Eleanor McMain High School - Echoes Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

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Ther And The NSW shine, Mae vnu., '41 IT was a cold winter morning that got Jerry out of bed that day, and I must also say, in a very bad mood. Why does the bell have to ring at this hour? I heard her say as she descended the long staircase. Es- pecially on a Saturday at that! Well, what is it? A young, not sturdy, but cheer- ful boy stood .at the door holding a yellow envelope in his hand. A telegram for Miss Marquis! It was a shock to Jerry as she read- Come at once. Airplane crash. Father dying. Love, Mother. She couldn't believe her eyes. Why, her Dad never had a crackup. Her eyes bore a bewildered expression as she hurriedly packed, and, as she went out the front door, I saw the tears beginning to roll down her soft cheeks. At the hospital Jerry stood beside her Mother, inwardly making a vow that if Father died, she would never again look at an airplane. I re- member her saying at the funeral a few days later that she hated the mere word aircraft. She was only fifteen then, but the memory of those few days lived on, and, often as I sat with her she would say that if it weren't for air- planes her Father might still be alive. One day she met a young man, Jack Bordon, who absorbed a great deal of her time. He took her to nice places and I saw little of Jerry, until one day she came into the house screaming that she never wanted to see Jack again. He was a pilot, and, as you know, Jerry dis- liked pilots, not because they were pilots, but because deep down with- in her she was afraidg-afraid that airplanes might harm someone whom she might care for. That is the rea- son I persuaded Mrs. Marquis to have a talk with Jerry. She was surely old enough now to understand that hatred was no way to feel towards a mere profession. Besides, years have passed since her father's day, E-C-H-0-E-S and airplanes are now much safer. You wouldn't think that the fear of the air would last as long as six years, but it did with Jerry. I saw the fear slowly leaving her as day by day Jack and she rode out to the airport,-no, not the same one Cut by Robin Ahrens 'fShe belonged to a family of pilots where her father's crackup occurred, but nevertheless, an airport. However, after she herself had fully mastered a plane, she took the job of housewife to a pilot. Yes, Jack and she were married,-not a large wedding, but a very pretty one. For five years they lived in a small three-room apartment located in a very aristocratic neighborhood, and then they moved., No, Jack wasn't raised in salary, but they were now a family. Yes, now they were .a family-Jerry had a child, a girl. They called her Marquette,-an odd name, but something like her grand- father's whose memory still lingered in Jerry's heart. It was after Marquette entered school that the misfortune happened. I recall that Jack was away on a business trip. Marquette came home from school feeling very ill. The doctor said it was a rare disease, so rare that I have forgotten the name. At any rate there was no cure. At least that's what they thought. Some- one, a neighbor, I believe, knew a doctor in Nevada who could help, but it was such a long distance, and time was short. The fever grew worse, and finally the idea came to Jerry to fly to Nevada. Who could take them - remember - Jack was away. Did Jerry have the courage to fly there with Marquette, and at the same time know she w.as re- sponsible for a small child's life,- her ehild's? It was all there was left to do, and so they left. I remember the day they reached Nevada. Jack was waiting out on the field. It was a fine exhibition of courage and bravery and he was proud of her. Well, Marquette got well. The doctor said the disease had received attention just in time. The family returned home when Marquette was able to walk, and I think I heard Jerry tell her husband as they entered the front door that a new member would soon be .added to their family A future pilot, no doubt? I saw Jerry as she thought about this. She belonged to a family whose pilots died and whose pilots brought life to future pilots. I believe she shed a tear as she remembered her father, and then, she smiled a little as she thought about the new life soon to enter the bewildering world which held joy and sorrow for both the old and the new. Twenty-nine

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Memories Batya Mallet, '41 NOT long ago this house on Pine Street was dreary and sad look- ing. The glass in almost every win- down was broken and the shutters slammed back and forth on windy nights. What used to bc a garden was now nothing but a patch of weeds. A few weeks ago, a new family moved in. The house thought to it- self, How nice it will be to be clean and orderly again, and be surround- ed by a beautiful garden. But best of all was the thought of having children's laughter within its walls again. One night after everyone was asleep, the house began to reminisce about the wonderful old colonial days when she was in her glory with parties, barbecues, and was always filled with beautiful ladies and hand- some gentlemen. How could she for- get the night when Miss Nancy said goodbye to Mr. Robert? They were walking in a garden that was lovely with roses and evergreens but they did not see ,a thing but each other. Suddenly Robert broke the silence. Oh, Nancy, how can I leave you for four long years? You must, darling, for your sake and mine. I would rather lose everything that is worthwhile to me than go. Studying in Europe means nothing to me now, for, you see, you won't be with me. Nancy sighed and spoke softly. Four years won't seem very long be- cause we are so young and we already have so many pleasant memories. When we are lonely or down-hearted, we can remember the long summer days, that drive through the country yesterday and so many other things dear to us. How sweet and dear you are! I never realized there was such a per- son-always unselfish, always loyal. Before we go back into the house say, I love you, Robert. Nancy looked at him with all her love in her eyes and tenderly said, I love you, Robert. A few days later, Robert was ready to leave for Europe with four years of study ahead of him. Twent y-vig hi Nancy did not go with him to the ship but they parted in the familiar surroundings of the garden. The next dawn was the time for the sailing. With a heavy heart Robert boarded the ship, The Em- press. Just before the signal to leave was given, Robert was tempted to turn back, but he controlled him- self, for he knew he was doing the riht thing, they were both so young. The following days were hard ones for Robert. Shortly after leaving port, a blinding storm came up, toss- ing the vessel around like a leaf on the water. On the second night out, the storm had reached the peak of Cut by Robin Ahrens They were walking in cz. gardcw that was lovlely- its fury. Because of this rough voyage, the ship sprang two large leaks. Everything possible was done to keep her afloat, but nothing seemed to help. Despair was in everyone's heart. The boat was slowly sinking. Robert tried to help everyone as much as he could. Luckily, there were not many women or children aboard. When these were all ac- counted for, Robert and a few other men jumped overboard and caught hold of some timber which had de- tached itself from the boat. It was a wonder that they could hold on. The storm was raging-sending forth lightning, thunder, and tor- rents of rain. The next dawn everything was calm and quiet, but nothing could be seen of The Empress, or her pass- engers. Meanwhile, at home Nancy was do- ing the same things she had always done, but now there seemed to be something missing. Everywhere she looked she saw Robert's face, his dark hair, and smiling eyes. It happened that on the same night that The Empress sank, Nancy had a terrible nightmare. She dreamed that Robert was drowning and was calling- Nancy! Nancy! Nancy! With her name ringing in her ears, she awoke, shivering and screaming. Her mother, hearing her screams, rushed into her room. She took Nancy into her arms and gradually she calmed her. Nancy told her mother of her terrible dream. Tenderly her mother said, Don't worry about Robert. He can take care of himself. I have a feeling that he is safe. lVith that thought in her mind, Nancy finally fell asleep. But I wonder how it was that Nancy could feel that Robert was in danger? Maybe there was mental telepathy between these two who loved each other so dearly. A week later when Nancy was sitting on the porch with her mother, a negro came rushing up the long avenue calling, Miss Nancy, Miss Nancy ! When he reached the steps, he blurted out the story he had heard in town while buying some equipment. A tragic story-of a boat sinking and only three known survivors. Nancy gasped, The Empress? Yes, mam, said the darky, cast- ing his eyes to the ground, for he was ashamed to be the one to bring the bad news. Nancy just sat there, too dumb- founded to cry. She couldn't believe that the strong vigorous, laughing boy she loved so dearly could now be dead. Oh! How could this be true? After this heartbreaking news, Nancy changed. Instead of finding her a happy, laughing girl, we find her a quiet, reserved, mature wom- an. She stayed in her room most of the time, coming downstairs only in the early morning for a walk in the garden. QContinued on page 301 E-C-H-O-E-S

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Memories fContinued from page 285 This same routine every day was Nancy's life for the next two years. She saw no -one but her own family, and remained at home most of the time. She became pale and nervous. Any little thing tired her. Her family worried constantly about her ap- pearance and general health. Her mother had been trying to convince her that she would enjoy a visit to her uncle in Charleston. After much persuasion she decided to go. Two weeks later we find Nancy in Charleston. She doesn't go to parties or teas as she used to, but prefers to drive down to the wharf every day with her uncle, where his busi- ness carries him. One morning, while she was wait- ing for her uncle to negotiate a deal, she notices a young man disembark- ing from the boat in front of her. Never in all her life had she seen such a livid scar-it crossed the man's cheek from his eye to his jaw. Something caught in her throat- this man looked so much like Robert. Oh, but how could this be? He was dead. Surely her eyes must be be- traying her. For, as if he had sensed that she was looking at him, he turned around completely and stared at her. Slowly he smiled and start- ed to walk toward her. Nancy sat in the carriage like a statue. This man walked like Rob- ert and smiled as he did.-Maybe after all he was the man she loved and thought dead. This stranger who stood before her, looking into her eyes and slow- ly saying, Nancy, I've come back, made her realize that he was not a stranger at all, but the man who had left two years ago, to study in Europe, and had never come back- the man she loved. Little by little her voice came back but all she could say was, Robert A few seconds later she was out of the carriage and into his arms, sobbing because she was so happy. She felt his face, his hair, his hands, asking over and over again-- Is it you, Robert? Is it really you? After regaining their equilibrium, they stepped into the carriage. Nancy asked, Where have you been all this time? You look so thin and tired, darling. And that scar- .oh, it's awful-how did that come about? Robert laughed, Nancy, Nancy, how can I answer all those questions at the same time? Are you com- fortable? I will tell you very short- ly what I have been doing these two long, worried years. Robert told of the terrible storm and how he and another passenger holding on to some timber, finally reached an out-of-the-way island. They were so exhausted they could not move for days. The few white people on the island took them in and cared for them until they be- came Well. After he regained his health, he inquired how he could get back to the United States in the quickest possible way. They told him that a ship came to the island only once every year and a half, but, to his bitter disappoinment, he dis- covered that the boat had called and left a few weeks previous. He roamed over the island in despair. He knew he could not leave in an open boat, for the distance was too great. With his impatience growing every day, he waited for the ship to return. The time passed slowly, but, at last, they were awaiting its arrival. On the morning it was sighted, some were eagerly looking forward to its arrival-others were not. For some, there would be letters from homey for some there would be nothing, but for him-he knew now he was going home to Nancy. H When she ship docked, Robert went straight to the captain and asked if he could secure passage .to America. The captain looked him over, and asked how much money he had. After hearing that he had none, he promptly said, No, and told him to get off the boat. How-, ever, Robert would not give up that easily, for he 'just had to get home. He explained his situation to the captain, who agreed to let him settle for his ticket when he reached the United States. ' Robert ended his story with, And now, I'll tell you about this scar. It is the result of an encounter with a drunken native, but let us forget it all now. Here I am back in a civi- lized world. It seems too good to be true. F Nancy had been listening very in- tently, and after Robert -finished telling his story, she sighed and said, While you were living on that awful island, I was here having everything I wanted but youf As long as we live, I shall try to make the world a little better for you, anyd you must promise to -'try to forget that awful experience. Robert looked into her soft, loving eyes and thought to himself how lucky he was to have won the- love of such a wonderful girl. Many years have passed since then, but the old house still remembered what a beautiful life Robert and Nancy had lived together. Those happy days were gone, and the old house had settled herself comfortably to start a new life, sheltering a new family and to form new loves for the occupants. E :I Thirty Wishing Mathilda Ducas, '42 I wish I were an artist, 1'd paint the trees and birds, l'd write my thoughts in paintings, Instead of writing words. Fd sit and paint a picture Of while giants in a heaven blue With daisies on a hillside, And cattle grazing too. E-C-H-0-E-S