Cheverus High School - Clarion Yearbook (Portland, ME)

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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.

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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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x 22 THE CLARION So you see, Kingston solved one mystery, gained another, and retained its old mystery anda budded romance. For where would Kingston be with- out a mystery and a romance! JOHN 1. FOLEY, '2'7. MY FRIEND Long past, but not forgotten, are the days, When you and I did often walk along The dusty road that leads along the brook, And oft did stop to hear the robins sing. The time came for the parting of the waysg You left-the truest friend I ever had! I hoped that in some future time we'd meet And tell of tales, the happy and the sad. The years have rolled along their weary course, And leave me, in the end, no progress Wong For I have little to console me now, With failure as an end to tasks begun. And, as a failure, I am coming back To you, with naught but sorrow in my heartg But you'll protect me from this awful foe, And never from your care will let me part. For you have been a friend in all these years, A friend to whom I trust my precious lifeg A friend who greets his troubles with a smile, lwll'1lll'i And one who guides his friend in worldly strife. T. JOSEPH Gr-LARY, '27. l ll l l , li l ly il l '1 1 , Y W i . ' ,i i 14, 3 . , 1. llll l l lli H lllll'.i,i i' W i i ul i l ill l f ll' 'l '. in ' I il 1 ll l ' m t l,,,:,, ,,,lll,l,,,,l.'1, i:,, ii'i , ll limi ll ' i ll l ll ii . , , ll ,. llll