first bomb go off, have all the troops charge and while you are crossing the space I will see that they are kcpt: busy and the machine guns destroyed. Now, sir, does it go?” All the faces were grave with thought, so Norm stepped outside to permit them to discuss the plan. Soon Surgeon Howe came out and placing his hands on Norm’s shoulders he said, “Good hoy, I can only pray it works.” Tl at morning just as the mists wavered faintly in the breeze a white cloaked figure crept over the mound in front of the British trench, creeping half doubled along the ground, farther and farther away until its movement became one with the movements of the fog. Now the fog was thinning, there the search light, a wavering pencil of light, nearer, nearer, nearer! Why didn’t it strike him? There a shadowy form loomed in its focus but the figure widened, shortened, narrowed, lengthened. How was anyone to hit a phanthom thing like that? A few reports sounded but the figure had disappeared. Could Norm, the laughing Norm, the one to whom all turned for spirit when war seemed driving them insane, could he have been killed? Then all at once an ear-splitting peal rent the air, closely followed by another and another. Out of the trenches pounded the British troops, eagerly taking up the distance between them. Had not one man done it, so why not they f As Surgeon Howe ran, urged on by tie repeating thunder of bombs as they were thrown he panted, “Good gosh ! How many of those things did that man carry? One is bad enough but I’ve counted eight and expect to hear another in a minute. He said he would keep them busy. ‘Coward!’ Bosh!” At nine o’clock the British forces were in possession of the trench and Generali Nivelle from the south had taken possession of the trench and Forts Combles and Buchavennes. The roll was called to determine the dead or missing and Norm was found wanting—Norm, the hero, missing! Regardless of commands the men broke ranks and scattered but it was Surgeon Howe that found him. Down in the curve, using for support a broken machine gun, he called to the Surgeon for aid and then collapsed. The men carried him to the General’s tent and, laying him on the cot, went out and joined their comrades to await news. The surgeon ordered all from the tent and began investigations. “It's no use, sir. You see they got me the first thing but I had to put out those guns because I knew my plan was good, sir. ‘I’m no coward.” His voice with its catch of weakness, its hesitation, went on, “Have I made good, sir, for England?” A fluttering hand reached out and grasping the hand of General Howe in a grasp born of agony he tried to speak, “Tell Nellie, I promised Mother------.” But it was too late, for the gates had opened wide and the soldier’s soul had passed through. But those last words told the secret of “The Coward.” MARGRETHE—LOST AND FOUND MARY HOLT In the little town of Darlington the the dark old stone mansion on the hill only foreboding shadow seemed to be side facing the town. The children of

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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 :—

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30 SENIOR MAGNET the town looked upon it and Its owner with driad, but their parents were all well acquainted with its dismal story and it ?as no longer of any particular interest (to them. I 1 he Owner of the mansion was William Sti art, a hard, miserly man who could boast of few neighbors and no friends. I At the age of thirty-five he had married a charming girl of nineteen aiuj it soon became known that it was the! social position as mistress of that stately old mansion rather than the devotion of the man that had won her heant. Two years later a pair of little strangers came to their home. The car ? of the two children occupied most of fhe young wife’s time and her great loye tor her babies either made Margrethe. vgrave with scarcely the semblance ot grief on the part of her hard-hearted husband. Martin grew up and attended school with the rest of the boys of the toivn lie sought his pleasures in their lies- s rather than in his own. As for William Stuart little can be said of the fifteen years of his life after the disappearance of his child and the death of his wife except that he grew more sullen than of old. He no longer hesitated to say that all he had, which was no mean fortune, he would gladly give if he could only have his daughter and her mother. But the mother, lie knew, was beyond recall and he no longer entertained any hopes of finding her oblivious of or indifferent to her husbands cruel neglect. For two years and a half she was apparently happy, but one day her happiness was turned to the deepest sorrow. The babies, Martin and Margrethe, were playing in the yard one sunny afternoon when a man who had been lurking near the gate, entered and began to talk tx the children. lie talked a few minutes and finally took Margrethe in his arms and walked away. Martin, being too young to understand the real significance of the act, wandered about among the flowers. When Mildred jStuart went out to look for the children she was frantic at the loss of her baby girl. Rough, stingy and unkind as Wm. Stuart was he spared neither time nor money in his search for his little daughter. As his efforts became more hopeless and futile he became more neglectful of his wife’s happiness, for he unjustly laid the blame of his misfortune on the shoul- LOne evening he was particularly lonely and he decided to attend the.religious services being held in the little church at the foot of the hill. The minister was an evangelist from a western state and his daughter sang at most of the meetings. lie knew he would enjoy the songs and he could leave if he did not wish to listen to the sermon. With the last thought uppermost in his mind he went to church. He almost wished he had remained at home but from the moment that Margaret Miller began to sing he was unable to give his attention to any one else. Why did her beautiful face attract him so? Did he not hate all Why did she women ? such disturbing memories of his bring back - fn' happy wife? He would leave at once, lie thought. Then again he decided to stjjjy, and stay he did until services were over. As he stepped thorugh (he church door he was much surprised to see Martin walking away by the side ders of lfis young wife. All the love oj Rev. Miller’s daughter. His heart that she lavished upon her baby' son ' suddenly filed with dislike for the girl, could not brighten her cloud of sorrow Why he felt that way he could scarcely and she sank prematurely into he tell unless it was because she reminded