Commerce High School - Commerce Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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the depot and before it had really come to a standstill, Isabel had alighted and was making her way toward the group of eager faces waiting inside the gates. After the royal welcome, eacji girl was very anxious to pass comment on her appearance. ‘You have grown about an inch taller and, why you are dressing your hair differently,” exclaimed Margaret, ‘‘and I wish you would take off your hat till I get a real good look at you.” Amidst a bubbling of voices, during which each one wanted to tell everything that had happened since she had gone, Isabel finally started her friends toward her home. It was fully two weeks before the girls saw enough of Isabel. Then a change could be perceived in their manner toward her. The girls with the exception of the traveler were at Margaret’s house. Some one asked for Isabel, whereupon Nell answered that Isabel had a severe headache and was unable to attend the gathering. Margaret after awhile very cautiously sked the girls if they thought Isabel was changed in any way. “Well I think she is,” answered Grace. ‘‘It was only yesterday that a fire engine passed while Isabel and I were talking, and she merely looked at it, and you girls all know she used to chase a fire engine!” After much discussion, and relating of incidents to prove the opinion that Isabel was changed, they finally agreed that they didn’t like this new girl as well as the old. Poor little Nell was undecided as to whether Isabel was changed or not. so she thought she would seek an interview with her when nobody was around to interrupt. Then she could decide quite independently. Isabel’s father issued invitations for a large party in honor of his daughter’s return. Of course the party was the sole topic of conversation among the girls. They still talked about Isabel’s new ways. Even the most quiet ones frowned at the new girl and were loud in lamenting the loss of their wild madcap of five months ago. The night of the party came and the girls were all in attendance. Isabel was the center of attraction. Instead of jumping like a cricket and having everybody in convulsions, as of old, she was standing among the crowd and relating in a most interesting way some of her experiences. At the conclusion, the girls smiled significantly at one another and separated into twos and threes. Little Nell now saw her chance and slipped into a side room. As Isabel passed the open door Nell called her. “Do you want me Nellie?” “Yes, Bell dear. Just come in here for a few moments please, that is if you can be spared.” “Ah! Nell, I am not in demand so much any more; but let us sit down here near the window where the cool breeze may fan us.” Isabel sat down and Nell crouched on .a footstool at her feet. Nell knew 104

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home. It was a solemn conclave that followed her to the attic of her home. There in the very room where so many happy events had taken place their long pent-up feelings gave way, and each girl became a child again and wept bitter tears of real sorrow. Isabel cried with them, the girls gathered around her as if to hide her from some unseen hand which was to snatch her from them. At length Isabel explained that she was going South in compliance with her father’s wish, that he thought it best for her and that she could offer no objections to it. Isabel dispelled cloudy faces for the time, by exclaiming in her impetuous way, “Oh! girls I want you to help me pack my trunk, and make preparations to go to the train with me and—and—and Oh! just stay here with me.” Two months later, running down a hot sandy road in Maryland, with her face flushed and her hair flying, Isabel was brought to a sudden stop. From among the trees growing along the roadside, appeared her cousin. His eye took in at a glance her ruffled appearance, and he surmised that she had been doing something which wasn’t for everybody to see. “Well, Isabel, are you out for your morning walk?” he said pleasantly trying hard to seem unconcerned. “No Bob, I’ve changed the program this morning and taken a good run instead,” answered Isabel assuming indifference. Bob frowned, for he had reprimanded her before on account of her running. Then Isabel launched into an argument with him as to the propriety of the matter. She argued that as she was pining for a run and thought no one would see her it was all right. By calling all her persuasive powers to her aid and by laying a wager with him, she finally induced him to join her in a dash of about fifty yards. Isabel let him win as she afterwards said “to keep him in a good humor.” All that day Isabel was as happy as a lark and even Bob came down from his lofty pedestal and joined her in humming some tuneful airs which was so unnatural in him that it caused his father to remark that “it seemed Isabel was making Bob a year younger every day.” From constant association with these quiet southerners, Isabel lost very gradually her old gypsy spirit. She was still a girl, dignity hadn’t found its way into her actions but the alertness with which she caught up every chance for the performance of some mischievous prank was dulled. So on through the long, hot summer Isabel’s reformation and her quiet cousin’s rejuvenation took place. He was instrumental in her success and she in his. At last, toward the end of September, the mail carried the good news to a score of home friends that Isabel was coming home to them after an absence of five months. Toward the close of a beautiful autumnal afternoon a train rolled into 103

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now by Isabel’s words that she had heard some remarks carelessly dropped by the other girls. “Nell, little Nell, tell me do you think I have changed any?” “Oh! dear that is just why I asked you to come in here; so listen patiently Isabel, and I will tell you truthfully my opinion.” “I do think you have changed. Changed a great deal dear.” A smothered sob from Isabel caused Nell to rise and throw her arms around Isabel’s neck as she continued. “You must see how you have changed. You are at heart the same old girl. You look just the same to me, but really Bell you have changed wonderfully. You are nobler, wiser and more lovable than ever. The girls all speak rashly and without a thought of wounding you.” Isabel rose and placing her hands on Nell’s shoulders she gazed longingly into Nell’s eyes. The moonlight fell full on the sincere upturned face of the younger girl. Isabel realized for the first time how much she depended on this girl’s answer to a question which she was about to ask her. “Nell do you like me as I am now or as my old self?” “Isabel 1 loved the old self, but I can say sincerely that I am ready to worship and idolize the new girl.” All the things which Isabel had heard said about her by the other girls counted for naught now. A new joy sprang up in her bosom. There was nothing more to be said at this time, so the two girls locked arms and went to seek the crowd of merry makers. Isabel’s father watched her throughout the evening and with an “I thought so nod” he relieved his conscience by repeating for his own benefit, “I knew it was for the best for her to go away. I never remember of having seen my girl so serenely happy as she is tonight.” So it was that Isabel continued to improve, happy in the knowledge that she was loved and appreciated by staunch little Nell, happy also because she was pleasing her father and lastly happy for knowing in her own soul that she was still “only a girl.” FLORENCE FELLER, 1911. There was a girl in our class, Who though herself quite bright, She sought, this lass, The term to pass. With zero’s none her fame to blight. 105