Guilford High School - Rostrum Yearbook (Guilford, ME)

Page 27 text:

THE ROSTRUM 25 them. As she narrated the events of the evening, Henri stepped out of the closet. Oh, Henrif, she said, I want you to meet Herman Gunther. Now, don't you draw your gun. He is a good Germanf, i'The only good Nazis are the dead onesf' But he isn,t a Nazi. He is an Amer- ican secret service man. He has been telling me all about himself. He just de- stroyed my oflice. YVe saved a lot of plans and important data for his govern- ment. Herman, what did you do with themiy, They are on their way to England, now. l left them in a garbage can as we came past that last alley. A friend of mine was standing there in a doorway. We have to work fast in our war against the Gestapof' I am glad to have met you, Herman. I must go nowf, Henri said goodbye to Herman and walked up to Jeanne, kissed her and spoke in a low voice. Goodnight and may it be a good night for us allf, Soon after Pellitier left, Gunther also went away. They would all meet in the morning. Theresa and Jeanne were dressing the next morning when the sun arose. Jeanne spoke, Theresa, do you feel the same as I do? I feel as though this would be the last time my hair will ever be brushed. Itis a funny feeling. I have felt it ever since early this morning. I do not know why. Do you suppose - oh, Theresa, do you suppose they will catch us? If they catch us what will they do to us? Will they kill us? I have seen so many people-women and children, so young that they could not have harmed anything, killed in the streets. No, not killed. They were murdered! Murdered by the maniac who calls himself our ruler, sets himself up as our God, and then murders us. He would personally stab every one of us who does not bow on our knees to him and beg him to let us spy upon our neighlbors. Theresa, cant we get out of France? Canit we get away from this hell on earth? c'Jeanne, you must not feel that way. You love France as I do. You would gladly give your life for her. You are worried. Never mind it, it will pass on. By the time we get to the plant you will feel better. Come, now. We must go if we are to be on time for the funf, The two girls left the house and walked down the street a few blocks to the factory. Theresa went on a few more blocks. She did not want the people to wonder what she was doing on the streets of Paris alone. Then she turned and went back to the house. She did not wish to be at the office when the Gestapo officers started their investigation. As darkness falls early now in the dreary, gloomy city of once bright Paris, it is dark when Pellitier and Jeanne Fortin leave the factory. Jeanne walks slowly down the street, hoping to be there to see t-he explosion, but not dar- ing to wait lest she be arrested. Soon Pellitier caught up with Jeanne. Walk- ing slowly down the street, they ap- peared to be just a pretty French girl and a young Frenchman, very deeply in love with each other. There was a Hash in the night sky. The Tennerie ammunition plant was in flames. Sirens were blowing and people were rushing toward the blaze that was tearing the heavens apart. Men in Nazi uniforms were rushing around. Through all the noise and confusion Jeanne and Henri hurried home, unnoticed. They walked quickly up the front steps and into the house. Then came the Curt command, Put your hands upl We have finally caught you. You will pay dearly for your sins against the almighty Hit- ler. Hans, tie their wrists. The car is here. Go, n0w.', They were ushered hurriedly into a car standing before the house. Theresa and Herman were already inside. Her- man explained fbriefly why they were there. I suppose you are wondering

Page 26 text:

24 THE ROSTRUM even know enough to be decent to a lady. Get out of here at oncelv You canit order me out of here. I am a German and you are French. By the way, my name is Herman Gunther, not a pretty name but at least it is German. lVhat is yours, my fraulein, and are you fran or frauleinilv Bly name. Nlonsieur Nazi, is Made- moiselle Theresa Pirout. Now will you get out before I call the police in? I will not get out and if you call in the police I shall have you arrested on the charge of resisting arrest and slan- der. You would die if I told them what you were doing when I came in. Give me a little kiss now and promise to be good and I will let you freef, He stepped closer and kissed her. Her hands were clenched into hard balls and she drove them into his hard chest again and again. Finally he said, My dear, as long as you hit me I shall never stop kissing youf, At this she gave in. They heard steps in the hall. The door slammed shut. Now,', he said, they have gone. I heard them come in. That 'is why I pre- tended I was just another German sol- dier trying to get a kiss from a pretty French girl. That is why I did not men- tion the plans again. I only asked you about t-hem to make sure you were really taking them. I see now that you were. XVhen I saw your fair hair I thought you were a German. Theresa, I am a German, yes, an American-born German who would do anything for the fatherland. I come from America-that is my fatherlandl I come here to help you. Quick get that typing done. Then we will take all the plans and things which are of value out of here. This place will blow sky-high in about fifteen minutes. You know there are really some important papers in that room. My mission is to destroy them. Hurry or it will be too latef, Theresa looked at him. Was this a trick? She took a long look into his eyes. They told her that all he had said was true. They told her something else, too. He was in love with her. But now there was no time for love. She must finish that typing. Herman was in the generalis oflice putting fortification maps i11to his brief case. They would come in handy when the Allies raided France. She heard steps in the hall. Her typing was nearly done. VVhat if he made her stay later to do more work? She told Herman that Shmidtz was coming. He came out of the office and as the general came in, he was helping her into her coat. So my secretary has decided to find herself a handsome young Nazi to be the father of her children? Let me tell you, countryman, she is a nice girl for a French one. Pretty as they make them. She wouldn't go for me, though. Of course l am married but that doesnit matter. lVe supermen are truly wonder- ful. arenit weiw As he spoke, llerman watched him. When Shmidtz stopped for a breath of air, Gunther broke in. Yes, the super race is wonderfull The super race is made up of fine Amer- icansf, After saying this, Gunther swung his fist into Shmidtz's face and Shmidtz was lying, face down, on the floor. Herman and Theresa hurried out. Soon after they left the building the whole place was in shambles. Gunther's mission had been accomplished. Back at Ieanneis home, she and Henri were waiting. 'Ilhey heard steps and rushed to the window. It is Theresa, but who is the German officer with her? Quickly, hide in this closet. He may be here to arrest us. But why does she seem happyfpv The door opened quickly and in stepped Theresa and the Nazi. Theresa jerk. and pulled down the shades with a Then she rushed over to Jeanne hugged her. She enlightened the sur- prised leanne by telling her of the Ger- man-.-Xmerican who was going to help

Page 28 text:

26 THE ROSTRUM whv we are here. A Nazi rat in America sources here in discovered through unknown t-hat a German-American was Germany. Ile got my complete descrip- here It tion. Because of me you are all 'N . was no fault of yours. You should not die for what I have done. If only some well- meaning American had kept his mouth shut. In America there is too much free- dom of speech and too much freedom of the press. I wish a few of the Americans could see the suffering in France. They would never again complain about sugar rationingf, Shut up talking back there. It disturbs us. You must leave us supermen alonef, These orders came from the Nazis in the front seat of the car. The automobile drew up in front of the court house. They all got out and ran up the steps and into General Varott von Garmains' office. The oHicers clicked their heels, raised their arms in the Nazi salute and evilly barked, Heil, Hitlerln General von Garmains also rose and gave tihe regulation yell. Then he went on, Who are these people? VVhy have you brought them here?', The officer in charge answered him. This is the German-American, Herman Gunther. These girls are Theresa Pirout and Ieanne Fortin. They aided this man, Henri Pellitier, in the sabotage of the Tennerie ammunition plantf, So he is the one who was responsible for that! Take all of them but this one away to the cells. All right, now, Pelli- tier, whom are you taking orders from? Who are you working for? You had 'bet- ter tell me, because if you donit I will torture it out of youf, K'If you really want to know, I will tell you. YVho am I taking orders from? I am taking my orders from God, who sits in the high heavens and rules over all of mankind. He orders me through my conscience. Who am I working for? I am working for a lady whom you and your kind would not know. She has an odd name, but it is beautiful. Her name would not mean much to you because you are taught that she is no good. Her name, my friend, is Freedom. She is worth more to me than life. Are there any more questions you wish me to an- sweriy, KYOII are an impudenit pig! Guard! Take him away. My orders are to exe- cute the four of them immediately. I donit 'care how, nor wheref, The guards took Pellitier and hurried him to the cells. Then they rounded up all four of them and led them into the street to be shot before the public. The guards gave the firing squad the order to shoot and soon tlhe dastardly work had been done. Henri Pellitier, Jeanne For- tin, Theresa Pirout, and Herman Gun- ther, loyal and valiant fighters for free- dom, died as bravely as they lived, be- fore the Hring squad. On the outskirts of the crowd was an old woman, bending feebly on her knees. She was praying. As the watch- ing crowd, with tears in their courageous eyes. listened to her, this is part of what they heard: G-and may Go-d have a beautiful home in heaven for those who die that we may live to see a better and a peaceful worldf, Dora Taylor ,43. MY BELATED POEM I completely forgot to write my poem, Until this very day, And now I'm in a hurry- And don't know what to say. I could write of lots of things, But they'd take too much time, So Iill say 'Hu revoirf, and sign my name, And end this little rhyme. Patty Knowles '46. A MOTHERS SORROW '.l'hc telegram lay open In the mother,s trembling hand Only mothers know the heartache Of a son in foreign land.