Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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24 THE SENIOR MAGNET The young man was about to speak when Elaine opened the door and said, “Thank you for driving me home, Jack. Good-night.” Jack Fitzgerald watched her go in, and when the door w-as closed, he turned and walked to his car. Jack was a junior member of the Mellon Manufacturing company. In the short time he had known Elaine, he had learned to think a lot of her. He saw her every day and drove her home every night from work. He did his best to get Elaine a position in the main office; but, due to facts which have already been explained, it was quite impossible. Elaine was surprised and glad to see Faith so happy. This made her feel better, and indeed, she hummed a little tune while preparing their evening meal. It was not often that Elaine felt like singing. Months passed and each day Elaine noticed the marked improvement in Faith. Days were shorter and not so hard for Elaine. Elaine couldn’t understand the sudden change. One Saturday, on her way home from work, Elaine stopped in a book store for a book for Faith. Her attention was attracted by the advertisement of a book. Upon asking the clerk about it, the clerk showed her a pretty little book bound in red. The title was “Mother’s Prayer.” Elaine opened it to the dedication page and read: “To mv dear Mother, now in the great beyond, I dedicate this book,” —signed A Plagiarist. Elaine looked through the book and decided to purchase and take it to Faith to read. She paid the clerk for it, and as he handed her the package, he remarked that “Mother’s Short Stories” was another good book by the same author. Elaine hurried home, and as she turned the corner of the street on which she lived, she was surprised to see Jack’s car in front of the house. Her first thought was, “Could anything have happened to Faith?” She seemed to run down the street and up the steps. At the top of the stairs she ran smack into Jack and Mrs. O’Brien who were coming out of Faith’s room. Elaine saw at a glance by their faces that Faith was all right, but what could it all mean? “Why, Elaine” said Jack “I just stopped in for a visit with your sister. I missed you after work, or I would have brought you home.” “Oh, then,” exclaimed Elaine, “is Faith all right?” “Why, what do you mean dear?” asked M rs. O’Brien. Elaine explained it and they all laughed. Jack remarked that a few more frights and Elaine would he a wreck. Faith called them into the room saying she didn’t want to miss anything. After Jack and Mrs. O’Brien had gone, Elaine presented the book to Faith. A look of surprise came to Faith’s eyes, and Elaine, seeing this said, “have you read this, Faith?” “Yes, you see I—er—” stammered Faith. “You see Mrs. Karmen across the hall brought it over for me to read, and 1 have just sent it back.” “Was it good?” asked Elaine? “Uh-huh,” answered Faith, seemingly in deep thought. That evening after the dishes were done and Faith was busy mending. Elaine took the book and sat down near Faith to read. “Say, Faith,” said Elaine, “things have been sort of queer lately. For the last few months at my regular whistle as I come up the stairs, i hear the rattle of paper in here, and I come in to find you sewing or knitting or reading. I did not think so

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THE SEMOR MAGNET 23 Faith’s Faith Ruth E. Greene Faith Drummond was her name, and she lived with her sister in one of the many rooming houses of New York. Her sister Elaine worked in the office of a large manufacturing company. Faith did not work though. No. She was a cripple due to an accident in which she lost her parents It had been five years since Mr. and Mrs. Drummond, Faith and Elaine had left their little home in Evansville, to visit relatives in Chicago. The train on which they were passengers was wrecked in a head-on collision. Mr. Drummond’s death was due to a fractured skull and Mrs. Drummond had been reported burned to death. After the bills were settled, the small sum of $500.00 was left, with which Elaine and Faith came to New York. With her slight knowledge of office work, Elaine was scarcely able to make a living. Their little room was very cozy with cheap but clean draperies. Elaine had brought a few old pictures from their home, and these adorned the walls. Their landlady, Mrs. O’Brien, was a jolly little woman. She took pleasure in doing little things for the girls. Faith was in her care all day; and Mrs. O’Brien’s two chubby children helped keep Faith in good spirits. The office in which Elaine worked was that of the Mellon Manufacturing company. She worked day in and day out, each day praying for a raise in salary and position; but the men and women who held positions above her, had been there tor years and were receiving such won- derful pay that there was nut much chance of their leaving or of advancement for Elaine. As Faith sat at the window of the room she had learned to call home, she thought of how hard Elaine had to work to keep them both alive. (This was her constant worry.) Mrs. O’Brien had taken her two kiddies to the dentist and this gave Faith a chance to think. ”1 am a hindrance to Elaine’s happiness. That young Jack Fitzgerald is wild about her and, if the truth were only known, I know he has asked Elaine to marry him; but she can’t on account of me. Oh dear God! Why didn’t you take me instead of Mother and Dad?” Tears ran down Faith’s pretty pale face. “If I had only inherited some of Mother’s talent for composing and writing stories!” Then, as if by magic, an expression of happiness lit up her face. A half-hour afterwards, when Mrs. O’Brien came back from the dentist, she found a very happy Faith. At the lapse of an other half hour, Mrs. O’Briei. left the room and her old Irish face beamed with excitement. At six o’clock a pretty sport roadster drove up in front of the house, and a young man jumped from it and helped Elaine out. They walked up to the door and Elaine turned to bid the young man goodbye. “Elaine,” said the young man, “when will you give me a definite answer ?” Elaine looked at the young man and said, “You understand, Jack. Must I explain again?”

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THE SENIOR MAGNET 25 much of that; but then I come home and find Jack here with you, and Mrs. O’Brien. Then I buy a lately published book, and it contains the same story mother told us six years ago, and which she claimed was original. Putting two and two together. I have just decided that either you, Jack, or Mrs. O’Brien has published mother’s stories. Tell me, Faith, please! Am I not right.” Faith’s face was wreathed in smiles. “Elaine, you foxy old goose you!” said Faith. “You understand now. We kept it a secret for the last four months. I will explain. I had often wished for mother’s knack for writing stories, and never thought of having mother’s stories published until Mrs. OBrien suggested it. I got to work and wrote them out and gave them to Jack to have published. The day you met him in the hall, he brought me my first check for one thousand dollars, and—” Just then the door opened and an elderly woman entered. “My own dear little girls,” she cried as she burst into tears. Elaine ran to her side and helped her to a chair. “Mother, cried Elaine and Faith. Elaine fell to her knees in front of the woman and kissed her hand. Faith had by this time wheeled her chair to the woman’s side. Mrs. O’Brien sat with her apron to her eyes. I need not describe the scene of two daughters finding the mother whom they believed to be dead. Mrs. Drummond had been taken from the wreck to the hospital, and after months of untiring effort on the part of the doctors and nurses, she had got better, but her mind was a blank. She could not remember her name, and there were no means of identification. Two years ago she had married Dr. Stoddart, the doctor who was able to save her life, but not her memory. Up until today she could remember nothing that happened before she was taken from the wreck to the hospital. She had picked up Faith’s book at one of the stores, and that night while reading it, her memory suddenly cleared and she realized that she was reading a story that she composed and told her two daughters. She immediately inquired of the publishing company where she could find the author, and was given Jack’s address. As the Fitzgeralds and Dr. Stoddart were the best of friends, Mrs. Drummond, was sadly disappointed but, upon questioning Jack, she found that her own baby daughter was the author in question. The setting of the scene is a beautiful garden in full bloom; the characters are Mrs. Stoddart, a nice young man, Faith and a pair of beautiful grey hounds. Mrs. Stoddart is reading. The young man and Faith are laughing and talking. Dr. Stoddart makes his appearance reading a telegram. Faith runs to his side, (Oh, yes, the use of her legs was restored under the knife of her new father.) “We’ll arrive on 3:15. Love, Elaine and Jack,” read Dr. Stoddart. “Oh, Mother,” cried Faith “and it is now 3:10. Their honeymoon is at an end, and we will have our Elaine once again.”