Conneaut High School - Tattler Yearbook (Conneaut, OH)

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7J ie Competition A group of girls were gathered in Kitty Howard’s room, talking listlessly. Lately things at Springdale Hoarding School for Girls had been rather quiet. Nothing of importance had happened for a month. This was very unusual, for generally there was a great deal going on. These girls that were gathered were very good friends; they were scarcely ev r .separated for long at a time. Kitty Howard was the youngest. She was a girl of sunny disposition and laughing eyes; she was a general favorite. Marie Janies was next in age and in popularity. Mary and Flora Brandt were sisters; they were practical girls but very lovely in their way. “Don't you wish something would happen?” sighed Kitty after a short pause in the conversation; I mean something quite out of the ordinary. For instance----” She was interrupted by the gong which told them very distinctly that it was time for the next class. Springdale Academy was a very select school for girls. It was conducted by two aristocratic maiden ladies and no one was admitted unless they could, as Kitty was heard to remark, trace their ancestry at least as far back as the Mayflower. The discipline was very strict but no one could be more universally like 1 than the two instructresses. Just at this moment the girls saw the Misses Wentworth talking to a tall, soldierly-looking man. He seemed to be communicating something of interest. As they marched in, Marie whispered to Flora, “I believe something is going to happen; I can tell by the way Miss Lucy is holding her head.” Marie was right. The tall man came into the room with Miss Lucy and Miss Mary. After a short talk, Miss Lucy introduced the man as General Harrington. At the name, a ripple of applause ran through the room, for all recognized him as the wealthy patron of the school. General Harrington arose. “Although I have traveled a great deal during the last ten years and have not seen much of this school, I have never lost track of it. I have been highly interested in its welfare. I now have a plan which I have been working on for the past three months. It is this: I offer a scholarship of four years to the young lady who at the end of this semester has the highest average.” After a few more words he left the platform, and school was informally dismissed. The girls gathered in little groups and eagerly talked about the oncoming

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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.

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8 THE TATTLER contest. The four chums returned to the same place from which they left a short time ago and Kitty remarked joyfully, “Who ever had their wish answered in such a quick, delightful way? Just think of it!” By this time they were all talking together and after a time noticed the unusual silence of Marie. “Why, Marie,” exclaimed Flora, “Aren’t you glad of this chance?” “Glad!” said Marie. “Girls, I simply must get this scholarship.” At her reply they all looked astonished, but she did not give them a chance to say anything. “I haven’t told you before, but father failed in one of his investments and .only yesterday told me in his letter that he did not think that 1 could return next year. I truly think that providence has had something to do with this.” As she finished speaking, Kitty went up to her and put her soft arms around her neck. “I guess it means just as much if not more to me than to you,” she said, “but if you do get it 1 will be the first one to congratulate you.” Kitty was an orphan, and when she got through school she had to go and live with an aunt whom she did not like and who did not care particularly for her. She had been left in the care of her aunt and had very little money in her own name and her aunt made her feel keenly that she was an encumbrance and had lately been threatening to bring her home. This was no secret to the girls, and although Marie was well liked yet Kitty was the favorite, and everyone hoped that she would get it. The next morning the full particulars were posted and they found that the supreme test was a theme which each had to write and which would constitute one-third of the final average. General Harrington was to examine them himself and, besides the scholarship, the winner was to receive a lovely gold pendant which she could always keep. For a time the enthusiasm was marked, but after they found how much work had to be done the number gradually dwindled to six, and among these were Kitty and Marie. Everyone knew that it was between these two that the final choice would be made. Although seemingly just as light-hearted as ever, Kitty went to work with a will and now instead of spending her spare time with her friends, could nearly always be found beneath one of the beautiful campus trees studying. As for Marie, she seemed to grow morbid and in time became so pale that Miss Lucy was alarmed and tried to argue her out of working so hard. But Marie seemed only to shun her friends the more and Kitty most of all. Indeed she was almost rude. So the affair continued until just a week before the final test. The all-