Butler High School - Tropaeum Yearbook (Butler, IN)

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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

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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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EASTSIDE Hs LICRARY , “She'll probably give up in the morning, but I can’t bear to think of her going to bed without her dinner.” ‘He finally slept but not restfully and awoke the next morning out of sorts with himself and everyone else, particularly Sidney Trayman. Sidney also went to bed unhappy but thinking more of Jim than ever before. ; “TI don’t believe he loves me after all, but I never saw him look so strong as when he said I had to scrub those steps before I could eat. I believe I'll do it in the morning to Surprise him.”’ With this intention She slept. The next morning when she arose and went down stairs the first person she met was Jim McArthur. He was very much displeased with himself and every thing, as we have said, and consequently did not look very amiable. “Where are you going?” hedemanded. His very tone antag onized Sidney and with a toss of her head she replied, ‘To breakfast, of course,---have you any objection?” “Yes, Ihave. As I told you Sidney, no one is to eat until they have performed their duties. Unfortunately I have been chosen to ex- ecute this, and disagreeable as it is, I must say you'll have to serub those steps before breakfast.” Without replying, Sidney turned and walked off in the direction of the river, “O what a brute I’ve been,” starting after her and there checking himself. ‘‘No, I can’t give up so easily,-I’ll wait a little.” All day McArthur cursed himself for being six or seven different kinds of asses, and finally decided to go to her and ask pardon for his brutality, before dinner. . To his repeated knockings he got no reply, so he thought he must have “‘queered himself for good.” Sidney was as miserable as possible and stayed out of doors all day, So it was not strange that Jim received no reply to his overtures for peace. She was unhappy and hungry, about the worst state a girl can be in. “T suppose he’ll think I’m nothing but a stubborn child, so to-night Pll go and scrub those abominable steps.”’ That night about 12:30 a forlorn figure might have been seen steal- ing out of the big door with a pailful of water in one hand and several minute handkerchiefs in the other. “O dear! Why didn’t I give in before?” and salt water mingled with the water in the pail, She was alarmed to hear a step behind her, and upon turning she saw McArthur. She looked instinctively for a hiding place, but as none was near, she turned to meet him. He had been unable to sleep and had come out for a stroll in the moonlight. When he saw Sidney he was undecided what to do, but upon seeing her tear-stained face, he ex- claimed, “What a -brute’ P’ve been,” and then started toward her. Sympathy was more than Sidney could bear and breaking into tears again. She sobbed, “I’m (tears and sobs) so sorry (tears and ditto) and so hungry.”’ . In a moment---well it was kind of the moon to disapper behind: a cloud just then. Jannet Mason, ’10.° 29