Eastern High School - Echo Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

Page 7 text:

THE EASTERN ECHO 5 High Adventure Audrey Noonan '24 HE. spacious home of Mr. Reginald Livingston was situated on the out- skirts of one of the most exclusive suburbs of New York. A brilliant October sun fell upon the stately, colonial veranda, and into the casement win- dows of the luxuriant apartment occupied by Marny, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Liv- ingstone. lVlarny had everything in life that any girl could wish for, but she lacked a contented spirit-a great need. Her father was one of the richest stock bro- kers on Wall Street. Marny and Glynn were his only children, consequently their slightest wishes were, unfortunately, readily granted. They were now at their country home and Marny had nothing to do but ride horseback, swim, play tennis, play golf, drink tea, drive to the country club in her racer, entertain or be entertained. To a girl in moderate circum- stances this would be a feast of enjoyment, but when she has these things again and again, day in and day out as Marny had, they would lose their charm. Marny was seventeen. She had just grad- uated from Mrs. Byer's School for Girls, and sh: was still in the younger set of New York so- ciety. Marny was tall and slim with the grace of a willow wand. Her curly brown hair was bobbed in a boyish fashion, but her dreamy eyes, with the long, black lashes sweeping over them, and her full, red lips gave her a capti- vating expression. But Marny was bored. She was tired to death of the life she was leading. She wanted some'- thing exciting to happen. She lay languidly on a couch beneath the east casement of her beau- tiful room. 'Tm not going to stay another minute in this tiresome old place, l'm nearly dead and this book is unpardonably sil-ly. --Bangl the book went to the floor. Marny was not always gentle. She jumped up and ran upstairs to her room and after slamming the door, Hung herself on the bed. There isn't a thing to do-nothing, she sobbedg it's a mean trick for everybody to leave me home by myself, -but it really was her own fault for the family had gone to the country club and of course had asked her to go. She had preferred to read a promising novel. l l F fxfvfiffj A sudden idea struck her-yes-she would do it. She jumped up from the bed, ran to the closet and pulled down some clothes. ln about fifteen minutes she was dressed. She had on a pongee blouse with a red tie at the open neck, a pair of tan, tweed knickers, woolen hose and sport shoes. She flung her bobbed hair back and put on a soft, felt hat. Catching up her jacket, she ran out of the house. She was just going down the steps when Glynn, her brother, stopped his car in front of the house. He jumped out and as he passed her he asked, VVhere are you going, Sis? Never you mind, she Hung back and pro- ceeded down the steps. Glynn shrugged his shoulders and went into the house. As Marny went around the house and past the garage, her Belgium hound, Bomby, came bounding after her. Do you want to go on an adventure, Bom- by? she asked. The dog wagged his tail and jumped up on her, as if to give her eager as- sent. Come along doggie, dear, but you must be good, she said, patting his silky head. They walked on down the road to the woods, Bomby marched sedately by lVlarny's side. When they reached the woods Marny sat down on a large boulder, and drawing Bomby to her proceeded to tell him of her plans. Now listen, Bomby, l'm tired of this life and you're tired of it, so we're going out to look for adventure together, understand? The dog assented with a wag of his tail. We're going to have some fun for one day, at least, she de- clared. Come on Bomby, old top, maybe we can find a pleasant surprise. For two hours they walked on the road through the woods. Marny enjoyed just walk- ing along whistling and throwing sticks for Bomby to bring back. This soon grew tire- some, however, accordingly they left the road and wandered into the woods. It was much more fun walking there, lVlarny thought. Birds flitted here and there, wild flowers grew all around and sometimes a rabbit or some other little wood creature would skim past. On and on they trudged. Marny didn't feel a bit tired. It was summer, she was young and carefree, altogether it was good to be alive. It grew darker in the woods but Marny didn't even no- tice it, she was too eager watching the busy life around her. At last she came to a pile of stones and sat

Page 6 text:

A1 x 132541 'QAM N v V J' N if 'V ff 2 g NEXT? QF sb HM J ,- W Q ?f M I i W xo , EG sv ,AX Ax ' f ml! A 1 Wifi'--J QMXXB ij x r 1 Lily. nw,m1,2-QM W Vw if . 1 in UW 2211-ggxgkp Y' K K' J w w r MM ! CaT.l1ermeH.Cox ,245

Page 8 text:

6 THE EASTERN ECHO down. Then she realized that she was tired, after all. Bomby stretched out on the ground beside her and fell asleep. She felt drowsy herself so she thought she, too, would take a little nap, then they would go home for, even if they hadn't found adventure, they had had a good time. She lay down on a mossy ledge of rock and before five minutes she slept. Meanwhile, night came from its Eastern cave and took the place of day and the woods were as black as if they had never known the warm rays of the sun. II Marny, half waking, rolled over on her mos- sy bed and her arm touched a sharp rock, near- by. She awoke as the pain stabbed her arm. OW, she cried, then O-o-o-o it's dark! Turn on the light somebody! But as she said it she felt something cold and wet touch her face. Oh, she gasped. Bomby barked, for it had been his nose IVIarny had felt on her face. She realized now where she was. Silly, she said to herself, now it's dark and you'Il never find your way back home. I wish I had never taken that foolish nap. Come here, Bombyln and when she felt Bomby's fur, well, come on we'll start anyway-we can't get lost much more than we are, so taking hold of Bomby's collar she stumbled along. When they had walked what seemed to Mar- ny about fifteen miles, really only two, they came to a steep hill. When we reach the top of this hill, Bomby, I'm going to rest. I'm about all in. This is wonderful adventure, nearly killing yourself falling over tree stumps and roots. I'm bruised all over, I'll bet. It doesn't hurt you walking in the dark because you're used to it, but good- ness-me! Well, here we are at the top. What's that-looks like a fire! and it was. I do believe it's a camp, exclaimed Mai-ny excitedly, maybe some of the campers can tell us the Way home. So without thinking of any danger Nlarny approached the camp with Bomby. III The gypsy camp had just settled for the night. Old Shangham Rue, the commander and leader of the gypsies, had ordered the camp for the night to be made in this spot. All the men were busy ,unpacking while the women were cooking the evening meal. There were fifteen families in Old Shangham Rue's gypsy band. There were about twenty-five able- bodied men, including, of course the younger boys. They were what might be called a rich tribe, having been successful. in all their ran- som deals, and having stolen quite a few val- uable things. There was always plenty of food and they seldom had any serious troublef This gypsy band, an unusually clean band of wan- derers, by the way, was content, but because they were content does not say that they would not take more, for what person, even though he has nearly all, would not Want he all? Such was Old Shangham Rue's gypsy band Whose fire lVIarny had seen. IV As Marny approached the camp fire she smelled a very pleasant odor-meat frying- it seemed to make her feel as if she had not eaten for ages. She walked boldly up to the edge of the camp fire. Good evening, she said to an old woman who sat by the side of the fire, can you tell me the way to the Livingston Estate? I'Iuh? replied the woman, looking up from the pot she was holding over the fire. HI say, can you tell me the way to the Liv- ingston Estate? You see, Bornby-my dog- and I are lost and we'd like to know the way home. Never heard of such a place, responded the woman and looked down again at her work. IVIarny walked to the other side of the fire where there were three women likewise cook- ing. After repeatedly stating her question and repeatedly receiving vacant stares as an an- swers, IVIarny became impatient. Wait a minute, one woman interposed, I'll get Old Shangham Rue. She arose and walked swiftly back to one of the wagons. IVIarny hadn't any idea who Old Shangham Rue was, but she would hail anyone with joy who knew the road home. She scrutinized the camp and she realized what sort of a camp it was. She was just about to run away when the woman came back with an old man. You wish to know the way to the Living- ston Estate? Old Shangham Rue asked. - Yes, do you know? said IVIarny eagerly. Oh, yes, the man replied, 'ibut not at nightg that is I don't know the road at night and I doubt if I could tell you how to go, he concluded, but if you will remain with us to- night I will show you the way home in the morning. We are traveling that way. Oh-er-err I couldn't stay for the night, said IVIarny clutching Bomby's collar tighter and backing away, I er-a I think I had better go now. But what is your hurry, replied Old Rue, you could have a good meal and a nice rest, then in the morning as we go your way we