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

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THE MANIAC. ' My children, I am going to tell you of an experience which occurred when I was but a young girl. I have told you many times that your grand parents were poor and had twelve children. It fell to each of us to earn our living when we were very young. VVhen I was sixteen, my mother was stricken with paralysis and it became plain that I must find a means of live- lihood. One day while looking over the advertisements in a Western newspa- per, I ran across one worded something like this: VVANTED A young girl, preferably between the ages of I6 and 18, good looking, blue eyed, and fair haired, to act as companion to two elderly ladies who are willing to pay well. Here was my chance! I had often heard visitors speak of my good looks and I was fair haired and blue eyed. I immediately informed my fam- ily of my intentions and left for the West within a week of my decision, after receiving an agreeable letter from the two women. A The town in which they lived was little different from my home town. The large house occupied by these two Was situated amongst a grove of elm trees. I was admitted into the house by a middle-aged woman, who proved to be Ellen, the servant. She grasped my bags, without greeting, and mo- tioned me to follow her. I noticed that I had entered a long hall, devoid of furniture and heavily carpeted, and noticed that at the last turn one could get a close view of the living room. I was led down a long carpeted hallway running the full length of the house, on the second floor. The only door which was ajar along this hallway, proved to be open into my room, which was a cheerless affair resembling the rooms in hospitals. As Ellen was help- ing me unpack my suitcase, she talked willingly and uninterruptedly. Goodness knows why Miss johanda-that's the oldest one, you know- wanted a young and good looking girl here, more or less a light haired one. Miss Betty didn't like it at all, but, as usual, didn't get a chance to help .de- cide. I guess johanda was looking for someone like Miss Annie, who died many years ago. She was a sister, you know. Miss Annie was cremated and that made Miss Johanda insane for a time and she's been queer ever since. Hard telling what she'll do at timesf' By the time I had finished unpacking, I was prepared to meet any pe- culiarity of these two sisters. Ellen led me to a room on the lower floor, which was cozy enough to feel like home. Then I noticed a tall woman ad- vancing toward me, who regarded me With dark eyes that held a wild gleam which frightened me beyond belief. This wild mocking light quickly disap- peared and in its place was a twinkle of welcome. Her smile died as she pre- sented me to her sister, Miss Betty, a lovely little lady with white hair, and in its place was a rigid contraction of the mouth, which pulled at its corners 25

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SCHOOL DAYS. Oh! dear it's half past eight already and my hair just won't comb! I must not be late this morning or I'll be marked on the black list and my chance for escaping the final exams will be gone. Oh! dear now where is my hair net? It was here just a minute ago! What's that I am stepping on? Thank goodness! My hair net! W'ell, finally I am through with my hair! It does look awful, but I donlt care! I guess I can go down now and have my break- fast. No! I must have a handkerchief! Now where is a clean one? I supf pose Gertrude has used them all! VVhat did you say, Gertrude? In the third drawer? Oh yes, yes! Thank you! VVhat are you laughing at? Headless, well I guess you would be headless too! And you had better . shut up or I'll tell daddy you went for a ride on johnny's handlebars yesterday! No, I guess I Won't, if you'll only keep still! VVl1at!s that, Mother? Yes, I'm com- ing! Don't you suppose I know I am late? Donlt keep reminding me of it! Please! Mama, I haven't time to eat all that! I must hurry! No, mother, I can't have any more toast! Well, then if you won't let me go tonight I guess I'll have to! Now, I just can't eat any more! Oh! I don't care if I do starve! I'cl rather do that than be ridiculed! VVhat! A hole! Troubles will never cease! Darn! just as I was ready to leave! Will you fix it, mother? For goodness sakes! I-Iow long do you think I can stand here on one leg? Oh! That's good enough! Heavens, don't fuss with it! I am sure no one ever notices my legs anyhow! It does too look all right! NVell, I guess I can go now! Books? Let's see! Yes, of course! I brought home my English Grammar last night! AVVIICTC did I put it? I ani pretty sure I put it on my desk! It's not here! VV ell, what could I have done with it? My brains just refuse to work. NVhat shall I do? Have you seen it, Ger- trude? Yes, my English Grammar! Vtfhat, you won't tell me? VVell, if you don't give it to me at once-- In your closet! Oh, you horrid girl! Itls not here! I have looked behind and below everything in here! Oh! Thanks! Ididn't see it lying there on the floor! Let me use your pencil, Gertrude? You won't? Mama! Gertrude won't let me use her pencil! There, smarty, I got it after all, didn't I? Oh! you wish I would be late, do you? Well, I won't,-so there! No, I don't want a coat, mother! Of course it's not going to rain! Now! I am off at last! Yes! Yes! Mother, I'1l remember to get those shoestrings tonight! Dear! I-Iow everyone delays me! Great Scott! Whats that rubbing against my legs? Oh! you naughty Towser! Of course, of all mornings, this morning Bob had to let you loose! Now, I'll have to carry you back! Shut up, Towser! Mother! Oh! Mother! Hurry! Come and get Towser! I just can't! I am almost late already! There! Maybe I can go now! I do believe it's raining! Yes, it already! There! Maybe I can go now! I do believe it's raining! Yes, it is! There's mother calling again! What can she want now? An umbrella? Goodness, mother, a few drops Won't hurt me! W'ell, if you insist .. .. .. .. ,. What's that? Oh! I just knew it! There goes the school bell! There's no need of hurrying now! Guess I'll go back and change my stockings, they do look rather awful! ESTI-IER VVOLFE I23. 24

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slightly, giving her whole visage a leering expression, where before she had been almost beautiful. The rest of that first day was spent in idle conversa- tion, that being the extent of my duties besides little odd jobs, such as answer- ing letters. During the afternoon, I caught Miss johanda's eyes resting upon me with a hideous gleam which she skilfully hid when she knew I saw her. Both ladies retired early that first evening and I went to my room, but not to sleep. An uneasiness possessed me and, for the first time in my life, I locked my door and looked under my bed and into the closet. I lay down and waited for sleep to overtake me, but this was useless. I was wide awake -waiting-waiting! For what? I know not how long I had lain thus when I heard a muffled cough, or possibly a laugh, in the corridor outside of my door. I heard the padded footsteps of a person on the carpet. Frozen with terror, I grasped the bed clothes and again waited. Only terrible silence met my strained listening. Oh, if I could but have screamed, have done some- thing! But the room seemed pervaded by tiny demoniacal spirits forbidding such an act on my part. In the morning, tired and fully determined to leave, I went down to breakfast. Everyone was so pleasant and my walk before luncheon showed me such a beautiful valley, that I decided to stay. The sec- ond night, I heard the same sounds, but this time I distinctly heard some ob- ject dragging behind the midnight prowler. I turned on the light, gripped my fear, and determinedly advanced to the door and swung it open. Was I mistaken or did the door across the hall close as I did so? I looked and saw darkness 5 and heard-stillness! I closed my door hastily and returned to my bed. That night again I did not sleep. I stayed through the third day, fully decided to remain and conquer my fears. The women were unusually kind, though often, as on the first day, I noticed that queer look in Miss Johanda's eyes. Of what Was she thinking that caused that gleam? Vtfas it concerning me? I was soon to find out! The third night, I listened for the same sound but heard nothing. To- ward midnight, I decided to go down stairs and get a glass of water as the night was stiflingly hot. I walked down the long hallway, the carpet dead- ening my tread, and began to descend the staircase. When I reached the sharp turn, I noticed a light in the living room. That was peculiar, as I dis- tinctly remembered Miss Iohanda and Miss Betty having retired at the same time that I did. Looking more closely, I saw Miss Johanda sitting almost in the center of the room, sewing feverishly upon a soft white garment. Some- thing held me spellbound. I saw her rise and lift the garment before her. Then I heard her emit a laugh which rose in a shrill, half wild, mocking note, then died away. I turned and flew back to my room, relocked my door and forgot my thirst in my terror. The fourth day passed like a dream. A premonition of evil seemed to hover over me. Every noise caused me to start. My nerves, usually strong as steel, failed me. That evening, I kept postponing the hour to retire. Fi- nally, after several vain attempts on Miss Johandais part to have me do so, 26