Danville High School - Cardinal Yearbook (Danville, VA)

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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

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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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Kirk, will you repay me by saving' my life in turn ? asked Eleanor abruptly. Of course. Then marry me. It may not be ladylike of me to ask you, but I'm so afraid you won't do it. You think I'm so proud and haughty, but, Kirk, and here she suddenly lowered her voice. I've loved you always. When Dad made so much money, Mother de- veloped corresponding social ambitions. She insisted that we sever all old relationships. I was young, and I thought perhaps she knew best. But when I saw what Julia made of her life, I rebelled. That night you came home, Mother came into my room and cried and made me prom- ise not to see you. That's why I was so rude. But, Kirk. I love you and it was breaking my heartrto do it. I couldn't stand it-it was breaking my heart. I wouldn't be a duchess or lady without love. I was coming to tell you that day when you were hurt. Llfh'IIN'IA VVITHERS STARLING. ci I '5 Q all lf, , I milf I' 5. ' Q I '- 'rl' JA! 'L 1 Q Aix rv 'fu fe ' 'f I . d , I A. iu , f.,,I.. 59 The '25 Cardinal