Hampden Academy - Sedan Yearbook (Hampden, ME)

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THE SEDAN 13 give him this. She scurried through the hedge and was gone. Later, Mr. Reynolds driving into the yard, followed by Bob with a garland of flowers around his neck, and a mob following him, approached Rastus. Rastus, where is my jockey? he asked. Rastus tried to look innocent, and said, Sho' he don left a message for you, that his mother was sick and he had to get back as quick as he could, but he left you this, handing out a single stalk of bluegrass. That's funny, exclaimed Mr. Reynolds, and walked off holding the bluegrass in his hand. VVhile Marie had just arrived at her house and found Dorinda on the couch, reading. Oh, Dorinda, it was great! Mr. Rey- nolds' horse won. I-le did? Wasn't that great ? And Dorinda you should have seen the jockey. You would have said 'there's my man, now'. Say, but he was cute. He came from the East. Dorinda suddenly left the room. The next Tuesday, Dorinda left for Ken- tucky. About a week after a letter came for Mr. Reynolds, headed Blue Creeke, Ken- tucky. Upon opening it he beheld a picture of a small, black-haired girl in a riding habit. Woiideriiig who on earth she was, he read the letter. My dear Mr. Reynolds: I imagine oftimes you have wondered what became of your jockey at the race. I was your jockey. I happened to hear some men plotting to telegram the real jockey not to come. I left the bluegrass for you. I brought some with me in my trunk, so wore a spear for luck. That was some of it, but there is a whole state full yet. I got Rastus to let me ride Bob, for I had seen Bob before, unbeknown to you. I trust you will never say anything about this to Rastus. My best regards to dear old Bob. Dorinda Hampton, Blue Creeke, Kentucky. Bob suddenly disappeared and always people's inquiries were answered by the fact that he wasn't well, and had gone away to a different state. And only three people on earth know the reason Bob won the race. Mr. Reynolds, who found out why, and knows that Rastus knows but won't tell him he knowsg Rastus, who doesn't think Mr. Reynolds knows, but v.'on't tell him, and Dorinda, who is happily in her last year at college. And the fourth member of the party, Bob, lwho was sent as kind of a debt to Dorinda Hampton, now stands knee-deep in the bluegrass of Kentucky, and by his looks as he lazily switches the flies off his back, ap- parently cloesn't care.-End. RALPH'S DECISION Helen Condon, '23 . N f HE Or Jhan As lum was lo- cated in the noiithern part of B--. It was a large brick building, surrounded by wide, green lawns. Many little children were romping and playing on the lawn. On the steps, sat one lone little boy about twelve years old. Ralph Irving was his name and as he sat there, his eyes wandered over the children 'till they rested on one little girl about three years old. It was his little sister, Thelma. She had large brown eyes, a mass of tangled brown curls on her heady a white delicate skin and round, rosy cheeks. He looked at the other children and then back

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12 THE Day after day passed always full of fun and excitement for Dorinda. One day she thought she would like to take a walk through a woods road. Having on rubber .soled and heeled shoes she made no noise. Suddenly she heard voices. He thinks he's gonna win this time, but he ain't. He's won too many races already and this one he's a-gon ta lose. You see, I found out the address of that 'ere jockey he's gon ta have come from the East and just before the train leaves out of Boston I'll just sort-a telegram and tell him the race is all off. And there won't be any jockey there ta ride Bob. Dorinda waited to hear no more, but ran home as fast as she could, seated in an easy chair she appeared to be reading a book, but indeed she was not for her brain was work- ing very fast at that minute. Should she tell Rastus? She ought to, but no, why not have an adventure of her own? U So the day of the race came and Dorinda pleaded a headache, and thought she had better stay at home. Marie wanted to stay with her, but Dorinda would not let her, and at last she was left alone in the house. Rapidly donning her cap and sweater, she ran toward the big house, through the hedge and 'round to the stable. Peeking 'round the corner she spied Rastus there all alone. P'st! Rastus, is everyone gone? she called. Sho, yes, honey, all but me and I've got to wait and give directions to the jockey. Wliat you want now, honey? Oh, Rastus! It's terrible! I just over- heard some men talking. They don't want Bob to win, and they've telegraphed the jockey not to come. 'WVhat shall I do, what shall I do? lamented the old negro. Rastus, let me be the jockey. I can ride himg remember I came from Kentucky. SEDAN See, I can put my hair up underneath a cap, like this. Yo' honey? I guess not. You'd get killed. No I won't Rastus, please, please. VVell, alright, honey, but what yo' gonna do for a suit? Wait. Let me think. There was a jockey here onc't about your size, an' he done left his suit here. Later an elf like creature appeared from the stables, clad in a jockey suit. No one ever would have known her from a man. Good luck, God bless you, and three cheers for Bob, called Rastus as she went toward the track. Be sure not to tell, won't you, Rastus? called back Dorinda. Calm and serene in appearance but rather shaky under the jockey suit, she passed the judges and mounted Bob. Bob, we've got to win, she whispered in his ear just before they started. Remem- ber there is S25,000 at stake on you today, she added. It seemed as though Bob heard, for he pricked up his ears and was very impatient to be off. One, two, three, clanged the bell and twelve horses started 'round the three mile track. At the First length she was fourth behind, at the third, she was fifth, and then she be- gan encouraging Bob. just one more mile, old boy. Y0u've got to win, she whispered. Nearer, nearer to the front she came. A quarter of a mile more. Ah! The cheers! Bob went over the line full three feet in front of the others. Dorinda jumped clear of the horse and scuttled through the crowd to the stable, and across lots to the Big House. There she met Rastus. Rastus, he won, he won! For heaven's sake help me get these leggings off before they come home. And later, Don't ever tell Mr. Reynolds. Make up some story about the jockey, and Q

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14 THE at her and he could not find one child whom he thought prettier. He got quite uneasy toward the latter part of the afternoon, and getting up, he walked into the house. On the way to his room, he had to pass the library. This time as he passed the door, he heard voices, and coming nearer, he heard the name of Thelma Irving. This excited his curiosity and drawing up to the door, he listened. Yes, it would be good. She is a pretty little thing and it would make her a good home, besides, she would probably become an heiress when she grows up. Ralph's heart sank as he heard the superintendent say this. Would they take his little sister from him? But harkl One of the ladies of the board was saying something. After she goes, there will be no reason why Ralph can't go out into the world and work.his way. He is old enough now and it will do him good. I suppose it will be hard for the boy to let his sister go, but then, it's all for the best. He wouldn't keep her from enjoying a good, comfortable home with wealthy parents to love her and to care for her. This was enough for poor Ralph. He soberly climbed the stairs to his room and sat down on the bed to think over what he had just heard. Would it be for Thelma's good? Would his own dear mother have wanted him to let her go-to go among wealthy people and grow up proud and rich. No! he knew she wouldn't. But what was he to do? Ah! he had an idea. Yes I can do it, I shall do it l he exclaimed aloud. Gathering all of Thelma's and his clothes, which were very few, together, he put them in a paper bag and taking a blanket from the bed he stole down stairs to the kitchen. After adding a few slices of bread and some cookies to his bag, he went out the back door to the wood shed. Here he found one of the children's carts. He carried it out to the back of the house and after making a SEDAN comfortable bed, and placing his bag in the cart, he went around to the front of the house. The children had tired of their play and were sitting under the trees where the older children were telling them stories. Ralph sat down on the steps where Thelma soon spied him and running up to him, she threw her chubby arms around his neck. I's so seepy, she said, burying her curly head on his shoulder-it was no won- der that the child was tired, for they rose early at the Asylum. As he looked down into the little rosy face, Ralph knew he had decided right. That night, when everything was all quiet and everybody was asleep, Ralph arose and dressed. He then went over to his little sister's bed, which was near by, and gather- ing up her clothes, he wrapped a blanket around her, lifted her up in his arms, stole quietly down stairs and out into the night. He found the cart and making his sister as comfortable as possible in it, he started down the street. He had been walking for about an hour when his eyes beheld the lights at the rail- way station. Then another idea struck him. He had a few dollars in his pocket that his mother had left him a long time ago. He had hoarded them like a miser. He would buy a ticket andgo to the city where he always had a faint idea he would find his parents if they were living as he hoped they were. He reached the station and finding he had enough money, he bought a ticket and with Thelma in his arms, boarded the train. He was glad it was night as there were not many people around that would take notice of him. They reached their destination after a weary journey, early the next morning. Ralph, after many weary miles of tramping, found a farm house where he secured work and where he could earn enough to pay the