Glenville High School - Olympiad Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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THE REE LECTOR to run away with her tonight. The pater and mater are to l;e out late tonight, so all’s well in that direction. I know you’ll stand by me, old man, so I asked you to please meet me at our garage tonight at 9:45 sharp, to talk matters over. I will Lc there waiting for you. Yours in confidence, Bob ' Jimmy's eyes wandered over this note several times before the awful truth dawned upon him. So this was what Boh had been pondering for the last two days! The terrible meaning of the words stunned him. Bob was going to elope that night with Elizabeth Somebody! Jimmy knew all about eloping for he had read one of Bob’s books that dealt with this very subject. The hero and heroine had stolen away in the dead of night and were never seen again. And this was what Bob, his big brave brother was going to do! It was terrible! A pang went through his heart at the remembrance of all the mean things he had ever said or done to Bob. Why had he torn a leaf out of Bob’s history book last Tuesday so what Bob couldn’t get his lesson, just because Jimmy had wanted to “get even with him” for not helping him with his arithmetic the day before? Oh, why had he done it! A big tear oozed out of one eye and splashed onto the desk. He realized now that he had the best brother in the world. And he was going to leave that night! Those awful words loomed up in his mind again and again. “I am going to run away with her tonight.” Jimmy lay in bed, to all appearance sleeping. but he was really listening for the clock to strike nine-thirty. The contents of that dreadful note had filled his mind all afternoon. When Bob had asked him if he would take a little note over to Frank’s house for him (Frank was Bob’s best friend), Jimmy’s voice fairly trembled as he answered in the affirmative, and he had to run out of the room before his brother would see the tears that the sight of him brought, for although Jimmy was not usually very emotional, any trouble with Bob always seemed to bring tears to the surface. He had been tempted to tear the note up and not give it to Frank at all. But he thought there would be little use in that.and. besides, Jimmy was an honest fellow and was bound to keep a promise. So he had delivered the dreadful message. But in the course of the afternoon he had decided to follow his brother as far as he could. He could at least go to the garage and hear what Bob’s plans were. So now he was only waiting for the clock to warn him that it was time to steal from the house into the dark night. Finally, out of the stillness, came one short stroke of the clock. A tiny shiver crept down Jimmy’s spine. His room was in the back of the house, with a window just over the porch. Jimmy, silent as a cat. stepped out on the porch roof, slid down a post to the porch, gave one leap and landed in the back yard. It was early June and the night was perfect. The moon was shining almost too brightly for Jimmy’s comfort. He crept along in the shadows to a window of the garage. He had broken the glass a few days ago when he batted a ball through it. He had felt dreadful about it then, for his father had said that he would have to pay for having new glass put in with his own money; but now he felt rather thankful that the accident had occurred, for that solved the mystery of getting inside. He crawled in and looked around. He barely had time to get his eyes accustomed to the darkness when he heard a step outside. It was Bob’s. He scrambled into the back of his father’s little Ford car, and crouched down on the floor, just as Bob carefully pushed open the door. Jimmy wanted to erv out when he saw Bob, and implore him not to run away, but he choked back the words and waited in silence. In a few moments he saw Frank’s tall form glide up to the door. Bob stepped outside at Frank’s low whistle, and much to Jimmy’s disappointment the two fellows stood outside just where the door hid them from view. All that came to Jimmy was a low murmur of voices. He strained his 28

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THE REFLECTOR “You’d tear the clothes—and besides, you might break your neck.” Not disheartened, I proceeded. “Then, since the key won't turn in the lock, why not use that stick in the corner as a lever?” This plan proved very disastrous for the key broke off in the lock, and we were in a worse plight than ever. “You are a nice one,” Mother contributed. I tried to rid myself of surplus wrath by kicking and banging on the door which I had recently so revered. Suddenly light dawned. The door had been stuck with dampness and would probably now open if we had only not broken the key. “I’ll bet there's a key in that purse of yours that’ll fit this lock.” At last this proved the “Open Sesame and once more we were free to roam at large. As Patsie purred contentedly we were not afraid to go below stairs. ‘‘Ha! Ha! That’s a funny pickle we got ourselves into! “We!” snorted Mother, “Who started this scare anyhow?” “It’s funny just the same.” And so it is, as I now look at it. although my self-esteem has suffered in that I have been proven a base coward in the face of imaginary danger. Frances Bath rick. THE ELOPEMENT J IMMY, aged seven years, three months and two days, was worried, terribly worried over his brother Bob. Xow it seems strange that one so young would be troubled over an adult member of his family. Bob was almost eighteen; but it is very noticeable when one’s big brother, usually so ready to tease, just sits around looking glum, and flies right up in the air, so to speak, when one addresses him. And this is the way Jimmy’s big brother had been acting for two whole days. Surely there was something the matter. And that “matter” was what Jimmy was trying to figure out. This small innocent brother had just asked some trifling question of Bob, who was busily engaged with pen and paper, and had been sent off with a Darn it! Get out o' here! Can't you see I’m busy?” Jimmy, dumb-founded at his brother’s attitude toward him, took himself meekly off to reflect on Bob’s condition. What was the matter? he asked himself over and over. Surely Bob had gotten into some dreadful scrape—perhaps he had been turned down by his girl. Jimmy knew what that was like from experience and could imagine no more serious trouble—except perhaps having to keep dressed up on Sunday or hav- ing to study arithmetic in place of playing ball. But what would he be so busy writing for if this were the trouble? He had seen no occasion for writing when the saucy little Miss Jean had snubbed him. He wandered aimlessly through the house trying to solve the mystery. He went to the library where his brother had been writing. Bob was gone, but a sheet of writing paper lay unfolded on the desk. He drew closer. Surely there would be no harm in reading what was on it. Jimmy was no sneak and would not have thought of prying into his brother’s private affairs just to satisfy his own curiosity; but he felt certain that paper had something to do with the thing that was troubling Bob. Then it was Jimmy’s duty, he reasoned, to read the note—whatever it might be—and stand ready to help his brother if the occasion required his assistance. He picked up the sheet of note paper in a trembling hand and read: Dear Frank:- I have done everything in my power to persuade the pater to allow me to have Elizabeth. He absolutely refuses—says I'm too young and all that sort of thing. I must have her right away! I can’t possibly get along without her. I’m desperate. So, my dear fellow, I am going 27

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THE REFLECTOR ears to catch the words but not one was audible. After what seemed hours of waiting to Jimmy, crouched down in a cramped position in the back of the car, the two culprits entered the garage. Jimmy caught his breath as Bob seated himself at the wheel and whispered an “all right” to Frank. Slowly the car began to move. The thought had never struck Jimmy that his brother would elope in their little old Ford. But now it seemed only natural that Bob and his Elizabeth should run away in an auto. People nowadays used machines for everything. Slowly the car rolled out to the street, where the noise of the engine would not be so noticable to him (Jimmy) supposedly sleeping in the house. Then Frank, who had been pushing it, went to the front of the car, gave it a crank, jumped in beside Bob, and they were off. They headed directly for the country, and were soon bumping along over a rough country road. Jimmy could stand it no longer. It would have been bad enough had Bob been running away with a girl from the city. But a country girl. This was too much! Jimmy mustered up all his courage and yelled, “Stop! The car came to a standstill so suddenly that Jimmy’s head and the back of the front seat came into violent contact. “What in the name of Jee-ru-sa-lem are you doing here? exclaimed Frank. Bob fairly raged. Jimmy spoke up bravely, still rubbing his head. His words were aimed at Bob. “Where are you going? Bob started to say something but Frank stopped him. Frank was always cooler than his friend in an emergency. “Well sir, if it will do your highness any good to know, we’re going to a ‘Booster’s’ initiation, if you know what that is.’’ Jimmy knew what that was, for he remembered hearing Bob tell of the time he was initiated into the “Boosters Society”. Then patiently Frank explained everything to Jimmy—how they were going out to a certain farm where the new members of the Club would do various stunts. Then slowly Jimmy told how he happened to be in the Ford. The whole time a question was weighing on his mind. Finally it came out in nine breathless words. Where’s Elizabeth that you was gonna rim away with?” Bob, who had been fuming with rage a second before, let out a mighty whoop. Frank roared with laughter. With that question they realized what interpretation Jimmy had given the note. “You little fool!’’ said Bob between his roars of laughter, “You’ve been riding in Elizabeth for the last half hour. Helen White. THE ANGELS “Aid me—or I die!’’ she cried— Liberty, held in the tyrant’s power— And a million brave ones, side by side, Marched toward the fatal hour! For, as each one said a last “Goodbye! A voice like a dying zephyr’s breath, In a faint and sorrowful murmuring sigh, Whispered, “ Tis to the death! ’ Then at the front, they fought and gained; And “Over the Top” the banner bore, And as the bullet about them rained, They cursed the demon “War. Now, cracked the earth from east to west, And awful horror reigned supreme; And then—divine, eternal rest!— Disturbed by ne’er a dream. But after one long, dreary night. And at the morn’s triumphant birth, Still-mortal eyes ope’d by the light, Beheld—a heaven on earth! White cots—old comrades lying there— And soothing gentleness of hands, Then each poor soldier breathed a prayer, “God bless these Angel Bands! V. Whitworth.