Cheverus High School - Clarion Yearbook (Portland, ME)

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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

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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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Q CHEVERUS CLASSICAL HIGH SCHOOL 21 again. Miss Carr was notgable to stand the long watches, and stayed indoors. The village sages were beginning to think. Young Red had met his grand- father's fate, thought they, and paused to look at the mountains that had taken for its secret two of Kingston's own, never to return again. At the dusk of the seventh day a ragged, dusty youth staggered over the threshold of the store. His burden was a young man, evidently unconscious. The dust-covered stranger was Red, and his burden an unknown stranger. Will, for the Lord's sake, someone take this fellow before I drop him ? VVilling hands helped relieve the prodigal of his burden before he fell to the floor. The stranger was put to bed, never to arise. He was placed in a cor- ner lot of the cemetery. Genuine feeling and generosity of the villagers made the burial a decent one. Red,' was stricken with fever from the exposure of long nights to the wintry blasts atop old Bald Mount. With a new spirit he rallied and was soon readyefor the narrative which had kept Kingston in a constant state of conjecture for many days. Again at the store, with a larger group of listeners this time, Red seemed ready for his narration, constant attention upon the door as if in expectation of another one who might be interested in his story. But no story satisfied the sharp curiosity of the villagers, though all knew for what or whom he waited. Believe it or not, even Grandpa lacked nerve to broach the subject of the VVhite Light until one night the conver- sation was deftly turned to thajfhgnbject. Red came out of his shell and started to talk. 'i 'W'ell, folks, I'll explain everything as far as possible. Everyone shifted his respective position and 'KGrandpa reinforced himself from his everlasting Hcudy' of tobacco. Shoot, son, we're listening, grumbled Grandpa. Well. to start right, I might as well explain that the white light you saw from here a few weeks ago was that poor fellow's lamp-the fellow under the sod out there, Red began, in reflective mood of melancholy. After I rushed out of here blindly, I pushed my way to the very top of the mountains, to the Indian's lodge, and there I found the poor fellow half dead from exposure and hunger. He came to just long enough to say that he was a traveler, lost, and with only a lantern with which he might attract attention. The lantern was but a faint Hicker when I arrived and with its last gleam the mystery of my companion seemed to slip into darkness too. Now don't ask questions ! With this ending our hero was about to crawl back into his shell when Betty appeared from her vantage point of audience and literally flew into his arms. 'Red,' I'm sorry. 'Red,' I'm sorry. This incident would have shocked Aunt Sadie, but the counter crew withdrew and let romance take its course.