Central High School - Cog N Pen Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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EXIT no means withered frame from the room. But here rose a new difficulty. Billy refused to depart! They finally got him down on the couch in the teacher's room, while all the time he was protesting, and, О master stroke of policy!—the subject of his protests was that he wanted to go back and take the test! In vain Mr. Elson promised and pleaded— Billy would go back, but as he tried to get up he fell back with another groan, clutching his sides frantically. Poor fellow, sighed Mr. Elson; poor, poor fellow—the pain's in his side now. Then Billy began to moan for a pencil, to take the test where he was; but such agonizing pains seized him when he tried to write, that the poor boy curled all up, giving vent all the while to perfectly terrific noise, until the distracted Mr. Elson was ready to yell in concert It was here | offered a self-denying, but helpful suggestion. Why not put off the test to some other day when the poor fellow is able to take it? І said, and Mr. Elson all but kissed me in his eager thanks for my kind idea! Well, of course, everyone in the school heard about Billy Wilbur's attack which was brought on by overstudy, and the sore throat, which lasted for two weeks, is better now. Mr. Elson put off the test until further notice, and as all this happened last month, and we have heard nothing further, we are calm and peaceful. Perhaps Mr. Elson is afraid of another attack! WHILE FATHER WAITED. By Elmer F. Powell. ITTLE girl, | want you to marry me. I've wanted you as long as | can remember. Will you?” “Бог the forty-fifth time, І will not!” “All right, dear. I'll be over to-night with tickets for the Globe. Will you go? “I will if you promise not to propose to me again. You're getting to be a nuisance, and I'm afraid A Afraid of what? “Well, I'm afraid I'll forget one of these days, and give the wrong answer. Fine! That's the way | like to hear you talk. ГІІ be over at seven-thirty, and | am not making any promises. Good-bye, little girl! Good-bye, you big goose 14 3 I kj T

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EXIT 14 “It wasn't absent-mindedness, | responded, for he doesn't know yet that we aren't going to have one. Doesn't he? asked Jennie, wonderingly. And when will he discover this mere detail? Go ahead and laugh, said І to myself. You'll all laugh to a different tune to-morrow if my scheme works. For, you see, | had a scheme, upon the success of which depended our marks in physics for that month. But | needed masculine advice, so | went to Billy Wilbur and put the case plainly before him. Не agreed to Бер. Billy Wilbur is our friend, а perfect gentleman. What useless cramming went on that night—what fearful attempts at eleventh-hour wisdom! The next day came, as next days have an unfortunate habit of doing, and with it came the third period. Mr. Elson gave out the paper, took off his glasses, wiped them, put them on again, and began writing the questions on the board. Nothing happened. He completed the first ques- tion, which, when we saw it, made us feel dizzy, and then he commenced on the second. Still nothing happened. Curses on that boy, thought I, —had he forgotten his part of the contract? But just then a low moan, as of an animal in pain, was heard, followed by a delightfully natural groan. Then Billy Wilbur quite outdid himself in a series of ear-splitting cries, which he emitted with great rapidity and expedition, as though he wished to get them out of his system as soon as possible. Poor Mr. Elson, who was just writing telegraph, stopped short at tele, dropped the chalk and book out of his hands, but left his arms in the same position as before. He pivoted his face around without turning his body, and said Eh? with such an expression of hurt surprise, disgust, and doubt, that І just leaned back and roared. I simply couldn't help it. “It hurts here! howled Billy, spreading his hands widely over the region of his chest and center of gastronomical activi- ties. And with blood-curdling yells he continued to elucidate on his sudden attack. The whole class flocked about him, except Johnny Linden, who never lost his wits, even in time of excite- ment, and who was copying answers out of his book with great rapidity and haste. Meanwhile Billy was getting hoarse. | couldn't let the faithful creature howl himself to death, so | sug- gested having him carried out of the room. Then sing, O Muses, of bustle and excitement, of ink-wells upset, and of tongues let loose, when poor Sonny and the boys were dragging Billy's by 8

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At seven twenty-eight Peggy Rice’s door bell rang and the maid showed Jack Courier into the cozy library. At seven thirty- seven that same Peggy Rice tripped downstairs with a rustle of silk, and greeted the awaiting gentleman with a glorious smile. Jack was the leading man in the King of Hearts company, which was not playing that week, owing to the supposed illness of the woman star, a romantic actress of some note. Jack and Peggy had been brought up together, you might say, and she was the only one of his friends who supported him in his deter mination to abandon a mediocre career in law for a more remune- rative one of the stage. Yet she would not consent to marrying him, although she would not tell him why; but it was a well-known fact that she adored him, and that he felt the same toward her. He was quite unlike the accepted picture of а spoiled and dissi- pated slave of the public. Quite the contrary, he was as clean and honorable a man as any girl could wish for. As they entered the waiting taxi, Peggy's father came to the door and beckoned to Jack. Не put Peggy into the car, and retraced his steps, bounded up the stone stairs and shook the older man's hand. After hasty greetings, Mr. Rice put one hand on Jack's shoulder and said: My boy, | want you to drop in when you bring Peg home. l'll be waiting in the library. Sure thing, ГП be there, and gladly. Good-night.” On the return home, both were very quiet. Finally, Jack leaned over very close, and said: Peg, dear, I have often wondered why you would not marry I've never asked you the reason. Tell me now, please. No, Jack, I can't tell you, bu e Go on, don't be afraid of hurting my feelings. Із it some- body else? If it is, never mind; І suppose І will have to get over it somehow а “Oh, you know it is not that; but, oh well, І might as well tell you. Father has bought the ————————— interest in your company, and is going to discharge you. He says he thinks it's the best thing for you. He would rather see you in a good busi- ness. I was afraid you'd be terribly angry, and say | was at the bottom of it all, because | was jealous of that horrid s tar that is always making love to you. And then, you know, | advised you to go into that work instead of law, and | thought you would think me fickle besides, so when father did tell me what he was IO