Fairhaven High School - Huttlestonian Yearbook (Fairhaven, MA)

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28 THE HUTTLESTONIAN congenial manner, typical of his race, or the way his smile lit up his handsome face, even making his alert, brown eyes crinkle at the corners. At any rate, Mrs. Dalton found a soft spot in her heart for him. Looking at his broad, reas¬ suring shoulders, she remembered how much she missed John, and the long years she had been without her husband’s staunch partnership. She gazed at her guest from beneath lowered lids. What a fine man he is! I seem to know him well, even though we just met.” Le Pere was thinking, ’ ' I like that woman. She is real and sincere.” The dinner was finished in a leisurely fashion, and they retired to the long low-ceilinged living room. A cheery blaze from the fireplace lent its warm glow throughout the room. .£ • i 3 ] 1165 exc y se himself, saying he would return after he finished a special assignment. The other two discussed cur¬ rent topics pleasantly for half an hour or so, when the shrill blast of a fire whistle sounded nearby. Le Peie leaned his head back on the soft cushioned chair and smiled reminiscently. ' You know, I remember as a young¬ ster the manner in which a fire was announced where I lived. In the center of the village was an enormous steel ring, which was struck with a club, whenever a fire broke out. Rather a novel idea!” rs - Dalton sat up rigidly. That’s odd”, she said; they did that where I came from, too. Where did you say this was?” Cogeac, France.” Cogeac! She leaned forward with eager interest. May I be so bold as to inquire your real name?” Certainly. Paul Lecour.” Mrs. Dalton’s eyes snapped wide open. Le Pere Paul! —No, No, It could not be! And yet — was it too much to hope? Mr. Lecour, did you once have a sister?” she asked. •i ecour S ance d at her curiously for a moment, and then said, Yes, but she came to this country long ago. That is

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THE HUTTLESTONI AN 27 A crisp wintry breeze toyed playfully with the thick black hair of Mrs. Jeanine Dalton, as she walked with graceful strides towards her home. She was a tall, well-built woman about fifty years of age, with delicate but well defined features. Her limpid grey eyes had a meditative look. The atmos¬ phere is strange today”, she thought. I feel as if something were going to happen. But no, nothing ever happens here. I am content though. I have a fine son, a good home, and kind friends. Life has not been so hard with me.” She let her gaze wander dreamily along the high stone wall that sur¬ rounded her house. James, his eyes shining with excitement, was waiting on the veranda for her. “Mother!” he cried. I’m so darn glad you’ve come. Honestly, I don’t know what we fellows would do without our mothers.” He gave her an affectionate hug. Kindly stop the Galahad attitude, and tell me what has prompted this sudden flow of compliments,” said his mother in mock severity. Well, to begin at the beginning. There is a new chap down at the office, a Frenchman everyone calls Le Pere.” He’s a sort of critic on writing. Just staying here tem¬ porarily; wanted to get away from the big city. Anyway, he saw that short story I’d been working on and thought it was pretty good. Says I have great possibilities. He told me to stick to writing as if it were a Siamese twin. Oh, Mom, I’m so happy!” I always knew you’d make something of yourself”, said Mrs. Dalton, a lump of pride coming to her throat. That’s not all. I invited him to dine with us tonight. Sort of lonely here for him, not knowing anybody. It’s all right, isn’t it?” James glanced at his mother’s face. Of course”, she answered. I’m always glad to meet a friend of yours. I’ll see that we have something special for our guest tonight.” The dinner was a success in every way, for Le Pere proved to be a most delightful person. It was, perhaps, due to his

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THE HUTTLESTONI AN 29 why I came later, to find her. But I lost track of her during our long separation. I remember her now as I last saw her, in a white dress, with her long, black curls, dangling down to her shoulders.” He seemed to be looking a thousand miles away. ‘1 wish I could find her. It would make me the hap¬ piest man on earth.” Mrs. Dalton was not able to form the words that were in her heart, when she saw the tears glistening in his eyes. All she could say was, Oh Paul! Frenchmen do not cry.” Her brother looked at her intently. Jeanine!” The old familiar name came easily to his lips. Yes, it is you. Your eyes have not changed.” He took her hands, Oh, Jeanine, God is good to us.” Shirley Kanter, ’37 Night W he „ the darkness comes acreeping, And the birds have ceased their peeping, When the yellow moon is rising, That’s when night is so enticing! When the stars are shining brightly, And the trees are whispering slightly, When the wind has ceased to moan, That’s when folks are wending home! Eunice Nerbonne, ’37