Dexter High School - Signet Yearbook (Dexter, ME)

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20 THE SIGNET a severe repremand. She noticed a trium- phant gleam in Amy's eyes and felt hurt that Amy enjoyed her discomfort. The next day the race took place and be- fore it was half over, Marie noticed Amy, who had been swimming beside her, grow suddenly white and fall behind. Glancing back she saw Amy disappear. Marie forgot the race and the prize that meant so much to her. She turned back as Amy came to the surface and grasped her under her arms and held her head above water, while she slowly made her way toward an approach- ing boat. Amy regained consciousness be- fore they reached shore and explained that she had been taken with a cramp and was unable to swim. Marie was the herione or the day and received much praise for her bravery. Although she had lost the race she felt perfectly satisfied that she had been able to help Amy. A week passed and things were about as they had beeng Marie's friends lamented that she had lost the race, but she firm an her convictions of right, felt satisfied. One morning about a week later a letter arrived for Marie. It was postmarked 235. Louis. She wondered as she broke the scal, whom it could be from. Imagine her sur- prize to find it was from Amy's father. The last paragraph ran in this manner: Miss Delmont, words can in no manner express my appreciation of your brave deed but, that you may have a little recompense for the loss of the prize, please accept this check with my sincere thanks. Marie un- folded the check and could scarcely believe her eyes. It was written for 81000. Oh, I can't accept that she cried aloud. In- deed you can came an answer from the door. She turned quickly, Amy! Yes, Marie, it's Amy and now I want to know why you were so kind to me after all the mean things I have said about you and-Marie, I have a confession to make. It was I who took your bathing suit that last day of practice, I'm thoroughly ashamed but if you can, will you forgive me? Marie hesitated. Daddy said once, Be kind to those who hate you and some time you will gain their love. 1 tried that and I think I succeeded. I always thought said Amy slowly, that to be a good sport you must have money but, Marie, you have taught me what a true sport is. Helen Palmer '28. AN OUTLANDISH PROCEEDING The lanky girl with the bushy red hair settled down unhappily into the depth of the high-backed rocker, and tried to read. In the hotel parlor across the hall, some- thing in which the red-headed girl longed desperately to join, The Hillsborough Girls' Club, was holding one of its weekly meet- ings to sew on costumes for their pageant. It was going to be a splendid pageant, centered about a stately Columbia welcom- ing the quaintly garbed maids of many lands to America. The money offering collected at the performance was to be sent to the starving children of one of these far off lands. . A perfect babel of high-pitched voices arose from the long parlor. The Chinese flag has five colors - that Spanish dress ought to be longer - pass the cooky plate again - how bout lemonade - going to wear my hair up - little fans all stuck in it - Weola de Jong, you say. Out in the lonely stillness of the hall, the lanky red-headed girl leaped to her feet, eyes shining, YVeola de Jong-her name! They were talking about her, maybe plan- ning that she could join in-Why, she'd al- ready invented a part for herself in the pageant. She'd like to be Egypt. Weola de Jong, huh? Are you crazy? Laura Arden, the Columbia to be, lifted her shocked voice. That name, the plaid dress of hers-let's not invite a freak into our club. But she looks smart, said a weak voice. She's a barbarian, someone else added. Weola de Jong crept around the high- backed chair and ran silently up the stairs to her room. She flung herself across the bumpy mattress, her thin shoulders shaking as she tried to sob quietly. They were right. She was a freak and a barbarian. But those girls, in their snug sheltered lives couldn't know the strain

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THE SIGNET 19 did, so she took the paper and pencil and sat by the window. Do not talk to me at all, said her mother. Look out of the window, and then write everything you see. Susie wrote about the sunset. As she went on writing, she forgot all about the composition. She wrote about the appear- ance of the distant hills, the trees, the river, the garden with its gay flowers and the birds flying past the window. Just as she had reached the bottom of the page, her mother came in. Well, Susie, inquired her mother with a smile, how is that composi- tion coming ? Composition, exclaimed Susie, you told me not to think about it, and I have not thought of it once. I have had such an enjoyable time writing about what I saw from the window. ' Mrs. Smith took the paper and read what Susie had written. There Susie, said Mrs. Smith, that is a very good com- position. A composition! exclaimed Susie. Is that a composition ? Yes, my dear, and a very good one too, said her mother. The next morning Susie copied her com- position very neatly and started for school with a happy heart, saying as she kissed her mother good bye, Just think how fun- ny it is that I should have written so long a composition without knowing it. Lois Pendexter '26. A TRUE Oh Marie, Marie, you've come back. You old sport, I could squeeze you to death. The girl who spoke threw her arms around Marie Delmont, who had been the recognized social leader of the college the last two years, and this was her third year. Are you going to have your same room, Marie? asked a tall dark haired girl. Marie suddenly sobered. No Amy, I can't have that because Daddy has met with some heavy losses and I'll have to work my way now. What are you going to do ? inquired Amy coldly. Marie bit her lips and tried bravely to smile. I'm going to wait on tables and Prof. Brown's wife has asked me to help her, and-there will be other ways. With the exception of Amy all of the girls were very sympathetic. Marie found many ways of earning mon- ey. She tutored some, did typewriting on themes, notebooks, etc., however, with all of her new duties she found time for some athletic sports. She was a star at basketball, and had won prizes at tennis. Amy was very jealous. In truth, they had been rivals from first, and now that Marie was poor, she tried in every possible way, to become the leader. SPORT She finally succeeded in dividing the group. Just after Christmas, Marie's father met a second loss due to heavy speculation in oil stock. Marie had a hard time as the school expenses increased, but she was de- termined to finish her college course. Only a few of the girls knew of the sec- ond loss but Amy was not slow in spreading the news, and in less than a month Marie had but few friends left. I think Amy is a snob, declared May Brown, You ought. to ignore her, I would if I were you. Marie smiled, No, I don't agree, I be- lieve that the only safe way to destroy an enemy is to make him your friend, Don't you think so, girls? The college had a swimming race once a. year, and a S25 prize was given the winner. Marie being an excellent swimmer decided to enter the contest. She was chosen cap- .tain of one side and Amy was the other captain. Marie was the better swimmer. The day before the race Marie was away from her room nearly all dayg she returned just in time for practice, and rushed to the closet for her bathing suit. It was gone, she could find it nowhere, neither could she find her room-mate's so finally she had to borrow Mary Brown's. This delay made her late for swimming practice and she received

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THE SIGN ET 21 she was living under,,of her illness, of her ignorance of her parents whereabouts, of her lack of money for further board. The red-headed girl was stranded in the quiet village of Hillsborough. The de Jongs had come to town as members of a Chau- tauqua. Her father had given recitationsg her mother had played the cello. However, illness prevented Weola from going on, when the week of the Chautauqua came to an end. The de Jong's had to leave their daughter behind and continue with the com- pany. They paid her board as far in ad- vance as they could, and mournfully de- parted. After Weola began to gain, she began to think that her stay in the pretty town was going to be a delightful episode in her rather barren life. There seemed to be plenty of girls here, and they had wonder- fully good times. From her window, Weola had watched them in their frolic. Weola planned to join them in their fun when she got well. She wanted friends, a chum- things she'd never before stayed in one place long enough to ever have. Somehow, nobody seemed to bother to make friends with her, after she was well enough to be out again. After overhearing just what the girls thought of her, the red-headed girl never again stationed herself in the high-backed chair in the hallway. Once, though, after a meeting she did go into the parlor to admire the pretty costumes which were nearly completed. Here, on the floor, she picked up a torn, discarded copy of the pageant. Many of her evenings after this were spent in learning parts that appealed to her. When the great night of the pageant finally came, Weola Jong had firmly de- cided she would not go to see it. Then, at last, when the music started and the crowds were pouring into the academy, Weola, because she was so very lonesome, couldn't resist crossing the street and slip- ping into a back seat to watch the per- formance. The pageant opened with a bang. The orchestra played The Star Spangled Ban- ner. Through an archway of flowers, the nations of the world began to come. From her pedestal, beautiful, stately Columbia, her torch lifted high, welcomed them-the Italian, the little wooden shod Hollander, the almond-eyed maid of Japan-of Japan -of-- Down in the audience Weola's spine prick- ed uncomfortably. What ailed Columbia, why couldn't she go on? She was spoil- ing the pageant. Weola caught her breath sharply. Oh, my-oh, my, the whole pa- geant they'd worked over so hard, was go- ing to be a failure. It served them right for being so stuck up and unfriendly. She knew a way to help and knew that she must help quickly. Very quietly, she slipped out of her place and glided up the dim aisle to a shadowy corner near the front. Another second passed, Columbia stammered and came to a long pause. Then suddenly she began to speak her part brilliantly, fluently. Her voice seemed a shade deeper than in the beginning. The pageant moved on smooth- ly. Maid after maid marched through the flower arch to her welcome. Then came the finale with the whole gay, glittering company grouped together and singing, We've a Story to Tell to the Nations. Up in in her room, Weola found the long looked-for letter from her parents. It was a fat one, full of cheery messages, and they were sending money for her to stay on longer if she wanted to. Only, she didn't want to, Weola told herself fiercely, and she just hoped there was a train she could leave on early in the morning. But as she sat there, there came a rush of footsteps on the stairs and an excited knocking at her door. Please, may we come in? called girlish voices. Weola shot the bolt back and opened the door a tiny crack and Laura Alden, Miss Brazil, China, Persia, and Japan wedged their way into the room. I-I- said Laura, er-we want to thank you. We've been narrow minded pigs, and in spite of it, you were big enough to save the pageant for us. I'd been a fail- ure if you hadn't thrown your voice so as to make it sound as though I were saying my part. But what made you do it-when all along we've acted so horrid to you? Had to, said Weola. The starving babies you were raising money for, I-I