Eastern High School - Echo Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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THE EASTERN ECHO I7 Two months later, a sad-faced, dark-eyed girl sat on a huge davenport in front of an open fireplace. Beside her sat a tall, hand- some young man, his ruddy color giving evi- dence of an outdoor life. Gazing fondly at the girl beside him, he said, Do you care to tell me now, dearest? Yes, Jack, she replied, it has been won- derful of you to refrain from asking me ques- tions. My letters told you nothing. I am home because I was expelled from college. ExpeIIedI exclaimed jack. You? Erna then repeated the story which had troubled her for the past two months. She concluded, The story of the tampering with the examination papers and the finding of my handkerchief by the desk, that is the knowl- edge the college possesses. But, Jack, here is a story that is known to but two persons. You will be the only other one, I suppose, that will ever hear it. On the day before that horrible examination, Mary, my supposedly best friend at Kingley, admired and examined my handkerchief box. She knows and I know who put that handkerchief beside the French instructor's desk. Remember, in the eyes of all the students that senior was my chum. I did love her for what I thought she was. And how could I accuse her of all people? Would anyone have believed me? No, of course not. I had no evidence against Mary like that which was held against me. After that hear- ing in the dean's office, not a soul believed me. All of my companions chose evidence in preference to my word. Mere evidence! she finished slowly and bitterly. She was silent a moment, then exclaimed, Why, Jack, this is the night of the junior-senior basketball game. Doubtless the girls are cheering this very minute for Mary Lyston. Oh! I ask you, is that justice? No, little girl, said the man slowly, you have not received justice, you have had a bit- ter taste of life. Life quite often does not seem just. But you have survived this cruel experience with still a great many friends. These people here are your true friends. Since Miss Lyston appears so successful, so triumph- ant, I am not surprised that you view life and justice with the eye of a pessimist. I truly believe, however, that sooner or later Mary Lyston will be found out and her true char- acter revealed. The wrong-doers very often seem to be on the top in this world: the great mass of people never hear the end of their stories. If people would look at the end of the life of a seemingly successful criminal, they would, perhaps, be more optimistic about their own plain, honest, everyday lives. Mary Lyston will some day suffer for her sin. I knew you would sympathize and un- derstand, dear. This pain and sorrow will not heal yet awhile, but, she added, blush- ing and smiling, I still have you. Silently they watched the glowing embers die out, each thinking of ways in which to save the other from the many hardships in life. On a gymnasium floor far away, quite a different scene was being enacted. As Erna had prophesied, Miss Lyston held the center of the stage. At a casual glance she appeared to be the same old Mary, laughing and gay. On close observation, however, one might perceive dark circles beneath her eyes that told of long, sleepless nights, and a feverishly bright and high color that was caused by her fear and anxiety lest her true self be revealed. The deed which she had committed was prey- ing on her mind night and day. Although to outward appearances she had gained her goal, each hour seemed to her to become a greater burden. -QQHZIIIIIIIIIIIIIllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllllllll-2+-M A SOLILOQUY NORA E. KIRWAN, 1924 The beach is just a stretch of gleaming sand, That separates the ocean from the land. The sky is just another stretch of blue, That separates the heavens from our view. But miles and miles of earth and sky and sea Are stretched between the one I love and me. Sometimes a little wandering bit of spray May hop the beach and touch the land that way: Or when the glimmering stars creep out at night, We get a glimpse of heaven through their light. And often now I wonder how I, too, Can play a trick on fate and be with you. There're many ways of tricking fate, it seems, For every night I meet you in my dreams, And each night send a message through the moon, That I am true and hope to see you soon. It may seem strange-I think it is a fact- 'Tis through the moon you send your answer back.

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I6 THE EASTERN ECHO when they were alone in the gym, Erna was quick to perceive the senior's animosity. It puzzled her, and she knew that although there would be plenty of rivalry, it would never be friendly, as she had hoped. November the tenth, the day of the game, dawned bright and clear. The juniors were on their toes with excitement, and the seniors were equally determined that they would be victors. It was good natured rivalry, though. Only one person felt resentment at such com- petition. At half past two the grandstand was filled. The vivid purple and white of the juniors contrasted sharply with the black and gold of the seniors. Cheer leaders were laboring hard, each trying to outdo her opponent. Was feel- ing ever so high as at a junior-senior match game? At three o'clock the referee blew the whistle. The game was on! Up and down the field rushed the teams, each side determined to make a goal. IVIary's team was the first to score: but one minute before time was called, a junior shot the ball across the line. Still the seniors were confi- dent, and the juniors hoped. Back in the dressing-room Erna encouraged her girls. Mary also coached her team and-retained her usual calmness. In the second half Erna played as she had never played before, and the team followed her lead. Mary, too, played a wonderful gameg but her team, when com- pared with Erna's, lacked that necessary requi- site pep. Amid the shouts and the cheers of the juniors, the game ended with a score of 3-I. The juniors went wild over their leader and their team. Back in the seniors' dressing-room the girls saw a new Mary, who quarrelled and found fault with her friends and teammates. Then, as if by magic, she became calm. No one knew or realized the rigid self-control which she had to exercise in order to apologize to her friends and congratulate her opponent. Mary accomplished this task and gave her friends further cause to call her a good sport. I-low quickly the impatience of a few minutes ago was forgotten! Her friends ar- gued that Mary had a right to become peeved at such a disappointment. Two days later Mary found excuse to visit Erna, alnd she praised her for her athletic ability and victory. She continued to culti- vate her acquaintance, introducing her to her friends and giving them further cause to be- lieve her a fine girl. Erna was now happier than she had been since she entered Kingley. The sunny, laughing way of the senior ap- pealed greatly to the deeper, sweeter nature of the junior. The unfriendly days before the game were quickly forgotten by Erna. Mary, however, did not forget. There now remained but one cloud on E.rna's horizon-her inability to get along in French. One day after class the French in- structor said to her, Miss Eastwood, I don't know just where your trouble is in French, but I am going to give you an examination to see if there isn't some possible way of pass- ing you. I feel that you have tried. Be prepared, then, to take the test on Wednes- day of next week. Thanking the teacher for her kindness, Erna walked slowly to her room. I-Ier coun- temance was grave, for she 'knew that she. needed to do real work in order to pass the examination. Later in the day Erna told Mary about the examination and her fear of it. Don't worry about that, said Mary lightlyg I'll come in every night and help you. Now don't refuse, because you know I am always glad to help a friend. Was the senior's tone wholly sincere? Tuesday afternoon of the following week, Mary Went into Erna's room. Erma, she said, please excuse me this eveningg I can't possibly help you. You know there is that senior basketball meeting. Of course, I'll excuse you, answered Ernag thank you so much for the help you have given me. I can never repay you. Please don't mention that, dear. Mary, will you stay here a moment? I must post this letter. Another one to Jack, I'll bet, laughed Mary. When Erna returned, she found her friend examining her handkerchief box. This box is certainly odd, exclaimed Mary. I have been looking inside, and it certainly is precious. I must go now, Erna. Tomorrow will tell the tale. The following morning after chapel, the report spread that the examination papers which had been intended for Erna had been tampered with. Beside the desk in which the papers were kept, a handkerchief had been found. It had been identified as Erna's. It couldn't be true declared her friends, and yet-who could deny the evidence? She was no longer trusted. Where were the friends of yesterday? All through the ses- sion with the dean, when she was being ques- tioned, she was as one in a dream. Not until she was leaving the office did the truth begin to dawn upon her.

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