Danville High School - Cardinal Yearbook (Danville, VA)

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FW o ,f . ,, X Qi .- , X:j had a nervous breakdown, came home, got a divorce, and three months later married a French Marquis fthe old man had made some more money by that time.D Eleanor? questioned Kirk fearfully. 'tThe family seemingly have tried to marry her off to almost a dozen titles, but she's obstinate and refuses. She drives a lavender sport car around town, dances, smokes, goes constantly, but never seems to be satisliedf' - jack had been broken-hearted, but Kirk had had more hope and planned to go to see Eleanor. He went to the large country house about two evenings after his return home. NVhen he saw Eleanor he scarcely recognized her. Hennaed hair, rouged lips and bizarre clothes had all conspired to change her appearance. 'The room was iilled with a crowd dancing to the music of a half-drunk colored orchestrag a cocktail mixer was in evidence, all of the girls were smoking. In great disgust he left, but the sad, unhappy look in Eleanor's gray eyes haunted him. He had begun the study of law while in college, and tried to complete it now. He tried clerking, also, but the doctor prescribed outdoor life. He attempted manual labor, but was not strong enough for the work. A year's rest and no worry, prescribed the doctor. 'Tm just a good-for-nothing-a left over, mourned Kirk in his thoughts. He still limped, would he never be strong again? No worry, said the doctor. How could a fellow help worrying when his heart was breaking over a girl? Forget her! No, that was impossible. So Kirk fumed and suffered in his soul. As he limped up the street he wondered if Iack's fate-a broken heart, an injured body, a losing light for life, and hnally death-would not be his also. Sometimes Kirk thought that even death would be merciful. He suffered so much with his back! And he could never hope for relief except through an operation. The sum the doctor had mentioned had been in the thousands. It was a very delicate operation, an adjustment of the spine, and the cost would have placed a mortgage on the little gray cottage. Kirk had gritted his teeth and borne it-grinned, even! To give him some occupation and to enable him to help expenses at home, Kirk had taken over the management of a railroad crossing. It was his duty to give the signals and to raise and lower the gates. Not much-but something to do. He reached the little shanty by the railroad and looked at his watch. Forty minutes before time for the fast express to come through. He sat down to wait. Kirk, Hx my wagon for me, came a small voice. Surest thing, you know, answered Kirk turning around and facing a small girl. Sally was a three-year-old cherub, with large brown eyes, curly light hair, and a chubby hgure. She almost always had a sticky thumb in her mouth. u Kirk, who made me ? God, answered Kirk mechanically as he lixed the wheel back on the wagon. This was a daily conversation. Does He make things happen? U'YeS.U 57 The '25 Cardinal

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airing ,-51-3-, HE Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, remarked the kindly min- , VQI1 ister, as he placed a consoling arm around the old woman's back. S 'QL F5 1 i '- H 'Qi 'But, Jack, m v boy, m life, she sobbecl. J If 1 y . ev f -. . . . r :Q Kirk Alston turned away quickly. He wished to hide the tears that would come, try as he did to suppress them. Jack Martin had bee11 his .flggglqgg boyhood chum, his college mate, and his buddy when overseas. His 1 arms had caught jack when he fell wounded in the attack on St. Mihiel, For live years now he had seen Jack daily grow weaker and weaker as the result of being gassed. His death was almost more than he could bear. He mumbled a few words and placed an awkward kiss on the brow of Mrs. Martin, who had been like a mother to him for the past twelve years. With a sob he stumbled out into the glorious sunlight. As he saw Mr. Chase getting out of a limousine he recalled the words of the old preacher. The sight of the man who had made his millions by war protiteering made him remember the words giveth and taketh away. Yes the war had certainly done that. Formerly the Alstons, Chases, and Martins had all lived in unpretentious bungalows on Rosewood Ave- nue. The families had been very intimate, and he and Jack had taught the two Chase girls to play marbles, shoot air rifles, and fish. In high school days Jack had become Iulia's steady and Kirk, Eleanor's. The young people in their crowd went around in pairs, so these two couples made a delightful foursome. Tennis, dancing, bridge-all of these- they enjoyed together. VVhen .lack and Kirk left to attend the University, they corre- sponded with the two girls and invited them to all the college affairs. . Then America entered the war. The cry for men-American youth-was raised. Among the hrst to respond were Jack and Kirk. They volunteered, and were accepted immediately. They left amidst the waving of flags, beating ofidrums, and strains of Over There. WVhen Jack left Julia was wearing his ring, and Kirk took away with him the memory of Eleanor's first kiss and her murmured words, Kirk, l'll wait forever for youg but do come back soon! At first the boys heard constantly from the girls, but gradually the intervals between the letters became longer and longer, and hnally they ceased to hear at all. Both boys were severely wounded. After a long time spent in recuperation they returned home. No brass band or grateful countrymen met themg instead they were met by an air or depression and a general scarcity of jobs. Yes, the white cottage was still there. But what of the Chases? Didn't you get my letter? asked Mr. Alston. I wrote about Mr. Chase making around two million by war prohteering. They left here and bought a large estate near town. They're in society now, and they don't even see us-they look through and around us. Money gets you anywhere, now. Julia ? asked Jack quickly. Oh, about two years ago she married an English earl. Fair enough bargain, it seemed. She got his title, he her money. But it didn't seem to suit her. Xkfithin' six months she 56 The '25 Cardinal C53 ,-- ,, 463

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And did he make ,Tack die? Yes-I suppose so, choked Kirk, bending over the toy. U Kirk, is you crying? , ,lust then a lavender streak flew by, and a cloud of dust followde in its wake. Kirk, what makes your mouth jump at the corners, and your eyes shut everv time you see that car? Here's the wagon Sally, interrupted Kirk, as a means of diversion. But Sally re- fused to be diverted. Kirk, what's love ?'l Wliat makes you ask that, Sally P 'Cause Mother said you used to love that girl. Kirk wincedg so even the neighbors knew of his broken heart. Sally left and went outside to play. That's about all I'm good for-fixing toys, thought Kirk bitterly. Remembering that it was time for the express. he switched on the go signal. Soon he heard the rumbling noise that signilied the coming of the train. lrle strolled out to lower the crossing gates and turned around to look for Sally. Failing to see her, he went around to the other side of the shack. I-le caught a glimpse of a pink bow vanishing around the corner ahead oi him. Sally thought they were playing hide and seek, had run as Kirk limped after her. Bye, bye, Kirk, she waved a chubby hand, and pulling her wagon along, toddled off. Kirk gaspcag she was going directly towards the track! Sally, Sally, he called. The roar of the train pervented her hearing him. l-le waved his arms, frantically beckoning her to come back But Sally, thinking this was some dc- lightful new game stopped in the middle of the track and cooed with delight. Suddenly Kirk knew why he had been sitting there for months doing nothing, He had wasted all those days so that on this day of days he would be ready. Though he feared it would be-too late, he pushed on the Stop singal. As he darted under the gate he did not see the lavender car returning down the hill at a furious pace. He heard the grinding of the brakes as the engineer endeavord to stop. l-lc reached Sally, grabbed her, heard a crash, and knew no more. One of Fate-:'s peculiar tricks Kirk heard a voice say. It required a very delicate operation to cure that injury to his spine. He couldn't afford an operation, but he is in a wreck and gets a jar that adjusts the dilliculty perfectly! ln a month he will be as well as he ever was. Such is life. Two weeks later Kirk was sitting up in bed in the hospital. lt was the hour for callers, and his eyes held a bright light of expectancy. Soon the object of his anticipation arrived- Eleanor. She was clad in grayg her hair was honestly brown, and her lips free from rouge. Eleanor, said Kirk, at length, 'Tm so glad you came. They told me about your sav- ing my life. It was so brave of you when you saw Sally and me on the track to drive your car in front of the train and save us. That engineer just did slow down in time. I can never hope to thank you. 58 The '25 Cardinal s