Columbus School for Girls - Topknot Yearbook (Columbus, OH)

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COLUMBUS SCHOOL FOR GIRLS WE SEE OURSELVES ULL of the self-importance which a tragedy lends, I walked along the street, with obvious carelessness. Nothing-nothing mattered any longer! For me, now, life held no richness, it was barren of all future hope. Vague, soothing thoughts of the arsenic or iodine bottle flitted through my head. But no, I could not make use of them. I must consider the feelings of others and for their sakes bear up as well as possible under my great dolor. fNoble girl lb My eyes scanned the side- walk before me. It occurred to me that my future must be like it, cold and grey. How sorry-how very sorry-for myself I was. It seemed, as I continued my way, that passers-by regarded me with infinite interest. Although, in my desperation, I seemed to see none of the worldly things about me, now and then I was driven to observe the impression which my obvious grief and despair were making on my fellow-creatures. It was fortunate, I thought, that they could see only the outward evidences of the great tragedy which had befallen me. Carelessly, still oblivious, I crossed the street. Upon every side machines were bearing down upon me. What did I care? Death, now, would be sweet. Life meant nothing at all to one whose heart was crushed. Only two days before he had been there. Now he was gone. Never again should I see him. Those rich black curls, that delicately chiseled nose, those ravishing eyes were gone forever! Why had he gone? Some said that he was going to peddle ever-wear aluminum in a neighboring town. Surely that could not bel What could those curls know of sordid pots and pans? I could not understand. Then, suddenly, it occurred to me. He had realized the insurmountable social barrier which stretched between us and had determined to leave. He went because his going would make things easier for me! My heart swelled in admiration of that great courage by which alone he could have torn himself away. With dark, unseeing eyes I gazed listlessly into the shop windows, full of vain and foolish fripperies. Scornfully, I appraised a group of simpering school girls raving inarticulately about the Nile green undies so immodestly displayed in the window. How little these shallow crea- tures knew of reality! Once more my glance returned to the window. There I saw mirrored a pale, wan face and deep-shadowed eyes. Could it, oh, could it, be I? Alas, no one could go through all that I had without betraying symptoms of tragedy. Again a wave of self-pity surged over 14

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TOP-KNOT, 1928 her friends, and her parties. It was evident she was having a beautiful vacation. She surely deserved it, too. How she had stood things for sixteen years was more than Judy could imagine. Why, she was sick of everything already, the daily planning of meals, buying cheese and turnips, seeing that Jane stuck to her job and didn't shirk. Next morning Judy woke up with a cold. She felt heavy-eved. feverish, and altogether disagreeable. Her throat hurt her whenever she tried to swallow. Perhaps it was diphtheria. Didn't that start in this way? She wouldn't say anything about it, though. If she did, Dad would insist on taking her to the doctor, and she hated doctors. The cold made her feel tired and cross. Breakfast was a nightmare of trouble. Everything went wrong. Mary spilled cocoa on the table, a rivulet trickled down Judy's sleeve. This meant that she'd have to change. She was furious with Maryg her anger choked her. She felt herself flushing and hated herself for it. She wanted to shake Mary, to slap her-anything to hurt her. Upstairs she leaned against the window-pane, fumbling at her but- tons, her eyes filled with anger and self-pity. She heard the door open downstairs, but didn't pay any attention, so engrossed with herself was she. Judy! Mary called. Probably wanted her to do something else. Judy, there's a telegram. Wait a minute. She heard Mary rushing upstairs, taking them two at a time. In an instant she appeared, wildly waving a slip of paper. The sheet was blurred where Judy tried to read it through her tears. Finally she made it out. KITTY HAS SCARLET FEVER STOP JUST MISSED BEING QUARANTINED STOP HOME 'TOMORROW 3 :35 sro? Low: MOTHER The sun came out, and Judy smiled through her tears. GENEVIEVE WINANS, '29 13 i

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TOP-KNOT, 1928 me, and then was gone. Let these unknowing school girls laugh! For me, henceforth, life would hold a depth undreamed of. Life without tragedy was only a taunting and deceptive promise. I felt, with just cause, that I, who had lived fully, should know. Truly, I was in an exalted mood. Suddenly I heard two ladies speaking behind me, exchanging delicate confidences in cautious but perceptible tones. I pricked up my ears. There's little-I never could think of her name, Janet's daughter, you know-gazing into that window. I don't wonder her mother is wor- ried about her. She certainly looks peaked. If she were my daughter, I'd give her a good dose of cod-liver oil. Oh, yes! I heard she's enamoured of that clerk at the corner drug store, the one with the greasy hair. Such a coarse-looking fellow! Oh, well, she's young. I was young! I could stand the revolting word peaked , the dis- tasteful allusion to cod-liver oil, even the slur on my hero's romantic curls: but, after all that I had been through, I was not prepared to hear that I was young. That was too much. Yet, as I thought of what they had said, I began to wonder. All the glamor of the imagined episode in which I had been reveling departed. Taking oneself seriously is such a thankless task! PATRICIA STEWART, '28 WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF Hermine were Winter instead of Summer? Lucia were Big instead of Little? Betty were Loaf instead of Krumm? Alice were Did instead of Dunn? Virginia were Rock instead of Stone? Betty were Yards instead of Miles? Alice were June instead of May? Martha were Faun instead of Sater? Harriet were Tan instead of Brown? Mary Frances were Buick instead of Jordan? 15