Fryeburg Academy - Academy Bell Yearbook (Fryeburg, ME)

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10 THE ACADEMY BELL You can't, because there are no apples in that pan, but I will get you one right away, she hastened to add, looking fear- fully at Bob at the same time. But Bob was thoroughly angry by this time. Mary, there is something in that pan that you don't want me to know about, but I am going to know just the same. This is a pretty way to act when we have just made up. And Mary, seeing that he was deter- mined, again buried her face in her apron and sobbed,- ' Yes-when-we had-just-made up Oh, dear. Bob lifted the cover and stood staring at the six large onions that lay within. Suddenly his eyes began to smart and two large tears rolled down his cheeks. Then light broke upon Bob's clouded un- derstanding. He now knew the real cause of Mary's tears and also of her peculiar behavior. ' Soon three different varieties of tears were running freely. Mary's were tears of real sorrow and Bob's were onion tears mingled with tears of merriment. But Bob used his voice as well as his eyes and Mary, hearing, raised her head from her apron to look at him, Then you-you-aren't an-angry ? Angry! I-Ia, ha!,' roared Bob, and Mary began to smile, too. As soon as Bob got his mouth back to its normal size and shape he put his arm around Mary and said- Cupid always was a funny fellow, but this is the first time I ever knew him to take the form of an onion. MILDRED MERRILL, '20, A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY. It was five minutes of five. In five minutes the Sunset bank would close. Sunset was a flourishing western town, which a few years before had been a great plain where buffaloes fed. The safe door stood open. All was still except for the clink of silver as the paying-teller counted out the money, pre- paring to leave. just as he finished counting, the door opened and a cowboy entered. He strolled up to the window, drew a six-shooter and told the paying- teller to hand over the money. The man did as he was ordered. As the cowboy started towards the door, he turned and said with a drawl. If ye move I'll send ye to Paradise, and Texas Bill does not waste words either. He went to the door, reached his horse and soon the dust was Flying under the horse's hoofs. As soon as the cowboy was off, the pay- ing-teller rode to the sheriff's home and told what had happened. In answer to the sheriff's question concerning the cow- boy's looks he said, Most dressy chap in Texas, White chaps, silver spurs, wide brimmed hat, silk handkerchief knotted around his throat, and no mask. Had gray eyes and called himself Texas Bill Texas Bill ! g Yes, Great Scott! Why man, he's the most notorious outlaw in th-is country. Kills men for a pastime, I'll get him or die. The sheriff rode to one of the biggest saloons in the town, and dismounted. When he reached the door he stopped short in surprise. Through the crowd he saw, in one corner at a table, two cow- boys gambling. One was short and stubby, the other was tall, wore white chaps, silver spurs, a wide brimmed hat and a silk handkerchief around his throat. Sensing a new presence the second man looked toward the door and as he did so the sheriff muttered, Those same gray eyes! Then the sheriff sauntered toward the corner, but the cowboy after looking up, continued playing. The sheriff touched him on the shoulder, and coolly looking the cowboy in the eyes said: Hand over that money, make no resistance, come

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THE ACADEMY BELL 9 they reached the shore he still kept it. Grandmother told me that this made her very angry, so she bade him good-bye and told him never to come near her again. Then she climbed up the rocks above, mounted her horse and disappeared. But Grandmother's name has always been Williams since I have known her, so I think perhaps that she forgave the Judge. Then there is a portrait of a very handsome young man in Grand- mother's parlor, which is always referred to by callers as the Judge, but it looks very much like grandfather, too. MARGARET Davis, '23. O YOU CUPID! Mary Burton sat on the back doorsteps with a pan in her lap. She was peeling something. Suddenly two large tears rolled down her cheeks and splashed into the pan. Then another and another. Oh, dear, said Mary, and she set the pan down at her side, slamming the cover on at the same time. She then buried her tear-wet face in her big blue apron. A few moments before, Bob Williams, angry with all girls in general and one in particular, decided to forget his troubles and get his friend Bill Bates to go fishing with him. It never entered his head that he would have to pass Mary's house in order to reach Bill's and he was nearly opposite before he realized where he was. At first, he thought he would go back but that looked too much like running away to suit him. Well, I won't look in that direction anyway, said Bob. Some girls give me a pain. She'll have to be the first to say she's sorry, thatis certain. The idea of giving back my ring. So with eyes straight ahead, Bob started on again. He had passed the hedge which ran along the front of the house and was opposite the kitchen door when a tame crow belonging to Mary's small brother liew down from the tall maple to the board of the rope swing and said, Caw, Caw, in very decided tones. Bob forgot himself and looked around, but he didn't see the crow, no, indeed. The first thing that met his sight was Mary, with her face buried in her apron, crying. Bob hesitated. If she is crying about me, it is the same as saying she is sorry-but if she isn't crying about me-well, what else could she be crying about this bright sunny morning P he asked himself. So with resolute stride Bob started for the doorstep. He sat down beside Mary and said. Oh, Mary, don't cry any more. I was a brute last night but I didn't mean a word of what I said, really. Mary's head came up from her apron and her eyes were wide with surprise. Then it dawned upon her that Bob thought she was crying about him. Down went her head again and her shoulders shook fwith laughter it would have seemed to an ordinary observerj but the agitated Bob thought she was crying harder than ever. He was at loss to know what to do. At last he begged- 'fMary, I know I shouldn't expect it, but if you only will forgive me this time, I will never be such a brute again. Can't you forgive me, Mary ? After a time, Mary succeeded in con- trolling her sobs C?j enough to raise her head and answer. Yes, Bob, I forgive you. And the penitent Bob again slipped the ring on Mary's linger. A little later, Bob. noticing for the first time the pan with the paring knife on the cover said to Mary- 0h, you've been peeling apples. May I have one? Mary's face turned pale. Er-yes,-er-that is, I mean No, she stammered. Pob's eyes were round. Could he have heard aright? Mary had refused him an apple and they had just made up, too. It was incredible! Why, Mary ! was all he could say.

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' THE ACADEMY BELL 11 with me and there will be no disturbance, Texas Bill. Quickly the cowboy rose, kicked back his chair and exclaimed, I haven't taken any money! And I'm not Texas Bill. But before he had finished, the sheriff shot and the fellow dropped to the Hoor. Make a stretcher boys and take him to my home while I get the doctor and look into this little matter. When the sheriff reached home the cowboy was unconscious. The sheriff's daughter had bandaged the wound. The doctor removed the bullet, dressed the right shoulder and left. All night and all the next day the stranger remained unconsciousg about seven o'clock he opened his eyes. When he awoke his nurse explained everything that had hap- pened. She told him that she was the sheriff's daughter, Marie Hammond. The cowboy frowned and said, Well, I suppose you want to know who I really am ?', Yes, I would like to, if you wish it. Well, I am Richard Morton from the Six Star ranch, forty miles north of here. I want help, so I came down here to look for it. I found my men and then went into the saloon where your father found mef' Noticing the surprise in her face, he said, Oh, you thought that Richard Mor- ton was an older man. She nodded. Well, I am not an old man: when I was sixteen I went East to college, stayed four years, returned to Montana, then did some of the things you've heard about. The girl finished for him quickly, such as getting rid of bandits and great out- laws. He gave her a Bill Hart smile, showing two rows of white teeth, which made her his friend for life. My, he is only twenty-five and awfully good looking, she thought. He must have read her face for he Hnshed her another smile. Late in the afternoon sheriff Ham- mond came in with an angry expression on his face. Well, if Texas Bill isn't the slickest cuss, he growled. Listen 2 He opened a note and read,- Stole the money right from under your nose and will steal your daughter next. Beware! Texas Bill. Marie turned deathly pale and Mor- ton's grey eyes turned to steel. Pk :mf ak :sf Ik Pk PF It was six months later, Marie Ham- mond was riding beside Richard Morton. They had started for Six Star ranch on a visit to his mother. They came to a long stretch of road and put their horses into a gallop. When they had gone a mile, Richard drew rein close to Marie's horse. Sweetheart, I have known you only six months but could you-er well, would you marry me P 'fYes, she answered quietly. Bang! a shot rang through the air and Morton bit the dust. A horseman rode furiously from a clump of willows, a smoking gun still in his hand. He rode up to Marie and with a sneer remarked: I told yer dad I'd get you and I have. I'll just pin a note to this guyls shirt and then I guess they'll believe Texas Bill. Bang! another shot rent the air and Texas Bill dropped to the ground groan- ing. Took a shot at the wrong man that time, grinned Morton, as he rose from the ground. Oh, Dick, you're not hurt F Just touched me, sweetheart? That night about seven o'clock, Sheriff Hammond was aroused from his nap by the sound of horses coming into the yard. Running to the door he threw up his hands in amazement. Goodness, here comes Morton leading a horse with his own body tied to it. Morton told his story and when he finished said, You take care of him and we will take care of the horses. Marie and Morton turned the horses into the corral and the moon shone on the fence where they stood leaning and talking. Just imagine dad's taking you for Texas Bill. Yes, but thanks that he did, because