Elmira District Secondary School - Oracle Yearbook (Elmira, Ontario Canada)

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THE ORACLE y I 19 Lookin he exclaimed, The lights. From the castle window came a glow. Something going on there they did not want us to see, I'll bet. I was a little frightened by now, but he laughed my fears away, as he took my arm and led me around the castle walls. He then climbed up on some fallen blocks of stones and looked in the high leaded windows. I could see his face as he looked in the window. Amazement at first and then I was re- lieved to see him smile as he pulled me up beside him, and we both looked in. '6Look!', he whispered, The villagers are practising a costume pageant, but what a sight! Fourteen people were dressed in cos- tume of long ago date. There were faded old tapestries hung on the walls, and cob-webs were everywhere. Huge Hag- stones composed the floor and six of these had been torn up and revealed an old coffin, and lying in it was a man with a red beard. Grouped about, they stared silently down at the old man. My husband got down from the window and helped me down. We then both walked around to a huge door. Knowing what he was about to do, I tugged at his arm and whispered, Don't go in there, Harvey, let us go back to the village. He agreed and we descended to the village and entered the inn. The land- lord was pacing the Hoor and came for- ward as we entereed. You had a long walk, did you see the village?,' he ventured and looked qquite anxiously at us I thought. We had more than a walk, my hus- band said smiling at him, we saw the castle. The landlord paled, You saw the castle to-night, he stuttered. W-what did you-s-see! My husband was a little annoyed now and exclaimed, What's all the mystery about? We merely saw the villagers putting on a pageant of some sort. A pretty gruesome one I must say though. The landlord was quite staggered at these words and had to sit down, he mo- tioned us to chairs and wiped his now perspiring face. He stared at us with quivering lips-told us-- What you saw to-night was indeed a pageant, but no living creature took part in it! Wait a minute! Kas my husband started to his feetj. One hundred years ago there lived in the castle one who was known as the Red Count, and his beau- tiful wife, one day they held a grand party and invited thirteen guests, among them was one who was the Count's best friend. The Count always believed his wife was very devoted to him until the night of that party, when he caught his wife in the arms of the man who was his best friend. This sight drove him quite insane, and it was with some difficulty they could quiet him and lead him to bed. -Guests in those days stayed overnight and parties lasted two or three days. That night the count arose from his bed and in an insane rage murdered everyone in the castle. He was tried and beheaded for his crime, and, according to custom, buried in the castle floor. And now once a year on that same day his coffin is torn from the floor by those whom he murdered. During the past long years he has not changed in appearance. He is not dead or living! That is the story which has been passed on to us. Tomorrow morning the men of the village will put the coffin back in its resting-place. My husband now scoifed at the land- lord and his story. Next morning after our breakfast the landlord and some men came to see us. My husband suggested I stay at the inn KI was very agreeable to thatj while he went with them to the castle. When he came back, I could see that he was quite pale and shaken, and when I questioned him as to what he saw at the castle, he stared at me and said very quietly, The man with the red heard in the colin has been dead for a long time, for how long I do not know, but in all my medical experience, I have never seen a more perfect lifelike state of preservation.

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THE ORACLE 18 The Red Count By ELEANOR KERRIGAN, GRADE IX A I F irst Prize funior Storyj In one of the years when inflation was prevalent on the continent of Europe, we were enjoying a very fine vacation there. Our American money being at a high premium, we could afford to spend there our entire three months' holidays, and we did. This was the promised trip that we had planned between ourselves during the years of the last war of 1914 to 18 and its fulfilment now to my hus- band, Dr. Harvey Wahl, and myself was indeed affording us a full measure of happiness. Only one adventure marred this vacation, and I will tell it to you as it happened. London, Paris, Berlin and then Bel- grade! After our second day in the lat- ter historic city, we had decided to move on to newer sights. That night we met the driver of the quaint carriage, who had driven us around the city on a sight- seeing tour the day before. He entreated us to see a castle just twenty miles away, very historic and old, and he in- sisted that no tourist ever left Belgrade without a glimpse at it. We were finally persuaded and presently we were on our way, leaving the city behind and lurch- ing through the forest road on the Musium Perci , as he called his carri- age. We had travelled for about an hour when all at once he brought his horse to a stand-still and uttered what we thought was one of the local Slavian oaths. To-day! he exclaimed, You can- not see the castle today. We were amazed at this and my hus- band said to him, What do you mean? Why can't we see it to-day? He only repeated, You can not go to-day. Nothing we said would move him, nor would he give any explanations of his refusal to go. Finally my husband who was now thoroughly exasperated, said to him, Very well, drive us to the village near the castle and come back for us to- morrow. After a moment's hesitation, he shrugged his shoulders and drove on. In a short time we arrived at the village and found an inn there. Our driver then whipped up his horse and made no delay in making his departure. What a strange man! I said to my husband. With a grin he said, Probably one of the rackets to get some extra money out of the tourists. Seated in the inn, we enjoyed some plain but good food. After we were served, the proprietor came to our table and said, You are here to see the castle? Yes , my husband replied, but ap- parently our driver did not want us to see it to-day. Our host gave us a queer look and as- sured us that he was right. alt is now too late, the sun has gone down and, you do not know, but the castle has no lights. ,A But why didnit he say so? said my husband as we got up from our chairs and walked toward the inn door. I think we'll take a short stroll before we turn inf, he added. The proprietor followed us to the door and said anxiously I thought, You will not be too long away? We did not think this question very strange as it was getting dark now, and we assured him we would return soon. Well! said my husband as we walked up the village street, They sure believe in retiring early here. On our walk we did not see a solitary human being, the village was quite de- serted, the moon came up from behind the clouds and by its light we could see the famous castle on the hill about half a mile away. Forgetting our promise to ,the inn- keeper we both had the same thought- why not see the castle by moon-light? Soon we were struggling up what was once a roadway leading to the castle. As we neared it my husband pointed:

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20 THE ORACLE Sailors, Beware By DON SNYDER, GRADE XI I was born on a farm in Wyoming, about nineteen years ago. My folks weren't rich, but they sent me to school until I was sixteen. My brother, who was four years older than I, did all the farm work. I helped all I could. fMy father died when I was twelve.Q When my brother joined the Air Force, I had to quit school to run the farm. When I was eighteen, I decided I wanted to join the navy. We sold the farm and stock and bought a home in town for my mother. I went to New York to get a ob on a merchant ship. Because of the war, the fact that I was a land lubber did not keep me from getting a berth on the good ship '4Yukon Princev. My ignorance was only surpassed by my willingness to obey orders to the best of my ability. My lack of nautical terms was colossal. I had one week on the Yukon Prince as she lay at anchor. The following week in a cold winter's' twilight the uYukon Prince slid past the Statue of Liberty. She was on her way to Britain, and her decks were full of planes, and in her hold was precious cargo. I was on board. The voyage passed uneventfully, and, strange to say, I was not seasick. Our convoy arrived safely and after unload- ing our cargo, we refueled and again, at eventide, like a ghost ship, we went to sea. I My return trip was an adventure for me. I was getting my sea legs and learned to roll with my ship, but not off it. My life on our farm seemed far away. The grim expectancy that hung over our ship kept us alert to ever- present danger. I was really liking my life as a sailor, although I thought I'd die of exposure many times on the re- turn voyage to New York. Upon our arrival in New York, I was given a week's leave, as well as other members of the crew. To my mind, I 'rad in my pockets a fabulous sum of money, my first sailor's pay for a return trip. Friendships are formed quickly by the sailors who go down to the sea, and myself and my buddy left the 4'Yukon Princev to really see New York. Charlie, my buddy, was a native son of Nova Scotia, and a born seaman. I am afraid I swaggered as I walked be- side Charlie on New York's great White Way . We saw the sights and then went to a hotel on the water front. On the fourth day of our leave, the hotel was full of sailors also on leave, and at din- ner a middle-aged sailor crowded up to our small table. He told us he was off a tanker, and was not going hack. I told him what ship we were on and he asked if our captain needed more hands. The last day of our leave, the sailor was again at our table. He said he'd see us at the ship before we sailed next day. I said we were sailing at midnight, six hours sooner than previous sailing time. He got up and abruptly left the table, saying he'd join us on the Yukon Prince . That midnight we weighed anchor and steamed out into the storm- tossed Atlantic. Our sailor friend had not joined our ship and we gave it no further thought. It was at dawn next morning that the watch gave the alarm. A U-boat was on our port side, and we were helpless. We had not yet joined our convoy, and there were no destroyers near to help us. Our captain ordered a change in course and full speed ahead. Uur radio opera- tor sent out our position and a plea for help. In less time than it takes to tell, our ship received a torpedo just aft of the engine room. By the grace of a mer- ciful Providence, the torpedo had not struck our hold, which was loaded with high explosives. All hands were posted to stations, but we had no time to launch all life boats. Life rafts were thrown over and I shall never forget the sickening sensation as I slid down the deck into the icy Atlantic. The waves engulfed me and I fought for my pre- lContinued on Page 251