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

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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

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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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going to do, | cried almost an hour, and said you would never be happy with me, if I've got you to leave your work. But, oh, Jack, he means it all for the best. Say you're not angry? Oh, І am the unhappiest girl! | A ringing laugh from Jack soon brought her out of her semi- hysterical state, and, putting his good right arm about her, to draw her closer, he whispered: “Little girl, do you think I'm blind? I was almost positive that was what was the matter some time ago, зо what Чуе think your Jack did? Не saved his money and invested in Jersey real estate. Yesterday, | closed with a pretty profit, and called you up to tell you, but you wouldn't listen because I was fool enough to propose first. As for my theatrical career—well, ‘twas but a stepping stone. Had | stayed in the law, it would have taken me ten years to get on my feet. As it is, | am going into part ner- ship with your cousin Paul next week, and we are going to develop a big tract of land outside of Newark. My law knowl- edge will come in mighty handy. But the show? It opens again Monday night. Yes, but not with the famous Jack Courier in the role of the king. Ah, no, our worthy prima-donna is as healthy as you or I, the show being temporarily halted to rehearse young Parker De Nome in his new role, which was once graced by me. See, here is my accepted resignation.” He pulled out several legal documents from his coat. And what are those? “These are the articles of partnership between your cousin and me, and this——— ' He paused dramatically. “This is our wedding license, and by Jove! Here's the Little Church Around the Corner, and our man has stopped. Must be a tire. Some luck, little girl! Now is everything cleaned up, and will you consent to be the wife of one John Courier, ex-hero? Peggy blushed and sighed, but no one could see it, for who can see through the back of a man's head. Even the murmured consent only amounted to a smothered Ummm! And say, maybe Father Rice didn't listen to a strange and garbled tale when at last they got home. But he forgave them, — fathers usually do in the best stories.