Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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10 THE SENIOR MAGNET and excited and Jane felt as if a bur- had to close his store since his clerks den had rolled from her shoulders. all attended the wedding. The next Wednesday a wedding “And to think,” said Marcia as she took place in Brookdale and the man- kissed the happy bride after the cere-ager of Borden’s Department Store monv, “it was all because of a ring.” THE QUITTEK Ralph Gossard Jim Maitland was, without a doubt, the fastest swimmer for Haversham High, but he was a “quitter.” He was all right as long as he had a good lead, but, when a contest became a hard one he would slow up and lose the race. On the day before the closing of school the coach and captain were debating whether to run him in the last dash of the water tournament. Haversham High’s only strong opponent was Collensville High. These two schools were now tied for first place and the winning of the tournament depended upon this last race, the sixty-yard dash. Jim was lined up with the others, when the shot rang out, and he was off with the rest. He swam well, until he saw he was not drawing away from the swimmer at his side. He seemed to stop only an instant and then start again, but that slump was too long. Jim arrived second and Haversham lost the tournament. Again he had quit. As he came out of the water and turned toward the dressing room, all eyes seemed to be directed toward him. Jim dressed in silence and soon left the locker room alone. His mind was filled with reflections about his failure. He tried to give excuses to himself, but none would answer. Then he thought, “I will join the army and then I won’t have to face my school-mates every day.” It was a very cold day and Jim and his chum were on guard duty at the big power-house dam just above the training camp. The two soldiers had been pacing back and forth along the dam rather vigorously to keep warm. For, although the mercury did not stand near freezing, it was a cold day for September. Only a small amount of power was being used, so a great volume of water was pouring over the dam. Soon after the two had gone on duty they saw a covered raft slowly drifting down stream. Both yelled, for they knew the raft contained dynamite to be used in a stone quarry up the creek. Jim yelled for Bill, his chum, to get the hoist rope from the power-house, while he began to strip. In a few seconds both were up along the bank toward the coming raft. Jim soon dived in, and swam with great speed, although he was dragging the rope. He swam harder and harder, for he knew that thousands of lives depended upon him, for what buildings the explosion of the dynamite would not destroy, would be washed away by the water from the bursted dam. How tired and cold his limbs were. How he

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THE SENIOR MAGNET 9 you'll make us jealous of you. Though I suppose we have no right to be,” put in Helen. “Girls I really wish you wouldn’t get in such a hurry. Why Jack and I aren't even engaged.” Jane, I know better. Where were you and Jack all day yesterday and why have you handed in your resignation? And that ring you wear is the very same one Jack had when he came home. It's as clear as day and I don’t see why you are ashamed of Jack. You’ll not find another like him in this town.” Marcia, I don’t understand. But if you girls will give me a chance I’ll try and explain.” Yes, yes do,” cried all the girls. “I think you had better and do be quick for I’m getting hungry,” said Helen. “Well, girls, you see it’s just this way: That ring Jack was wearing belonged to me. Mother gave it to me on my twentieth birthday and that was the very day Jack left for camp. I gave him the ring to wear until he could get a furlough home. This was his first furlough and when he left for camp last night he returned my ring. Surely that ought to clear matters.” “But, Jane, I asked brother last night what had become of his ring and he said he gave it to his wife. I would just as soon believe my brother as you, so there.” “Marcia, it’s not true and I don’t care if Jack did say so. He told an untruth. I shall write to him tonight. I'm going home now for there’s no use talking any longer. Good-night.” Jane left the girls and walked home alone, wondering about the incidents of the day. That night she wrote Jack a long letter and told him everything and asked him to write and tell Marcia that they really weren’t married. The next few day were busy ones for the girls, so they didn’t have much time for talking. They all avoided Jane as much as possible, especially Marcia Davis. Jane held her head high although her heart was aching bitterly and she felt the snubs of the girls more keenly than she was vyilling to admit. So the days passed and Jane had no answer from her letter. She was very much worried when the end of the week came and brought no letter from Jack. Late Saturday night after the store closed and the girls had all separated, Jane decided to walk around the park on her way home. The wind was blowing and Jane had to keep her head down to hold her hat in place so did not notice the fine looking soldier approaching. She bumped right into him and was excusing herself fairly well when he grabbed her arm. “Jane is it you? What are you doing out here in the cold? You ought to be at home. Come along and I’ll go with you for that’s where I was bound.” “Jack, Jane managed to gasp after she had recovered from the shock, “how did you get here?” “Train brought me. I came as soon as I could, Jane. Say this is a pretty mess we’re into and the only way out is for you to accept me. How about it, Jane? Do you think you could stand it a life time? We could settle those girls once and for all.” “But the girls aren’t to blame, Jack. Of course they couldn't believe anything else. It was all so suspicious.” “We’ll talk of that later Jane. Here you are at home. Now please tell me my fate, for I’m dying to know.” Evidently Jane’s answer was satisfactory for Jack went home happy

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THE SENIOR MAGNET 11 wished he could rest a moment. But he would stick this time; he wouldn’t be a quitter! He gained so slowly it seemed— what was that black bur directly in front of him? He bumped it with his hand—Oh, sure, it was the raft. In a daze he fastened the rope and he knew it was safe for his comrade had the other end fast to a tree. Then he lay down on the raft, all huddled up to keep warm. Thus he was found unconscious from cold, almost half an hour later. It was several hours until he had regained consciousness. Why were these fellows crowding around him and what were they saying about saving their lives? Where had he heard about a powder raft? Oh, yes, he had caught the raft and he had “stuck.” So, he was no longer a quitter. And he. fell asleep knowing that when he wakened all would “be right with the world.” TAKEN IN Mary Doerr “Mother, I’m going to run down to May’s and show Rose and her my new neck-piece,” called Laura Henshaw from the doorway. Laura was an eager, enthusiastic girl in the Senior class in High School, and of course, at the age when every new piece of finery caused a flutter in her heart, so she wanted to show her sister May, and her brother-in-law's sister, her new furs, particularly Rose, for they were the same age, and good friends. So the three girls beguiled a good bit of time away talking about Laura’s graduation, which was not far off. “Did you know Rose was married, Laura?” asked May, suddenly. “Oh, Mable, don’t start to kid me again. You know I’m hopeless and you always get the best of me,” exclaimed Laura. “If you don’t believe me, there’s her wedding ring, right on her hand.” And there, in plain sight, on Rose’s hand was a wedding ring. “Is that right?” asked Laura incredulously. “Surely, what do you suppose I’ve been doing here all this time?” asked Rose quizzically. “We’re married most a month and sowehow dad found out and he got angry and told me never to step inside his door again, if I had married that Dan Morris. I’ve been staying here till Dan and I can decide what we’re going to do.” Mable’s husband had been very sick, and was just getting better, and Laura thought Rose had come to help nurse her brother. Laura turned to her brother-in-law. Merce, that isn’t true is it?” she asked. And then, as he silently nodded in confirmation she turned to Rose and said, “Gee whiz, what did you get married for? Why you can’t have any fun at all now.” Oh, I just hate for folks to get married. One never hears a word about them afterwards, ’specially girls,” she went on with a comic gesture. And them, as they were going out, Rose to go to the store, and Laura to go home, Laura asked in a grieved tone, “Gee, Rose, what ever made you let me rave about a dinky little graduation, when you had such a thing as