Edgerton High School - Edgertonian Yearbook (Edgerton, OH)

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You win, returned the old man, and I shall tell you one that is true. A long time ago, he began,j there were bears, forests and fairies, and I was young. Yes, very young: seventeen, I believe? Isabelle sniffed audibly. I wanted to be married, he went on, ignoring the interruption. You see, I had met a fairy,.and like all fairies, she cast enchantments, and like all mortals, I was enchanted. So bewitched was I that I lay awake at night planning a way to make'her my ownf Much to my delight and dismay, I became aware that I was in love. ' At first I imagined I would go at once and tell the maidl-I should have said fairy-but my knees trembled at the thought. Finally I gathered courage enough to consult my father, He was very kind, but he said l should make a home for her before I asked her to be my wife. After much persuasion I decided to do so. ' ' Father gave me sixty acres, and helped me to clear one corner for my house. At first I worked with feverish haste. I progressed so slowly I began to lose courage. Father laughed at me and said what a line husband I would make. This pricked my pride and urged me to do my best. But he did not always jeerg he encouraged and helped me at every opportunity, although he 'said he wanted me to do it all myself. At last my house was finiished. Ihad been almost three years in preparing it. All the time I had been courting in my bashful Way. One day father suggested that I tell her. So I donned my best suit and boiled shirt and sallied forth, feeling certain she could not -refuse one who had worked so hard for her sake. VVhen I reached her home I saw through the window another occupying my accustomed place. Startled, I stood there a moment uncertain what to do. Then I saw him rise and hold out his hands. Glued to the spot, I saw her, without a moments hesitation, cross the room with her arms outstretched to him. Forbearing to look upon such a scene as I knew would follow, I turned and fied. Here the old man's voice broke as he lived over the agonizing hours of the past. How I reached home that night I never knew. Seven weeks later I married my cousin, Jessie Ferguson. She was a good wife and I think she loved me, but my heart was with the other. Have I mentioned her name? It was Margaret. Isabelle's Ibook slid unnoticed to the floor. Dorothy sobbed aloud, and mother brushed a tear from her eye. ' Jessie only lived a little over a year, he continued. VVhen she died I took some provisions and started west. I got as far as the Mississippi river when I was overtaken by a messenger from home informing me of the serious illness of my mother. I returned just in time, for she passed away a few hours later, Then I set about helping my father on the farm. On my twenty-ninth birthday my oldest 'brother and I started out to fell trees. VVe liad cut one tree almost through and had stopped to rest when we noticed that a strong wind was blowing. Wishing to get the tree down before night, my brother and I began to chop on opposite sides.

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X am, Nobody knows how green I am, with a promise of freedom after this accomplishment, ' But just at this interval the boys, turning at the sound of a whistle, saw to their astonishment the despised Freshman gaily returning to the dormitory. The Freshman ! muttered Logan. Oh! Heavens! ejaculated Uickg we've persecuted the French Prof! The boys regarded each other with panic-struck faces. Let's beat it, remarked lilake, as he gave a farewell glance to the hideous spectacle in the tree. Suiting the action to the word, the boys faded away. each making a sprint for the dormitory. leaving the bedraggled and forlorn professor to make his way to the ground in a very different manner from which he had ascended. BETTY VANDUSEN, '15, LAST, BUT NOT LEAST. The fire was blazing in the fireplace, a11d the shadows danced over the wall to the music of the crackling flames. Outside 'the wind roared and the driving snow was piled high on the windowsills. About the hearth the family was grouped. Grandfather rested in an easy chair in the warmest nook. Mother sat close by with the baby in her arms, while father drew his chair into the shadow. Isabelle sat with her dark head bent over a late novel by Robert XV. Chambers. Edgar, a boy of fourteen, crouched at his mother's feet with his head against her knees, and Dorothy, a quiet girl of twelve, with large, questioning eyes and yellow curls, cuddled against her grand- father's shoulder with her soft white cheek close to his pale, withered one. jerome, a rolicking boy of nine, rolled on the rug at his father's feet. Suddenly sitting upright he called out, Give us a story, Grandfatherg it's such a jolly night for a storyf' ' Yes, do, chorused Edgar and Dorothy. But Isabelle, who had just celebrated her sixteenth birthday, wrinkled her pretty nose in scorn. Such childishness! And, resting her chin in her palm, resumed her reading. ' VVell, asked grandfather, 'fwhat kind of a story do you want? In- dians? Soldiers, or what? j I should like one about fairies, but Isabelle, with a glance at her sis- ter, says I am too old for such things. f Oh, no!', objected Jerome, 'ftell one about bears and forests. Q Tell us about your youth, Grandfather, insisted-Edgar. And what do you want, my lady?,' asked Grandfather, looking at Isabelle. , Oh, I should prefer a romance, but I don't believe you could tell one, you never have, remarked that fair one, loftily,

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The tree trembled, and at a call from my brother I began to run. But too late, the tree, forced by the gale, fell with a crash. I was pinioned to the earth by the heavy branches. Two days later I was aroused to consciousness by cool hands on my forehead. VVhen I opened my eyes I was looking into the face of Margaret. I whispered her name, but she cautioned me to 'be quiet. As I lay there it occurred to me that she had never married. VVhen I felt better she returned to her home. Having sufficiently re- covered, I decided to spend a few days in the open air. My father suggested that I ride to a neighboring town for diversion. Accordingly, one bright morning I set out. The road led between high crags and through the shady aisles of the forest. Before me stretched the road flecked with patches of sunshine. As I rode, enjoying nature at its lovliest, I was startled from my reveries by a scream. Tugging at the rein, I drew up my horse at the side of the road, and noticed a path crossing the main road a few hundred feet in front of me. Suddenly a horse dashed down the path, turned into the road and came pounding toward me. As the frightened beast rushed past me I saw he was saddled with a woman's saddle. Knowing something was wrong, I dismounted and, slipping the bridle over my arm, started along the path down which the horse had come. I had only gone a little way wlieniT savv a girl lying huddled up by the roadside. Turning her face upward, I beheld the white features of Margaret. The blood was dripping from an ugly gash on her forehead. I staunched the blood with my handkerchief and sank to the ground.beside her. Her cheeks and lips were colorless, but I could feel the throbbing of her heart. Lifting her in my arms I carried her to a small- brook flowing near by and tried every means I knew to restore respiration. Soon my efforts were rewarded and the slow color began to return to her face. Then she drew a sobbing breath and sat up. 'With my aid she succeeded in rising, but as she did so gave a little stifled gasp and lunged forward against me. She had twisted her ankle cruelly. After a' short time she consented to make another attempt -and stood firmly upon both feet. Wfe both agreed she was more frightened than hurt. Since her horse was gone, I insisted that she accept my mount. As we passed up the lane to her home, she riding and I walking close beside,I asked her the question I had come to ask ten years before. A deep Hush Hooded her cheeks and mounted to her brow, and a soft light nlled her eyes as she leaned forward, and with her lips close to my ear, murmured 'Yes. ' LOUISE RICKERSON, '15