Girls High School - Yearbook (Reading, PA)

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The Cinnamon Taffy Courtship 15S Gwendolyn Forsythe, the prettiest society bud of the Phila- delphia season, was naturally beset by numerous ardent ad- mirers. Among the most favored of these infatuated mortals was a handsome young college graduate, named Dick Chet- wood. Dick and Gwendolyn lived and wooed in an entirely separate world of blissful affection, for Mr. Cupid had done his work well. It was Dick who escorted the lovely Miss Forsythe to, from, and also during, the receptions and balls of the younger set. It was Dick who sent her those gloriously scented white violets in the dead of winter. It was Dick who won his way into the hearts of his sweetheart's pa and ma , and who completely cap- tured the affections of little brother Johnnie. A firmer ally than John courting swain could never have, for there is the small man of ten who could resist the allurement of cinnamon taffy and toy engines? Just at this happy juncture, a forbidding cloud arose upon the distant horizon. Dick had proposed on bended knee in the conservatory, and Gwen- dolyn had blushingly asked for time to consider the question. The stately. well-preserved Mrs. Forsythe, at her reception the next evening, introduced a new factor into Philadelphia high life-Sir Chulmondoly Tuppington, Bar't, by name. This high and mighty English lord, became the rage,' of society-a regular bear in fact. All match-making Mammas incessantly pestered him with invitations to innumerable drawing-rooms, at homes, theatre parties. etc. Mrs. Forsythe, looking higher than a mere well-to-do American husband for her daughter. quickly decided that Sir Archie, as they dubbed him, was the very person. This amiable lady straight-way commenced using all her little tricks in order to effect the complete capture of the lordly gentleman. Mamma's well-laid plans turned out quite successfully for John Bull's portly representative fell head over heels in love with the lovely Gwendolyn. and Mrs, Forsytbe's very soul rejoiced. Despite the fact that he found little favor in the eyes of Gwendolyn, he persisted in his attentions to her, encour- aged by her parents. All this while, poor Dick was practically out in the cold. Now it was Sir Chulmondoly, millionaire baronet, who esco1'ted Miss Forsythe to and from most of the social affairs. Dick felt confident that Gwendolyn was acting only in accordance with her lllOtllC1 S desires, against which she could not contend. A real American will not succomb to difficulties without a struggle. Dick. therefore. set his active brain to thinking, and soon had devised a scheme for getting rid of the odious Englishman. lt was at this time that Dick's kindness to little Johnnie might be re- warded if that piece Of mischief so chose. To master Johnnie, then, Dick 10 .

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shorter Hight, I found myself in a small cellar room. Light gained admit- tance by means of a small window close to the ground of the garden above. In the dim light I could barely distinguish a few articles of furniture, and when I struck a match, I saw that these were a rudely constructed table and two chairs. Hy the light of another match I found a candle in the single drawer ofthe table, that is, a small remnant of a candle. Then I saw that the last-named article of furniture was rather like a desk with a flat top, and I began to search for a secret drawer. Nothing was disclosed for a long time, however. Then I noticed knobs so small that they could hardly be seen, one on each side of the large drawer. Ry means of these I pulled out slab-s of wood such as are used to open an escritoire, and, as if it were one I tried to lift the top. It yielded and a hollow space, about one inch in depth, was disclosed. I eagerly drew out the yellow, crackling old papers which were hidden there. One seemed to he a diagram, the other a letter. I opened the letter first, and read these words or at least words to this effect: 'To my Tlescendant, If you will follow the 'Plan which I am placing here. you will End Treasure worth a Kings Ransom. Perhaps you. who find this Letter, are a Citizen in a Time when you will look with Disfavor upon my Vocation. For I am a Pirate bold, and I rob only those who deserve to be thus treated. The Pearl Necklace belongs to a proud Lady by whom I am received because of my Descent. for no one knows my Occupation. However, she is haughty and overbearing as is the old Gentleman. whose Plate you will find. My Son. I am settling down to the quiet Life of a Gentleman of Leisure and I care nothing for these Spoils. therefore I am leaving them to you, whoever you may be, in the Hope that you may use them well. 'Your Pirate Ancestor, 'ul acques Macillonf VVhen I had read this letter with some difficulty, for the letters were very much faded, I took up the diagram or rather the directions for finding the treasure, for there was no drawing. I was strangely calm throughout the whole adventure. exactly as if it were an everyday occurrence in my life. As the directions indicated, I counted the seventh stone block from the Hoor in the southwest corner. VVith perfect nonchalance I tugged at the slightly loosened stone, then drew out a large heavy box. As I pulled it to the edge, it dropped to the Hoor with a terrible crash. the jewels dropping out and glittering and sparkling like condensed sunlight. faded silks and tapestry in rolls came to light, massive pieces of plate bearing coats of arms clattered on the Hoor and then-- I-Ie paused and one of the young men impatiently asked, Yes? lVell, what then ?,' In drawling voice, Jim answered, VVhy, then I awoke to find that I had kicked over an andiron, upset the tongs and made a general clatter. And I vow the old pirate on the wall solemnly winked at me. ' GRACE I-IAVVK. ll

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speedily made his way, hoping to secure his aid in banishing his rival from the scene of activity. Upon arriving at the Forsythe mansion, he was directed to go to what John pleased to call his den,,' but what was in reality a store-house of miniature trains and wireless-telegraphy apparatus. Hello, Johnnie. exclaimed Dick, Do you feel like doing a favor for your gran'dad? Come here and I'll tell you how we can have some fun. John immediately seated himself comfortably on the arm of Dick's chair and waited to hear the plan, his bright face eager and alert. VVell, Buster, you know that old fat British dub that's always mooning around here PM Retcher life I do, responded Johnnie, clinching his little fist at the mention of Sir Chulmondoly to whom he had taken a great dislike. 'WVell. just you wait! XVe'll fix him! You know you and I had planned that I was to be your uncle some day. lt looks pretty much as though old Archie was going to fill that position. You're with me in giving him the gn boost, are'nt you, kiddiet You can count on me sure, answered young Mr. Forsythe, his hands in his bloomer pockets, trying his best to look manly. Sir Chulmondoly is coming tonight to see your sister and he took care to let me know he was going to propose. VVell, he'll propose! Look here. Johnnie, live brought a pound of cinnamon taffy, no, not for you. I'm going to use it to humiliate our beloved friend. Now, come on down in the kitchen. and we'1l melt this whole lot of taffy. Hustle up. we have'nt very much time 2 The two mischief-makers hastily made their way to the cookery. and, with Dinahis consent, started to reduce the hard candy to :1 state of delicious stickiness. Now, while this is cooking, go and get that yellow sofa-pillow out of the chair the old fellow always sits on in the drawing-room. John, beginning to see the joke, scampered away to the drawing-room. returning the next minute with the prize safely tucked under his arm. That's the stuff! Now show how Well you can print. Get your color box and reproduce in your best style the word: Stuck? When the taffy had melted to the consistency of thick glue, and the pillow displayed the tastefully painted sign, Dick and Buster hurried to the drawing-room, for the clock in the hall showed them that they had but three minutes before eight o'clock. , Entering the room on tiptoe, Dick deposited the liquid cinnamon taffy on the floor, and turned to Johnnie for the pillow. Placing this mutilated object, inscription downward, on Sir Chulmondoly's favorite chair, Dick be- gan to smear the top generously with the melted cinnamon taffy which was exactly the same shade as the satin. Then, hearing the sound of footsteps at the other end of the hall, they hastily picked up the utensils, took a last .11