Ferndale Union High School - Tomahawk Yearbook (Ferndale, CA)

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l Ellust iiln fdlime Eva Jennings, '18, SN'T it strange that we should both have the same name? asked Myrtle Wayne for the hundredth time. 66 Yes, it is queer, all rightf, Do you suppose that we are at all related ? No-not in the least, or we should have remembered each other, I am sure, answered Dick Wayne. They had often talked about their names, but had never known anything about their parents. Dick supposed that his were dead and Myrtle had long been living with a Mliss Bruce, in the mountains. Miss Bruce had told the girl that her father and mother had died when she was a little child and had left her in the care of a friend. But later this friend had died and Myrtle had been adopted by Miss Bruce. This was all the guardian knew of her adopted girl. Now, during this time, young Dick had come to the hills and, meeting this orphan girl with the same name as his, had fallen in love with her. They were to be married in the spring. At first the girl hesitated, for she thought it might be possible that they were related, but Richard Wayne had convinced her that she was wrong. So the engagement was announced. A man in a distant city, who chanced to read the announcement, at once set out for the mountain home. I Some time later, up the canyon, to the home of Miss Bruce, this weary man trudged along, carrying a suit case. Now and then he paused to look down hun- dreds of feet below. It made him dizzy, so he turned away and pressed onward. At last he sank down in despair. He peered far out over the city below, and followed with eager eyes the route he used to take in wandering to the sea. He nodded his head at the distant shimmer of water beyond the city, and was deter- mined by the dashing waves, which he fancied he could see. Finally he arose and spoke aloud. I must get to my children, for by sunset tomorrow they will be married. I must! I will! he criedjdashing forward up the mountain'side. At this time Dick and Myrtle sat by the brook in the beautiful fresh summer air. I can hardly imagine that this will be the last time that we can enjoy these beautiful surroundings, exclaimed Myrtle. Why, it isnlt going to be the last time, Myrtle, because we shall come back every year in the springtime, answered Dick, excited with his planning. Oh, shall we really come back, Dick, do you think Pl' asked Myrtle, wist- fully. Yes, children, we shall all come back every year. Thank God, I have found my son and daughter just in timell' replied the weary old man among the parted bushes. Both Dick and Myrtle were so startled that they drew back with low excla- mations. But when Mr. Wayne explained to them that they were brother and sister, they were glad he had reached them in time, but they were also very disappointed. Myrtle ran into the house and left Dick with their father. A week had passed before the old man left his heartbroken children. He 25

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I purchased a couple of magazines and was soon quite comfortable as we sped along, with my luggage stowed safely in the rack above. The close air of the coach, with the rhythmic movement of the wheels must have put me to sleep, as I was suddenly aroused by the conductor's cry, Grand Junction! Change cars !', Recovering my senses just in time, I snatched jean's suit case and my own bag and rushed from the train an instant before it pulled out. ' I soon realized the suit case had greatly increased in weight and glancing at it I saw' to my amazement that it was marked in neat black letters HG. H. Smith., Otherwise, in color, size and general appearance, it was just the same as Jean's. No matter what happened, I knew that G. H. Smith and her suit case had to be found, as I never could face jean without it. Wildly gesticulating at the fast receding train I was suddenly lilled with dis- gust at the whole affair. Why were such tasks always given to me, any way? And how in thunder was I to get that dress? The answer was not far off, as across the track stood a small runabout with a dust-covered driver at the wheel. He seemed to be almost asleep, but the wav- ing of a ten dollar bill before his eyes awakened him quickly enough. After a short explanation we were soon whizzing along at top speed in a great cloud of dust, headed for the next station. Luckily the train stopped there for water, so I jumped aboard the train and found jeanls suit case in the rack where I had placed it. After tossing G. H. Smithl' into the rack again and with ,Iean's suit case Hrmly clutched in my hand, I was off the train and ready to start back. When we got back to Grand Junction I settled down for a long wait, think- ing rather regretfully I was minus ten dollars. Well, it's worth it. Iean's just got to have that dress, I thought to mfyself. When at last I did reach Aunt Kate's it was tive o'clock and five hours later than I was expected. As I walked up the graveled path toward the bungalow, Jean ran to meet me. There, I said, hurling the case to the ground, There's your plagued party dress. I hope this is the last I'll have to do with it. My party dress ? questioned jean slowly, looking puzzled. Didn't you get my card telling you not to bring it? I sent it by the next mail. Aunt Kate changed her mind. We're going to have a masquerade instead, and I'm going as Portia. Well, you girls are the limitln I exclaimed, thoroughly disgusted. Stalking on up the walk I dropped into the hammock on the porch. I lay there for a while and on glancing down I saw a piece of pasteboard carelessly dropped behind one of the porch pillows. Idly curious, I picked it up and read: Dear Hal: Don't bother about the party dress as I don't need it after all. Your affectionate sister.-Jean. 24

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lingered and wandered among the mountain villages, and always he carried upon his mind his great sorrow. At last, in leaving a village he took the wrong trail and became lost. Gne night a fewr days later, a young girl opened her door to say good night to the great stars above and found an unconscious man lying upon her doorstep, with his suit case upon the ground. She hurriedly summoned the old lady, with whom she lived, and with her aid got the old man into the little hut. That night, as the girl sat by the bedside studying the haggard features of the sick man, he muttered something. She leaned over to catch the words. They came slowly and almost inaudibly. Valise,-oh,-donlt-let them-take itf' Then he was quiet again. The frightened girl crept away to the suit case. She was about to open it when she recalled herself. Would it be honest to do so? She ought to know his trouble so that she could help him if possible, she argued. So she opened it, drew out a small photograph, and with a cry sank upon the floor. When she recovered she exclaimed, He has found me at last, now I am not alone. The man, Mr. Wayne, stirred, and she arose and went to him. He asked for his valise and she gave it to him. He took the little picture and looked at it, and then at her. But she had her arms around his neck, telling him how glad she was because God had let her own dear father find her. When the old man could speak he told her how he had broken up the engagement of his son and a girl of exactly the same name as hers. So when he had finished she under- stood all. The next day the father and true daughter began their journey to the moun- tain home of the other girl. It was a long and dusty ride over the mountain trails. Mr. Wayne grew uneasy and urged the horses along. His uneasiness increased so rapidly as they moved along, that at last he broke the silence. Oh, if he should be gone we could never overtake the poor boy l But I don't think he will be gone. At any rate we will see when we get there, answered his daughter. So they rode on in silence. At last they arrived and met Dick Wayne, who was just leaving. The girl sprang out of the buggy and ran to meet her new found brother. The father hurried after her and Dick's broken-hearted sweetheart came out of the house to joinain the strange scene. Soon all the tangled threads of their lives were unraveled. Dick caught the girl he was now free to love, in his arms. And among the joyful things the now radiant Myrtle kept exclaiming softly was the one sentence, Oh, Dick, everything's just in time. just in time! ' I jilencz Lola McGlaughlin, '16. Twilight was descending upon the plain. The last rays of the southern sun had faded behind the distant hills. The lowing herds had been driven from the pastures, the sturdy farmers plowed no more, and the noisy chattering of blue jays and squirrels was hushed. In the center of the plain sat a dreary little cabin. Inside all was dark and still. Ah, yes, it would seem so to the careless listener, but up in the lonely attic knelt a curly headed little boy, whispering Now I lay me down to sleep. But he too would soon be as silent as all nature around him, leaving the Good Shep- herd to guard his fold alone. 26