Butler High School - Tropaeum Yearbook (Butler, IN)

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across country on a day like this is more than I can understand; of course its their afternoon out, but why weren’t they content to stay here and at least try to be cool.. I wonder how that sick. woman they took away this morning is now. Believe I’ll walk down by the river to a nice cool place and—no I don’t want any company—good-bye.”’ Jim McArthur watched the pretty figure of the girl as she walked away, wondering as he did so, why Sidney Trayman was so preverse and would never listen to him when he told her of his love for her. Love! He’d followed her for two years now, from the city to the sea- shore, from the seashore to the country and back to the city and he de- clared to himself (as he neverhad the chance to unburden himself to her) with all the customary ardor of lovers that he would follow her t o the ‘‘ends of the earth.”’ His revery was interrupted by the appearance of a man riding up the shady drive on a bicycle. As he came nearer McArthur saw he was in the uniform of a policeman. ‘‘Wonder if we’re harboring a thief or a murderer,” tho’t Jim. “Hey, you there! Where’s Mrs. Smith?” naming the proprietor of Meadow Brook. ‘Asleep, like all sensible people in this beastly heat. What’s the row?” “O, nothing at all. Ive only ridden twenty miles in this sun to this blasted place to see that none of you people get away,’ making a vain attempt to appear calm, “‘you’re under quarantine.” “Quarantine!” gasped Jim. ‘“‘Great Scot, what for?”’ “Smallpox. That woman they took away this morning had it, and every one in this house will have tostay fortwo weeks. Just my luck,” he grumbled on ‘‘to be sent on a job like this.—-I’ll have the willies for a fair out here among the swells with nothing to do.” He went into the house in search of Mrs. Smith leaving McArthur on the porch. It seemed as tho’ the news spread like wild fire, for within ten min- utes nearly all the inmates of the hotel were on the hitherto deserted veranda, excitedly discussing the recent calamity. Mrs. Smith was in hysterics at the tho’t of a quarantine in connection with her aristocra- tic place. Some of the people were angry, others treated the whole thing as a joke, but all realized that they must stay, regardless of plans and personal interests. “Well, atleast there are the servants and we shall be no worse off than before,” said pretty Mrs. Lawton, a dainty woman who was the wife of a New York financier. Then the horrible blow came--there were no servants! Since they had gone out for the afternoon of course they would not be allowed to return. Every one simply stood and stared at each other. McArthur was the first to recover from the surprise and shock. Drawing a long breath he said, ‘‘I suppose the only thing to do, is for each one to do his share of the work and get along the best we can. Why really, ‘‘bright- ening,’ I think that would be jolly—--just like camping out. Come on, let’s appoint some one as ‘boss’ and then things will go swimmingly.” The crowd caught some of his enthusiasm, tho’ they accepted work 27

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Pr ee Es es en Ht nn A I OE OS YO el SY OY ES HE SN a Se TS Se LITERATURE | Rem OE ar eee me 1 ene RSE RE BG SO eam HO Ge fe ¥ A Song of te O, list to the katy-did out in the clover— The clover whose gay robes have faded to brown. It is trying to tell us that summer is over, And all the green leaves will soon flutter down. O, why do you come with this message of sadness Disturbing the peace of a quiet summer’s day? Our hearts were so filled with contentment and gladness, O, why do you drive this dear feeling away? Why could we not live through the very last day, Without the forewarning that on the tomorrow, The beauties of nature would all fade away And leave us to mourn their departure with sorrow. So it is in the summer of glad happy youth, When our pathway is lit with the sweetness of love. The whole world is full of rich goodness and truth, The stars are so bright in the heavens above. Yet thus to each soul comes a low whispered warning, That we soon must enter the battle of strife. We too will awake and discover some morning That we are afloat on the broad sea of life. O, may we all to this warning take heed, And in our school-life keep a purpose in mind. So may we ever in each thought and deed, Perfect delight and true happiness find. Besse Wiley, ’08 Did SheSeub the Steps? “This is positively the hottest day I ever saw; it’s as bad as being alone in the wilds of Africa,—every one is asleep or cross as a bear, and its too warm for tennis or golf. This absolute quiet is wearing on me. Really I’m afraid I’ll become illnatured—wish I had some one to talk to.”’ The speaker was a pretty girl, who was sitting on the shady veranda of a summer hotel; near her stood a table upon which was a glass of lemonade and a choice collection of fans which she explained she was too warm to think of using. “Very much obliged for the comp,” returned a young man in white ducts, who was lolling on the veranda steps, ‘‘if I wasn’t so comfy, I’d get up and thank you with my best bow.” ‘“‘How those servants could stand it to togup and go off on a jaunt 26

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as an amusement rather doubtfully, and elected Jim manager-in-chief. ‘“‘To begin with,’’ he commenced in a business like tone, ‘““how many of us are there? Twenty? Good! We’ll now proceed to divy up. What can each one do best?” ; Again there was silence then a young girl spoke dubiously, ‘‘I---I can make welch rarebit and toast and tea.’’ This was greeted with a shout of laughter, but broke the ice, and soon every one was talking eager- ly of his or her accomplishments and within twenty or thirty minutes every one had been appointed to a place. Towards the last it was hard to find occupations for all, but as they had decided that no one could eat unless they had some duty and had duly performed it, all were eager for places. Jnst at this point Sidney Trayman came strolling up the path as calm and serene as asummer morn. A look of surprise came over her face as she saw the motley looking group in front of Meadow Brook. Indeed it was a strange sight; McArthur was still mounted on a chair where he had stood to oversee the appointments, aristocratic Mrs. Todd was wav- ing a dish cloth, Mrs. Lofter was brandishing the broom, Tom. Murson was coming up the garden path carrying a basket filled with vegetables. As soon as she was within hearing, they began to shout explanations. ‘“‘We’re quarantined’’--- “Small pox’’--- “EKivery one has to work,” ‘‘We’re having a circus” and so on. At last it was explained to her; then the question came up, what should Sidney do. “The only thing left is the office of scrub maid,” said Jim, “‘so you’ll have to scrub the steps.” ‘‘Indeed,’’ flashed Sidney, “‘and why will I have to serub?’’ ‘‘Now see here, Sidney, we’re all turning in; and you’ll have to do as the rest. It is my duty to enforce the law so unless you scrub you can’t eat,” urged Jim. But Sidney’s temper was roused and she declar- ed she would never scrub those steps which was the guty of the maid in question and over which she rebelled. “I'll never do it,’’ she said and walked off to her apartments the very picture of decision. The crowd soon thinned out, as the cooks and assistant cooks had to think of dinner “Perhaps I was too dictatorial,” thought Jim, “but now I can’t turn back and perhaps she will give in.”’ “OQ dear! Why was I such a baby,” grumbled Sidney as she reached her own room. ‘I won’t do it now though, if I have to starve.” The summer boarders were determined to have as good a time as possibly, so casting aside all formalities they were as happy as children. Consequently no cne noticed Sidney’s absence nor Jim’s pre-occupation. It was a beautiful evening and McArthur thought Sidney might come out for a walk in the moonlight, but she did not appear and he retired in no peaceful state of mind. 28