Cheverus High School - Clarion Yearbook (Portland, ME)

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CHEVERUS CLASSICAL HIGH SCHOOL 19 to subdue. There Spud and his friend were amenably settling a question, but not by arbitrary methods. Blood was added to the dirt on Spud's hand and the color of black to the white scar over his eye, as well as the whole eye, while the place where a front tooth of Uthe committee on perjury was sup- posed to be, was empty. Thus have matters been settled since the beginning of man. Besides proving that there is no truth among sinners, the actors of this presentation present to us again the question-Revenge or retribution? EDWARD J. OyBRIEN, '29. LIFE AND DEATH The stream of life Hows, on its unknown way, Through calm and pleasant groundsg Through barren plains and shady vales, Or 'tween the high-Hung mounds, Where fiery sun, with beams, In vain assails. Thus it flows on with grim remorseless winding, Till morn gives way to night, Departing, with unfaltering trust. Towards some far distant light, Through shady realms, leaves- Nothing but its dust. FRANCIS P. KEANEY, '27. THE WHITE LIGHT The little village of Kingston seems rather insignificant and dead as a doornail, at least to the casual observer. But, contrary to appearances, Kingston had a very alluring mystery and an interesting romance. The mystery began over fifty years ago and, as for the romance, the vil- lage backbiter grunibled that this romance started as soon as Betty Burr and 'Red' Alpin laid eyes on each other over across the little room in the village school. Perhaps Aunt Sadie was entirely right, but to come back to the night of my story. It was one of those expected rainy ,nights of May, but the village store was warm and comfortable, and the village characters were gathered around the counter, talking about a night very similar to this one just fifty years ago.

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18 THE.CLARION THE OLD SVVIMMING HOLE l-li! Spud! ain'cha comin' in? Gee. it's swell l The boy evidently addressed, for there were only two in sight, was about ten years of ageg freckled face, pug nose, ragged cap, dirty hands and shabby attire indeed showed him to be the usual type of boy one usually finds during the short summer vacation. A long white mark, probably the scar left by a cut, ran across the forehead and became lost in the beetling eyebrows of the young- sterg the light blue eyes, which conformed with the light chestnut hair and eyelashes, looked longingly in the direction of the speaker. From that be- guiling person's query, one might make a substantially correct guess as to his attire: the garb of nature. Since he was standing up to his neck in water, which did not appear especially sanitary, his exact size could not be estimated were it not for the fact that his tousled and dripping red hair crowned such a small face, and a laughing one at that, that he could not have been much older nor larger in stature than the aforementioned Spud. lt was a real day in summer, and the great ball was slowly turning on its western and setting pathg from its position the hour might be judged to be three o'clock. The two boys were in a clearing in the midst of a grove of large trees, wherein the boys of the neighborhood were often wont to go when they wished to take a dip in the shadowed swimming hole. The hole was a real one. The necessary tree stumps bordered its ragged shore line, and an overhanging branch could, if necessary, become the crossbar on which one might make gyrations after a dare. The pensive lad again became the object of a torrent ofwexhortations from the aquatic tempter. Ain't you comin' in, Spud? Oh, boy! The water's fine! Honest! Come on in! There's nothin' to be afraid of! Come on! Cop McVane's gone to an aunt's funeral, and he's off duty. I wish he had a dozen aunts! These and many other exclamations came from the young reprobate. Oh, the weakness of human flesh! To be led into danger so easily! Spud manifested his slowly weakening determination by his hesitant approach to the hole, slowly, yet as if drawn by a magnet. You're sure that McVane's gone? he asked. 'Course, was the quick rejoinder. That ended all of Spud's doubts and he was soon in the water with his brother delinquent. Suddenly, a third party entered this drama. Cheese it! shouted Spud, here comes Mac! The human fish needed no second warning, needless to say. and-within five minutes.-officer McVane appeared upon the scene. Thim divils were warned, Oi'll bet me boots! he 'angrily exclaimed. No sign of the scamps was to be had. T But, if Officer Michael McVane had traversed the distance between the hole and the farther end of the grove, he would have found a small riot in progress that would have taken a whole force of McVanes and O'Flannagans . , lil!-M , X H .1 ..... i..-Il.. ie....s...,a.! .... ,, ,,.,,. ,,,, M, . ll: ' ! !l!'ll1 'lol iw 1 l

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20 THE CLARION You all remember, don't you? It was old Silas Davis that was talking. You do now, don't you? That night fifty years. or so back when 'Red' Alpin, our 'Red's' grandpa, went out to conquer the White Light? NVonder what be- came of him ? Nobody answered old Grandpa Davis as he diligently chewed on his piece of B. L. It seems as though the White Light was shining again tonight atop of old Bald Mount, as I plodded down from home tonight, muttered old Grandpa, At the last remark everyone turned towards the speaker. Could it be possible? The store was filled with a bubble of questions and answers. Everyone wanted to say something. So confused was the gathering that nobody noticed the entrance of Betty Burr and Red Alpin. In fact, they remained talking just inside the door for about ten minutes, and might have remained unnoticed for some time longer if it were not for the fiery temper of Betty giving way. You coward ! she screamed, you contemptible coward, VVilliam Alpin l The village circle gasped, not in surprise at the voice, but at the words. Betty presented a picture of flashing blue eyes and titian hair fairly shooting fire. Coward, indeed, am I? countered Red in injured tones, I'll show you if I am ry Show me what you can do! shouted Betty. 'I will show you I am not a coward, and I don't mean maybe! came back the answer. Well, if you're so brave, go find the meaning of the White Light, then, and only then, will 1 take back what I have said, Mr. Alpin ! VVith these words Betty turned and left the store. Poor Red stood dejected and bewildered in the doorway, but not for long. Tossing the curls back from his forehead, he sprang into the center of the floor. All right, folks, l'm off, and I won't come back until I have the explanation of the XNhite Light. How did Red, the silent, ever manage a speech like that? I-le was surely going, and not even to be questioned by any- one, not even Grandpa Davis. Fool-headed over girlg hasty and quick, just like his father, grumbled Bill, the storekeeper. VVell, let him gog here's the bag and his food. May God be with him l Red picked up the bag and walked out into the night. Eager faces were framed in the glistening window pane to catch the last sight of Red,' as he followed the gleam of the White Light. Wonder where the kid will end up ? Hope the poor youngster don't get lost. May the Lord's prayer go with him! Such were the remarks attending Red's departure from view around Old Snake Bend. Let's sit up and wait for him, suggested Bill. All hands being willing, we gathered around the counter. Morning found us all asleep as sound as groundhogsein the dead of win- ter, as Grandpa so aptly expressed it. Afternoon and no Red, but a very faithful Betty standing on the steps of the general store. A week passed. and still Red was absent from our numbers. The White Light never shone I I iilii ll, iiliilll I i iilriii, lli. liii. .-lll I I I , iiillli l l iil m m lili ww liiii,l,lill iii,, iil,i nll i llilll i........i.r....n.lwlin..nI.. in I.. ,....,.L.i.t...i.il:.llMnllLn