Farmington High School - Laurel Yearbook (Farmington, ME)

Page 29 text:

THE LAUREL 25 speech which may help me, and write a new one after the dance. I guess I'd better tell Mr. Hale tonight, though. lk Pk il IK Pk Pk That night at eight o'clock, a very dis- consolate-looking clown, dressed in red and white, with his face whitened, mounted the steps of the Grey's house and rang the bell. The door was immediately Hung open by a gypsy fortune-teller, boisterously bang- ing a tambourine. Come in, Oh come in, Sam I'm so ex- cited, she called. Sam entered, his face wearing a forced smile. Barbara snatched her coat, ran down the steps, and executed a tango as artist- ically as possible on the icy walk. But -Sam was thinking, and thinking hard. Over and over were ringing in his ears the words that Barbara had uttered, only two days before: If Frank Marlowe debates fairly and squarely Saturday night, it will be the first thing I ever knew him to do on the level! At last they reached the gym, and Sam told Barbara everything. She was, of course, horrified, and decided that they would leave the dance early, and write another together as best they could. Then they centered their attention on the costumes. There were several there like Sam's, and they picked out the boy they thought to be Frank. Later in the evening, as Sam was stand- ing by the punch bowl waiting his turn, a small figure in the costume of an Egyptian dancer slipped up to him, pressed a small paper into his hand, then quickly vanished. Sam was amazed, but assuming a look of indifference, he opened the note and read: Have everything as directed, and will deliver them to you, if you will be at the school library tomorrow at ten. Sam's head began to swim, but he im- mediately saw the solution of his problem. I may be wrong, but I'll chance it, he muttered grimly. He informed Babs that there would be no need of writing the speech that night, and left her wondering, at her door. The next morning, at nine-thirty, Sam was seated in the school library i11 a shiver of suspense. It's a big chance, he mut- tered, 'land I may be wrong, but at any rate, it's my only chance. , Promptly at ten o'clock the door stealth- ily opened. Sam, who was apparently engrossed in a book, raised his head. There in the doorway stood Arline King, the bosom friend of Helen Jameson. Sam's heart was thumping like a hammer, but he rose at her entrance and managed to say calmly: Good morning, Miss King, I see you have brought me my speech. That is extremely kind of you, I'm sure, and he stretched out his hand as if to take the package she was holding. Why, yes, I have-I mean, no, no I mean I haven't your speech. I don't know what you're talking about, I'm sure. What do you mean? Now see here, Miss King,'you know very well what I mean. Don't you suppose that I know that Helen Jameson asked you to take that speech from my desk either Wednesday or Thursday night after school? And donyt I know that you did as directed, and gave this note supposedly to Frank Marlow last night at the dance? Naturally, Helen or Frank wouldn't do it, for they would be suspected and needed an alibi, so they asked you. Oh it was all very clever, but I'm afraid the little game is up, now. Arline turned deathly pale, and sank into a nearby chair. Sam saw that his random shot had struck home, so he continued, Give me my speech now, and the matter will be dropped, for Mr. Hale knows nothing of it. Needless to say Sam regained his speech and notes, and then-but what followed then might well be left to the imagination of our readers. C. Sweet, '26.

Page 28 text:

24 THE LAUREL The debating team was announced, with two Seniors, Helen jameson and Frank Marlowe on the affirmative and Barbara Grey and Sam Prentiss on the negative, for the Juniors. Some of the members of the Senior Class were not wholly satisfied with the selection of their team, for Frank Marlowe was known among his classmates to be some- times of a questionable character, a fact which was unknown to the faculty. The corridors at school this particular week were one continuous buzz about costumes, partners, exchanging dances, and other necessary matters. On this particular Wednesday morning as Sam and Barbara swung down the street together, their conversation was divided between the two all-important topics. Honestly Babs, remarked Sam slowly, hurling a snowball at a passing chum, I don't see any reason why we should be de- feated this year. By the way I've brought my speech to school with me for a last reading over tonight. I know, Sam, answered Barbara, but do you know, I'm rather afraid of that Frank Marlowe. Why, whatever do you mean, Babs? Oh, why-- nothing, I guess. I suppose I am horrid and suspicious to say this, but mark my word, Sam Prentiss, if Frank Marlowe debates fairly and squarely Satur- day evening, it will be the first thing I ever knew him to do on the level! And she shook her black head vehemently. 'Sam looked at her in amazement, then quickly changed the subject. Speaking of masquerades, I'm going to have a spiffy costume, Babs. If you weren't going with me, I'd guarantee you wouldn't know me. I'm about the 'same size and complexion as Harry Mason, and -- Why by George, Frank Marlowe, too! Say, wouldn't it be a good joke on you if some- one should call for you whom you thought to be me, and then when you and all your H i Hnery had arrived at the gym, you would suddenly discover that you had been es- corted thither by your dearly beloved Frank Marlowe. Then, panic stricken, you would rush around the gym looking for little me, whose virtues you appreciate only when I am far away. And Sam's hearty laugh rang out, as he pictured the pre- dicament of his chum. Oh Sam, she laughed reproachfully, As if anyone could take you for Frank Marlowe. But how little was she to know that such might be the case! Sam did not have time to look his speech over that afternoon or Thursday after- noon, and it was late Friday afternoon when he went to his desk to take his speech home for a hasty perusal before the dance. He opened the cover of his desk, and looked in his Latin Grammar where his notes and his precious speech had been carefully placed. As he hurriedly turned the leaves of the book he stopped short. The speech was gone! In feverish haste he skimmed through all his books, and then through all of Barbara's, thinking she might have taken it to compare with her own. But, no it was absolutely gone! He slumped into his seat in the de- serted schoolroom totally discouraged. If only his notes had not been taken, he could talk from those easily enough. But with everything gone, and the debate less than twenty-four hours off, what could he do? It would be useless to try to look up all the statistics again, and anyway, both the school library and the public library were closed now. At first he was undecidedg but after a long consideration, he decided to go to the Masquerade as if nothing had happened, and not to tell anything to Bar- bara until it was too late for her to suggest that they stay home and work on a new speech, for he knew that Barbara had an- ticipated this dance for many weeks. Then, he concluded, I'll borrow Bab's

Page 30 text:

26 THE LAUREL JUST GIRLS A MODERN MoNoLocUE DEFINIITION OF TERMS Frances A Latin teacher Pi A fraternity Riverside The Country Club Robert The Principal of High School Miss Jones The History teacher Miss Williams The Girl's Y Secretary D. C. Danforth College Romeo and Juliet An Ice Cream Sundae Mr. Brown The Boy's Y Secretary X Y Z A Secret Society Sis Dot Marge ..... Just Girls Edna Ellen J Scene I. Almost any large High School. Time. Near the close of school in the afternoon and after school. Scene II. At the Y. W. C. A. Time. A little later. Scene III. At Wagar's Ice Cream Par- lor. Time. Five minutes later. Scene IV. Back at the Y. W. C. A. Time. Half an hour later. Scene V. At supper. Time. A little after live. Scene VI. On the street car. . Time. About half past eight. JUST GIRLS SCENE I Going down to the ' Y' tonight, Sis? -- That's too bad you've got to stay for Latin. Frances surely is a cat. Didn't you get your Cicero? -- What? You- 've been invited to the Pi dance at River- side next week? - 'Whb did it? - Sh! Here comes Robert, himself. See you later. Yes, Miss Jones, I'm here. You don't want me tonight? - That's good I was going to the 'Y' anyway. There is a special meeting on with supper and speaker. - Who? - Oh, the boy's 'Y' secretary to tell us what boys think of girls. We always have lots of fun. Hi, Dot. Where're you bound? - Geometry? - Well, see you later. Hello, Marge, ready to go to the 'Y'? Let's take our books over and leave them, and then go to VVagar's for some ice cream. I'm starved and I don't want to study. SCENE II Hello, Miss Williams. Hello, girls. - No, we're going down town. - Yes, we'll be right back. - So long. SCENE III 'K Did you see Ellen with that man? Goes to D. C. doesn't he? - Not really? - Well, I never would have thought it. - What you going to have? - Me? - Romeo and Juliet, please. - Sh ! There is Edna. Who's she with? - Oh, I see, but he is terribly dumb looking. Acts just like that crowd, too. -'K Well, let's eat. What kind of a dress are you going to have for the X Y Z dance? Rose and silver? I'll bet it's going to be pretty. - 'K Yes, I'm going. Who? You just guess. - What are you going to do Sat- urday? - Let's go to the movies. How about two o'clock sharp? - Hurry up, slow poke, we've got loads of studying to do. - We will have to hurry back to the A Y rin SCENE IV Oh, Miss Williams, make them stop that racket, we can't study. - No, I wasn't doing anything, but she wouldn't give me my compass, so I took it. We'll all be good now 'till five o'clock. Yes, here's that cake I brought. SCENE V I'm glad supper is ready. Aren't you? All that old studying is done. Now for a good time. - Ice cream, how nice, and the candles look so pretty. - Be quiet, sis, while we sing. - Now talk all you want too. - Hey, wait 'till I get a sand- wich, pleasef'- Do I think Mr. Brown good looking? - Well, he's married so