Central High School - Interlude Yearbook (South Bend, IN)

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22 THE INTERLUDE 1 1 1 AN ECHO OF INGOMAR 1 1 . 66 UU 'mayileave the room. the teach- s' er s voice was unusually stern and the poor little Freshman to whom fn' the command was given arose and walked shamefacedly out of the room. He could not understand the reason for this harsh treat- ment when his only offence was to whisper some- thing to the pretty blue-eyed girl who sat in the seat in front of him. And now to be thus hu- miliated in front of her just when he was begin- ning to get a stand-in ! He now stood for a few moments dejectedly in the hall and looked around him bewildered, for this was the first time he had suffered such a humiliation and he did not know what to do. He could not go to the study hall and walk in under the scrutiny of so many curious eyes. He could imagine the the students snickering and whispering to each other as he walked up the aisle to take his seat. The very thought of it caused him to blush for shame and so he crept down the hall on tip-toe, fearing the prying eyes of some teacher. He thought of going home, which reminded him that his hat was in his locker on the second floor. He walked downstairs, and, as he passed the open door of the Assembly, he was greeted by a cool breath of wind. The large, empty room looked so inviting that he could not resist going in. The day was an extremely hot one for that time of the year and the Freshman had a bad case of spring fever as well as the blues, so he thought he would lie down on one of the benches and await the ringing of the bell. Then by mingling with the crowd he could avoid being caught. He threw himself down on one of the seats in the back part of the room and began to ruminate on the misery of a Freshman's life in High School. He had not lain there very long when he heard footsteps coming toward him. lt proved to be Mr. Vvhitenack in company with many prominent personages, among whom he recog- nized Samuel Adams. They were discussing the probability of Mr. Bryan's running for the pres- idency in the next election. The Freshman was very much interested to hear what they would say about it, and in his eagerness he fell off of the seat and hit the floor with a loud crash. He looked around him. The room was empty and Mr. Wlhitenack was nowhere to be seen-but what was that noise in the front part of the room? He peeped out cautiously and in front of the platform saw a group of students gathered, whose actions were the queerest imaginable. A tall, well-built fellow, whom he immediately recognized as a hero of the gridiron, was stand- ing in front of a girl, rubbing his hands and making profuse gestures. He was boasting that his lineage had sprung from the gods and that he would confer a great honor upon her by accepting her in marriage. The girl, whom he had seen leading the singing on the sidelines at the football games, did not see it that way and refused him. A short fellow. who was a stranger to the Freshie, now came in and began knocking on a chair, calling for it to open, saying he brought bad news. He was joined by two girls and, after talking awhile, one of them began to weep, begging for some one to save her husband from the barbarians. A group of fellows .now appeared, among whom he recog- nized the circulator of rlllilf lN'i'ERLuuis and one who had been pointed out to him as the leader of the Socialist party. The pretty girl how be- gan to beg each one in turn to save her dear father , but was refused by each in turn. She then ran out, crying that she would save him herself. At this juncture a short silence ensued and three fellows came in and, throwing themselves down on the floor, began to play craps much to the horror of the Freshman. He noticed that the fellow who always made THIS INTERLUDE an- nouncements was among them. They called for something to drink and one of their companions, who seemed to be very much abused, caught up a few steins and gave them to the players, who seemed to enjoy the beverage immensely. lt did not have a good effect on them however, for they rushed together as though each would tear the otheris throat out. The Breslin was greatly frightened. His hair stood on end, but to his great relief just as the smaller of the combatants picked up a hammer to dash out the brains of his enemy, the school comedian and yellmaster rushed in and separated lll16l'1'l. By this time the Freshman began to realize that he was witnessing a play rehearsal and set- tled himself comfortably to enjoy it. He was not much afraid of being seen for the room was growing rather dark and those in front seemed to be too much interested in themselves to take any notice of him. The maid of the comely countenance was now brought in by a large band of fellows, who called the comedian their chief. She knelt before him and implored him to allow her to ransom her father. After a great deal of confusion the request was granted and the band led off the poor father very roughly amid shouts and laugh- ter. The chief then threw himself down on the floor and demanded that the girl amuse him. She appeared very much frightened at first but soon regained her composure and, as the listening Freshman was quick to notice, the conversation turned to that world-old subject, love. The next act was very exciting. The dice- players did not seem to like the girl whom they

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THE INTERLUDE 21 Two minutes later, in response to a wild clanging of the church bell, out came the V01- unteer liire Department. Where? What? Who? They were all question marks, when a little figure rushed headlong past them, point- ing frantically in the direction of the old gen- tle1nan's house. Madly they raced over the quarter of a mile which separated them from the burning mansion. Bucket brigades were formed by the erstwhile astronomers. Servants tumbled out of the house, followed by the old gentleman in nocturnal habihments, while llll'OLlgll the commotion the figure of the girl could be seen rushing back and forth, saving this and that, and quieting the frightened ones by her cool voice. When it was over, the firemen mopped their brows, while a group of unfortunate astronomers looked in vain toward the east. W here's Olive? asked one. NVhy, l guess I locked her in her room, admitted lflora. I never thought-it was only a joke. Lome, girls, said Maude, we'll go and tell her. She wouldn't have seen it anyhow. The crowd had dispersed, and as they made their way home, it suddenly occurred to Ellen that there certainly had been another girl there. Several others were at the same time wondering, but as no one knew, the girls went on very much crestfallen. Creeping upstairs, they softly opened Olive's door and peeped in. She was sleeping soundly to all intents, though a close observer might have detected a slight quivering of the eyelids. And the girls cau- tiously withdrew. fil Pk Pk Ill Commencement Day was not bright and sun- shiny as all such days should be, but a dark, moody day with overhanging clouds looking as if they were brooding over the events and nod- ding their heads sagely. The graduates were nevertheless enjoying to the fullest extent their last moments together. Even Olive, though she felt keenlv disappointed over the loss of the prize, assumed-a brave and cheerful face. as if she had won two or three scholarships. The teachers, too, were in excellent spirits, though there was an inexplicable air of mys- tery about them, as if there was something nice to tell which they were forbidden. In the hall were numerous admiring friends and rela- tives, each proud of his own particular gradu- ate, and each wondering how one ever man- aged to get through school at all. By ten o'clock everyone was quiet and ex- pectant, until the speaker was announced. He had come from a neighboring city, and was very undeservedly famous. he gave the usual advice to graduates, who were facing this great world for the first time: warned them not to expect too much from it, and ended with a long peroration on the qualities necessary to success, which he analyzed almost to a chemical constituency. When he had finished, the principal of the school arose, and the air of mystery increased on the teachers' faces. With formal courtesy, to the surprise of the assembly, and especially Olive, the old gentle- man was introduced. His speech was on an entirely ditterent line from the other, for he mentioned the delights of this life if you can but discover them, and the fact that rightly- directed ambitions would be fulfilled, though perhaps not in the way you expected. With great skill, he introduced the story of his offer to the school, the hopes of certain students to obtain the prize, their disappointment and his. Then he began to tell of the fire, begin- ning at the very first, of how one of the gradu- ates had so hoped to get the prize that she would have risked much to get it. Olive felt her cheeks burn as he related her escape to the belfry, her inspiration to ring the bell, her bravery and quick action which saved his home, and her modesty which led her to say nothing about it. But she was found out, he concluded, and I think you will all agree, is entitled to some reward for her service, though she did not see the comet. Miss Olive, will you come forward, please. Feeling herself growing hotter every min- ute, Olive stepped forward, to receive a me- dium-sized oblong box. Inside was what looked like a telescope, and Olive was exclaim- ing with delight, when the old gentleman in- terrupted her. Press the spring, he said gently. Olive did so, and unfolded a paper with much writ- ing and many seals on it. I do hereby give and bequeath the - Olive's eye glanced quickly down the sheet. She was heir to all his property! Hardly able to believe her senses, she looked up at her ben- efactor. I am an old man, he said. My house is of no value to me, it has needed some bright human being to cheer it up, since-- his voice broke. Then without one thought of the surroundings, Olive ran and threw her arms impulsively around his neck. LILLTAN MARTIN, '10, Q-4 6-C 9 QQ X X U IIQ' . V , 2 9' N r 'Q

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THE INT said they had captured and plotted to get rid of. The short fellow who liked to fight, proposed to seize her and sell her as a slave to the lner- ehants of Carthage for arms and armlets tthough what use he could have for such things, the Freshman could not seej. The girl came walking innocently by at just this moment and they seized her and bore her away, screalning at the top of her voice. The large fellow who leads the school in yelling seenled to be destined to be a hero for he calne rushing in, flourishing a broom handle and rushed into the kidnappers, playing havoc with them and killing the smallest of them. Ile how lnade love to the girl at every oppor- tunity and seemed very much distressed because she said she wished to go home to her parellts. She, however, finally consented to lnarry him, providing he would have his hair cut and live with her people. To colnply seemed to cost him a great deal of effort but he finally consented E RLUDE 23 and they went off arnl in arln. The fifth act was now announced and the lov- ers 1'C-C1lt6I'Ctl Zllltl continued their conversatioll. Soon, however, they were joined by a third party whom the girl called father , The way he hugged her and wept on her shoulder was really alarming. As for the rest of the play the Freshman could not see through it. The large fellow began to fight with the football hero, who seelnd very mucll afraid of him alld the hero again embraced the heroine to an alarming ex- tent and Hlllltl a great deal of SllOLlt1llg they all 'trooped out. 'llle I'I'CSlllllZ1ll too, ran hurriedly downstairs and llolne as last he COLllLl go, Zilllu, although he lelt greatly worried as to llUW lle could explain to tlle teacher 111 the IIlOI'l111lg, lle felt he had witnessed solnething wortll Wlllle even though he had done lt in 5iL1Cl1 a questionable way. A. STRONG, 1O.. .f... Af AFTER HIGH SCHOOL---WHAT? in pg X S junetime hastens upon us, a host of 1275 W, questions stare every Senior in the EQ face-questions far more puzzling than if we have ever met before, which is say- ing nluch, considering that we have experienced four years of recitations and tests. After High School-what? What do we owe those who have made lligh School possible for us, for what are we best qualified, what do we lnost enjoy, what college is best suited to our needs, what course is the lnost practical? liver since our longings to be washer-women and policemen have' vanished, we have eagerly peered illto the future where we see our hopes, our desires gratified, the goal of our ambitions reached. Perhaps many of you, juniors, like us, have sketched and mapped your career as though it were but a house to plan. But we lnust remember that these questions cannot be answered by mere visionary designs, the doings of the world will not con- form to our lnodels, the passing years only can reveal what lies before us. Next year will find some of us no longer boys and girls but men and women, with their cares, pleasure, and duties. We shall be working, we shall begin to understand what it is to live, our education will continue, not in books but ill ex- perience. All hail the independent girl, the inde- pendent boy! Some of us will leave high school to be our mothers' and fathers' helpers. Per- haps we shall not be so active and conspicuous in the affairs of the day, but our duties will be none the less worthy. All hail the home girl, the home boy! Some of us are looking forward to several more years of preparation in college. A pleasant prospect indeed! For, from the experi- ence of the grown-ups and froln our own knowl- edge, there are 110 days so happy or so profitable as those ill which work and play are so combined as to make the jolly, active schoolboy and girl. But, although our advantages are different, our possibilities are the same. A college education neither makes a 1118.11 a success nor a failure. lsvery lnan lllubt be self-lnade. So let us, using our opportunities as best we can, constantly strive toward that llllllt wlllch can only be approaclled, never reached-the l11111t of our possibilities. lint now as tlle time towards which we have looked so eagerly draws near, we pause, we lalter, we WULA1kl Lltilbly tile now unwelcome hour NVUCII we leave the carefree occupations of youth to assume tue lnore serious tasks of 111611 and WOIHCII. We W15l1 we might stay ill lligh School just a little longer. lerllaps we COL1lLl it the UL1llLllllg xi ere larger, but, as it is, we l1'lllSt hasten on. lllose questions are ClHlIlOI'1llg tor answers. We are soon to begin work on the telnple of our alnbitlons. Already we have the foundation laid, and strong and reliable that foundation lnust be, for it is largely the work of those who have guided, taught, and encouraged us with never- Ikllllllg interest. Now we lllL1Sl. erect that super- structure NVll1Cl1 shall be as firm as our efforts are earnest, as lofty as our arms are noble, as beautiful as our spirit is pure. Although the plans for that telnple are drawn, we can not de- scribe it until it is finished. VVe lnay not have lnaterial enough. Time lnay change it, the tim- bers we raise lnay be too lofty, the framework lnay totter and fall. But all of us, juniors and Seniors, can answer one question which deter- Il1l11CS whether our telnples shall be the work of conscientious builders or of cowards. Are we going to be cheerful, diligent, earnest, and sincere, whether we ll'l6Cf with dlsappointlneht or encour- agemellt, defeat or victory, whether our 113.11165 be cherislled by ten or ten thousand? Let us an- swer with a resounding Yes -and success to you. MILDRED LAMBERT, '10.