Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute - Acta Nostra Yearbook (Guelph, Ontario Canada)

Page 145 text:

An c P ba' Lib ' 908nw81i?3s?fe5? Q PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270 'lr This Issue Of Qatar Qinstrzx printed by 4 4: pa ,-,127 Sauce Q 47 Cork Sheet Hash Guelph' Ontario - Dial TA 4.1471 -

Page 144 text:

Slowly and clumsily, Christie started for home with his head hung and big tears glistening in his hurt eyes. He didn't understand. YVhy didn't he go to school like other boys? X'Vhat did their taunt mean? He felt alone and so un- wanted. Christie stumbled over his feet and fell. He didn't want to get up. No one cared anyway. Christie opened his eyes and listened. He was drawn to his feet as if by magic. Alerted by interest he hurried down the street and then stood in rapture before a tall dark-haired boy of about sixteen whose loosely jointed frame leaned against the post while he was waiting for the bus. A mouth-organ was at his lips and a twinkle in his eyes. Although he wasn't playing a tune, the music ACTA NOSTRA 53 from the instrument was sweet and clear. Christie's hand went forward and a voice whispered Please, Startled. the boy looked at him close- ly and then said, You might as well trv 1 . Christie fondled the thing with glow- ing eyes and then sat down and put it to his lips. A look of pleased wonder crossed his vacant lace and happy tears rolled down his sun burnt cheeks as the sweet chords swelled from the tiny mouth piece. The older boy turned quickly away and said huskily. A'You take it. I don't need it. Then he walked rapidly away. leaving Christie in a cloud of happiness. The Cane-Bottomed Chair Robert Moreton XIIB. Veronica entered the shabby little house at mnnber fifty-five Coke Street. Her housekeeper, Amelia Goodchild, a little lady of seventy, opened the door. Hello! How was Orville feeling to- day? He's better, Veronica replied. Doc- tor Caine says he can come home in about a month, but that I'll have to look after him as he won't be able to move around much at all. Orville Moore had been in hospital for six months now. He suffered from tuberculosis and a weak heart. Veronica, his wife, visited him practically every day. but lately she hadn't been seeing him as much, as she said that she had charity work to do. As a matter of fact, her charity work consisted of going to horse races with male friends of hers. She had come from a rich family and had married far below her station against the wishes of her father, with the result that he had disowned her. Amelia had been Veronica's mother's housekeeper and now she was looking alter Veronica. IVas t-here any mail for me? asked Veronica. No, but there was a telegram. I took the message over the telephone. It's good news! It said that your ticket on the Irish Sweepstake has brought you . . . fifty . . . thousand . . . dollars! Fifty thousand! she cried out ex- citedly. It's too wonderful for words! I'm so pleased that you won. said Amelia. lVhat will you do with all of the money? Veronica thought a moment. I know, she said, I know what I'll do . . . I'll build the house I've always wanted .... You know, Amelia, that my marriage has not been successful, but I think I ought to patch it up for Orville's sake. Perhaps I can have the house built before he comes home. Oh, that would be so nice, said Amelia.

Page 146 text:

54 ACTA NOST RA The house was quickly built. It was built too quickly so that when it was finished a small alcove had been creat- ed in the living room wall where there should have been nothing at all. Veron- ica grumbled about this as she consider- ed it quite an eyesore, but she turned down Amelia's idea of putting shelves into it so as to make a book case or shelves for ornaments. Instead she left it as it was, saying that there might be some use for it someday. Orville returned within the month and he, Veronica, and Amelia moved into the new house on fashionable Crest- wood Hill. Orville had to be looked after con- stantly. He got up for a little while each day as he had to have fresh air and exercise. Doctor Jarvis Caine visited him frequently and Veronica, in spite of herself, looked forward to his visits. He often stayed in the house after see- ing Orville and he would talk to Veron- ica and she would listen to him. her brown eyes shining with admiration for his knowledge. Veronica became colder and more aloof towards Orville and more friendly towards Jarvis. Amelia did not approve and told Veronica so. but Veronica laughed and told Amy what an old fuss budget she was. Amy didn't like Jarvis really: he was too clever and overly nice lor her liking. l'm beginning to hate Orville, Ver- onica confided to Jarvis, one evening when he called. He whines and grum- bles so much about his meals, his medi- cine, and my going out to have a bit of fun. He makes me so sick. She Spzlt out her words as if they were dirt. . . . Sometimes, I wish he were dead! Doctor Caine smiled and murmured, I can make you happy, Veronica. About a week later Veronica, holding an open letter in her hand, walked into the kitchen where Amelia was working. Amy, she said brightly, perhaps too brightly, I received a letter from Ber- tha this morning. She says that Aunt Alice is feeling her age very much now. She isn't well and you know how she has always been bothered with her rheu- matism . . -Oh that's too bad, said Amelia, interrupting Veronica as she paused to turn the page. Does Bertha say any- thing else? Yes she does, Veronica continued. She would like you to go there for a week to see Aunt Alice - - - to keep her company and to cheer her up. I, - - I can't go. said Amy hurriedly. There is too much work to be done- there's the cleaning, the washing. look- ing after Orville- -It's quite all right, said Veronica. You can leave today if you like. Don't worry about Orville. I'll look after him . . . I'll manage. Yes, I suppose I should go, said Amelia. All right dear, run upstairs and pack. I'll finish the baking. Veronica stood by the kitchen table as Amy left the room. A faint smile played on her face as her words, I'll look after him . . . I'll manage, ran over and over through her mind. Sud- denly she laughed. About half an hour later Amelia tot- tered down the stairs carrying a small suitcase. She paused at the bottom of the staircase to catch her breath, and as she did so, she heard Dr. Caine talking in the living room and a few seconds later, Veronica's bubbling' laughter. Dr. Caine and Veronica were sitting on the couch as Amelia entered. They looked at her strangely, Amelia thought, as if she shouldn't have butted in or heard what they had said. The atmos- phere of the room was tense. Veronica snapped the silence. Oh, I see that you are ready to go, Amy . . . I'll call a cab for you . . . You will be able to catch the 11:40 train. Jarvis greeted Amelia and urged her to sit down while she waited for the cab to COIHC. You're a pretty picture, Amy, corn- plimented Jarvis. I can't see how any- one would want to hurt y-you---. He stopped suddenly, realizing he had said