Conneaut High School - Tattler Yearbook (Conneaut, OH)

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Zf rc Romance of a ‘Surplus' J’res jman Two great things had happened to little Theodore Bronson toward making him a man. hirst, he had just entered High School, and second, he had his first pair of long trousers. To Teddy there remained but one thing more to be done and he would be the completed article labeled “Man,” but this one thing required money. Therefore he sold his beloved fountain pen and with the proceeds purchased a date book and a five-pound box of candy. Teddy was a very sociable boy and always had a word for everybody, especially the upper classmen; but his greatest failing was for Senior girls. However, l’rof. Bumble was greatly to blame for Teddy’s familiarity with the latter, because he had sternly commanded the “surplus” freshmen to fill in the senior section of the Study Hall. And so Dame Fortune had thus alloted to Teddy a seat in the midst of the ribbons, curls and powder boxes of the senior girls. At first the owners of these last named articles ignored him; but one day a few weeks later they suddenly thawed to a remarkable degree and whispered and wrote notes to him. Poor innocent Freshman ! Tittle did such things as conspiracies enter his hea l. About this time Miss Fortune, a daughter of the aforementioned dame, paid Teddy a visit in consequence of which the first date was carefully recorded in his cherished book. The girl who claimed Teddy’s first and only cal! relieved him of five pounds of candy. This was unlooked for. Teddy thought that five pounds ought to do for several dates, and now not only all the candy was gone but he was penniless. The next day he sold his High School pennant and once more coins jingled in his i ockets That same day a second name was put down in his date hook and the first was crossed out. “She’ll get only ten cents worth of Woolworth's Special. giggled Teddy as he rang the bell of Senior girl No. two. My, but a man must have lots of brains to regulate the financial side of his High School life. That other girl took me in all right, hut, by gum, all this one will get is ten cents’ worth. I’ll just keep the rest of my resources in cold cash, so no one will be tempted.” And it was well that he did. “Hello, Teddy,” beamed the sunny faced girl as she opened the door. Just wait a minute till I get my coat.” Then she vanished into the dark recess of the reception hall. “Gee Whiz! but this is sudden,” the bewildered Teddy muttered to himself. “I wonder where she thinks she’s going? Jimminy! Sixty-five cents won't take us to the dance. But Teddy soon learned that the girl had set her heart on the Opera House. However, having left her wicked daughter at home, Dame Fortune in the form of “Saks Moving Pictures” came to the rescue and he got home with five cents to his credit that night. Never, never again,” he said as he crossed out the second name in his date hook. She was worse than the first one.” In like manner girl three, four, five, etc., had entered Teddy’s date book and had been crossed out. There’s something back of this. The climax is com-

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4 THE TATTLER “Of course I like Joe awfully well, she thoughht aloud, “but 1 wonder if I ought to marry him. He’s so crazy about athletics and 1 don’t care a bit for them. I suppose he's out tramping around in the snow this instant and I wouldn’t he out there in the cold for anything he might offer me. We’re so different. Now if he were only quiet and studious I would be sure we’d always get along. 1 believe I’ll ask Aunt Maria. I’ll have her all to myself.” Ruth Joyce ran into her home with a shout: “Mother, we beat, we beat! Eight to five! Such team work! I never saw anything ike it! They would just seem to spirit that ball down the floor. We have the championship of this part of the State with only-’’ Ruth, broke in Mrs. Joyce gently, Ruth, please just one moment. You have a telegram here from the old homestead. 1 opened it because I was a little worried. It is an invitation to Aunt Maria’s for St. Valentine Day. Will you be able to go?’’ “Sure, I’ll go. I have been wanting to talk to Aunt Maria about Bob. Of course you know 1 think everything of him. but he is so quiet and studious. I don’t think I will make a good professor’s wife, do you, mother?’’ The mother smiled and said softly, “I am afraid my little athlete would have her professor practising team work on the basketball floor. Talk it over with Aunt Maria. You'll have her to yourself. When Marion reached halls Junction, where she had to change, the first person she saw was Bob Fleming. Why, hello, Marion. Where arc you going?’’ “I am going to Aunt Maria’s for St. Valentine Day.” 1 am going to 1 ncle Jerry’s, so we better go on together.’’ Ruth Joyce jumped easily off the west-bound train, scorning the eager brakeman’s proffered help. Oh, bother. There is Marion and Bob Fleming. And here comes Joe Rossiter. My quiet Bob seems interested in quiet Marion; now I'll just find out from her athlete what kind of a chance the Pirates stand for next season.” So, strangely enough, when all boarded the same train from Falls Junction, Marion and Bob were so engrossed in a discussion of the music of the verse of Vergil’s Aeneid, that they did not notice that Ruth and Joe were very much engrossed in the possibilities of the several baseball teams. Neither Ruth nor Marion talked to Aunt Maria on the subject but Cupid took an interest in the four-handed affair. And, on St. Valentine’s evening each couple, by itself, decided that things should be changed a little. This was accomplished and 1 rofessor Bob went back to his studies with Marion's promise to become a professor s wife while Joe, champion forward of the -Basket .Ball team, liked to think of the athletic little wife .that Ruth had promised to be. M. S. S., ’15.

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6 THE TATTLER ing,” ran through his mind as he gloomily pictured himself at the coming Senior Play with the last but prettiest girl that sat in the Senior section of the Study Hall. “Well, lie soliloquized, “I guess I’ll have to ask her, and if she plays any tricks on me I’ll have to say ‘good night’ to Senior society.' Accordingly one night after school he quickened his pace down the street and caught up with the pretty maid. She was a girl to all appearances of the proverbial sweet sixteen and unusually pretty,. Teddy tipped his hat to her and said he was going her way. The girl blushed and remarked something about tbe weather as Teddy courteously took her books. For a few awkward moments neither spoke. Then Teddy in blind confusion blurted out, “Have you got a date for the Senior Play?” “No”, was the cool response, and it was far from encouraging. Teddy cleared his throat and ventured for the second time with the utmost politeness: “May I have the pleasure of escorting you?” “But, protested the girl, “you are almost a stranger to me.” “Then it’s time we were getting acquainted,” grunted Teddy disgustedly. “Oh! don t be offended. I didn t mean that. I will have to ask my mother first, you know.” “What will she say?” “Hard to tell. She is the funniest creature. One day she lets me do any thing I want to and the next day I have to be very careful. I----------.” “How was she this morning,” interrupted Teddy, excitedly. Well, she had a headache and that’s not very promising.” They both walked on in silence for a few rods, when they heard a scream about half a block up the other side of the street. “Oh!” cried the girl, “that’s my mother and she has fallen down. Don’t let her see me with you!” Teddy didn’t wait for any order, but dashed up the street and helped the victim to her feet. “Thank you,” she said, “1 guess I’m only jarred a little. Here comes my daughter and she can help me home.” “Are you hurt?” panted the girl, running up. “No, dear. This kind young man helped me up. By the way,” addressing Teddy, “what is your name?” Theodore Bronson,” proudly asserted Teddy, as he directed a sly wink at the girl, who blushed crimson. “Mr. Bronson, this is my daughter, Miss Ellis.” “1 believe,” said Teddy, with another sly wink and tipping his hat to Miss Ellis, “that I have seen you sitting in the Senior section of the Study Hall.” “Yes,” answered Miss Ellis, “but you know, I don’t really be------” “I’m not much hurt so I might as well walk on,” interrupted the eldest of the trio. “I have some errands to do.” When they were alone once more Miss Ellis concluded the sentence: “I really don't belong to the Senior class; I’m just one of those surplus Freshmen that sit in the Senior section of the Study Hall.” Ethel Taylor, ’17.