Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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T :' S E N JO R IM AG N li T have hunted everywhere for it, hut it is no use. I put it in the drawer of our table hut when I went to get it, lo, it was not there. Now if any of you know where it is you are brighter than I am.” The girls looked from one to another. They couldn’t understand the situation any better than Jean could. It sure was a case for the detective. Part of the girls thought they knew about the story, but they woudn’t say anything to Jean for it would hurt her honest little heart; for she was true as steel herself, and she could not imagine anyone’s being anything else than just as honest as she was. If anyone had been watching Louise very closely when Helen spoke about having heard Jean’s story, they would have noticed her start very violently and get terribly pale. I lowever, she calmed herself almost immediately and snatched up the trigonometry into which Jean saw her gazing so intently. Thoughts were chasing themselves in Louise’s brain, what should she do? Tell Jean and forever lose the respect of the girl she both loved and envied? No, that would never do. Should she stay away from class when the essays were read and let the class think what they would? Or should she go to Professor Cdeeman and tell him the whole story? No, she could not do that for she stood in awe of the white-haired old gentleman whom everyone loved and honored. What would he think of her if he should find it out? Her conscience was hurting her terribly and she was aware of the fact that it was beginning to show on the outside. For that round dimpled face which was her pride and joy, was getting thin and the black eyes were loosing their sparkle. Louise had noticed Jean’s eyes following her inquiringly and one day when she asked it she was ill, Louise had snapped her off with a quick “No thank you.” All this time the day was rapidly ap- proaching for the Westminster-Oberlin game. A substitute was put in Jean’s place, but oh! she was not to be compared to their own Jean and they were sure they would lose. Finally the day came for the big game, also for the reading of the English compositions. Louise was unable to go to class for she had not slept a wink the night before, and now that the terrible ordeal had arrived she could hardly stand it. “Oh, why did I ever do it?” she asked herself when she was alone. Jean had gone to class with a very sober face. In the English classroom all was excitement. Professor Gleeman had just read a very wonderful essay written by Louise Glenn. When he had laid the essay down, Helen Martin asked for permission to speak. “Mr. Gleeman, you may think me bold when I say this, but I don’t believe Louise wrote that essay. It sounds mighty like the one Jean Handel wrote.” Jean upon being questioned, said that it did sound very much like hers; but as she had lost it. no doubt this one did belong to Louise, and with that decided to drop the matter, although she did wonder how anyone could write anything so very nearly like her own. Professor Gleeman was puzzled. Did Louise Glenn, his dullest pupil, write that wonderful composition, and why did Jean Handel, his brightest pupil fail to hand any in at all? He decided he would send for Louise herself; so that evening while the rest were at supper, Louise received a message to go to the office. She knew what was coming: they had found out about the story. Oh, what would they do, would she be expelled? It was too terrible to think about. The kind old Professor was stern when he asked Louise if she did or did not write the essay. Louise dropped her eyes and in a low tone replied. “I did not.” Then between sobs she told him

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10 THE SENIOR (MAGNET “THE TELL-TALE STORY” Miriam Greenlee The final game of the basket-ball season was only a week away and now the beloved, admired, fast forward, Jean Handel, had failed in her English and could not play. During her four years at Oberlin, Jean had held the place as forward on the girls' team. If she was considered good her first year, what was she now? Her speed and accuracy could not be surpassed. She was swift and easy in her passes and hardly ever missed the basket, even on the longest throw. But—she failed to hand in her essay in English and this cut her mark down so low that it was impossible for her to play. The rest of the team were horrified. I heir Jean failed in English? Impossible! She was always so prompt in handing in her work, and her recitations were always so good. Surely it was all a mistake. ‘'Well ' said Helen Martin, a leader in the crowd, “I think it is up to us to ask Jean herself about this, I don’t understand it. So the crowd started on the search of Jean. They found her in her room curled up in a big chair, her eyes red from weeping. At the other side of the room, Louise Glenn, her roommate, was studying (?); but if you had good eyes, you could have seen that her book was upside down. There was a frightened, nervous look in her eves, yet with all this she seemed very calm and composed. Jean greeted the girls cordially as they came storming in; Louise spoke politely and coldly, but then that was nothing new, Louise always seemed so haughty. She had plenty of money and nice clothes, but was not gifted with brain power. Consequently she was very jealous of Jean, who was bright as well as one of the most popular girls in the college. Another thing that kept Louise at arm’s length from the majority of the girls at school, was her lack of interest in athletics. With a great deal of coaxing she might be persuaded to go skating or on a hike, but to play basket-ball or hockey, never—it was too unladylike! So, on account of all these things, Louise drifted farther and farther away from the jolly bunch of girls and boys who were looking for the big things in life and finding them; and all this time that green-eyed monster of jealousy and envy was creeping more and more into the very soul of Louise, depriving her of all the joy of school day life. The girls gathered around Jean, plying her with questions concerning the report that had reached their ears about her not being allowed to play on the team. Yes, girls, 1 am sorry to tell you, but it is true. I did not hand in my composition, and this morning Professor Glee-man told me my credits ‘were cut down to 70% on that account.” But what do you mean?” demanded Helen Martin. “You know you had that composition written two weeks ago for you read it to me that night I stayed with you. It was simply wonderful, too; I never heard anything like it and why under the shining stars didn’t you hand it in? Jean hesitated as if half afraid to speak. Glancing hurriedly toward Louise, she saw that she was deeply absorbed in the sines and cosines of trigonometry, so she said slowly: Girls, 1 am almost ashamed to tell you, for I was careless enough to lose that composition, and as I had not written it over, I had only one copy. 1

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THE SENIOR MAGNET how she had found Jean’s story, and being unable to compose one of her own, had taken Jean’s masterpiece, knowing that it would keep her from playing on the team. Professor Gleeman had tears in his eves when Louise finished. I low he pitied the girl, yet it was his duty to punish her. What should he do? “Go to your room, pack your trunk, go home. We do not keep thieves in this college.” It was a severe sentence, but no more than the girl deserved. Jean did not return to her room after supper, but went directly to the gym with the rest of the girls. She could at least coach the girls if she couldn’t play on the team. It was just twenty minutes until time for the game to begin when a messenger came to the locker room, “Message for Miss Handel.” Jean hastily tore open the envelope. She read it through; then—“Girls, listen to this: “ ‘Your essay has been found. Will explain later. Take your regular place on team tonight. Professor Gleeman.’ ” “Oh, goody! Jean is going to play.” Jean hastily changed into her middy and bloomers and was ready with the rest when the whistle blew. Amid the cheers of the crowded gym, Jean took her accustomed place and played better than ever. It was a fast, close game with a final score of 22-25 in favor of Ober-lin. Jean hurried to her room after the game and was surprised to find Louise packing. “Why, what does this mean, Louise?” Louise quickly explained everything, adding that she was sorry to have taken the story. “Listen, dear,” said Jean as she gently took Louise in her arms; “You aren’t gor ing home. I’ll tell the Professor that you are sorry anti that will make it all right. Besides you and I are going to be real good friends.” Louise sobbed out her gratitude in her roomie’s arms and thus founded a lasting friendship between the two girls. Jean received permission from the Dean for Louise to remain; and having explained everything to the girls, the barrier was broken down between the haughty Louise and the jolly crowd at college. Through the efforts of Jean, Louise was received into the hearts of the college boys and girls and the last few months of her college course were the happiest she had spent in the whole four years. She loved and was loved bv all and finally realized what it meant to meet life squarely and not be jealous of the one who happened to be brighter than she was. This above all else, To thine oven self be true; And it shall follow as the night— the day, Thou cans’t not then lie false to anyone.