Harmony High School - The Ferguson Yearbook (Harmony, ME)

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THE FERGUSON l'arn you to come around stickin' your nose in my business. , Jim reached as he was told. Now, back over here , continued the voice 'from the side of the room. Jim again did as he was told, but he did it slowly. He was trying to think of a way to turn the tables. When he was about half way to the man, he saw the figure on the fioor move and slowly rise. He uttered a startled cry, for the figure was that of a girl, with very pretty brown eyes. At a second glance he saw that the shot which he had fired had only creased her scalp. Jean, take your gun and cover this in- truder. The sooner that I git his hardware off him the better, considering the way he shot you. There! Now keep him covered. Jean Furness picked up her gun and cov- ered Jim, but just as Tom Stanley started 'forward to disarm Jim, Jean's gun wavered. That was enough. With a quick lunge, Jim threw himself backward. I-Le had guessed correctly: Tom was just behind him. Both fell-Jim was on top. Jim was up and in back of Tom in a sec- ond. With a quick movement he reached down with both hands. When they came up, both contained guns. One covered the man, the other, the girl. Drop that gun, Miss, he ordered. Don't move, Mister, for if you do, you'ne commit- ting suicide. Now kick that gun over in the other corner, Miss, and get me my rope. Be careful though, because you are covered. The girl moved quickly toward the door. Jim backed up just a little so that he could see her. But the girl acted as though she were anxious to get the rope. When she gave the rope to Jim she said, Mr. don't be afraid of me. After he mur- dered my Dad this man kidnapped me and brought me to this desolate place. When you rode up he ordered me to shoot you and I purposely missed. All right , Jim said, and gave the rope a last twist. lk lk ill ll' 'll lk Later as the two were riding side by side toward town with Tom Stanley tied on a horse which Jim was leading, Jim turned to Jean and said, Now, young lady, explain to me why you let your gun waver. 3 Don't you believe in love at first sight? asked Jean, blushing furiously. I most certainly do , he answered and swept her into his arms. -C. M. C., '36. HALVES A slender young girl leaned against a white picket fence surrounding a little white cottage. The brown hair which fell down to her shoulders ended in a mass of ringlets, and framed her small, heart-shaped face very becomingly. Her large grey eyes were bordered with long black lashes. They seemed to denote a happy, merry disposition but the person to whom they belonged belied their looks. The girl's head dropped upon her bended arm and she wept broken-heartedly. The sun shone brightly overhead, but the sun was not shining in Mary Chesterton's heart. She mumbled words incoherently. I won't do it ......., I shan't marry that dolt my father has picked out. I shall not , . . . . , , .I w-on't! And this last was accom- panied by a stamp of Mary's little foot. Suddenly the unintelligible muttering ceased. The wretched shaking of her small shoulders ceased-Mary had an idea. The curly brown head lifted, the gray eyes brightened with the light of a new re- solve and determination showed in the small cleft chin. I'll do it, I will, Mother's old wedding ring . And she looked down at the round gold band that was attached to the cord around her neck. She told me to use it if I ever needed it and if I don't need it now, I never shall. I shall drop it in the street and to the first man who sees it and picks it up, I shall exclaim, 'Halves'! and shall be his wife. Oh, God, be kind to me now in my need! So saying, Mary hurried into the little white cottage, which her father and brother had vacated just a short time before to go to work. lk all Sk Pk Ill Ik At about this time an English ship was docking at a wharf in this same city of Liv- erpool. A young man, tall, broad shouldered, narrow hipped, whose every move testified to athletic strength, walked slowly down the

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B THE FERGUSON 49 wildly, and occasionally muttering curses in the Indian tongue. His pride was wounded because his so-called Princess preferred the pale white man. Marie had been in the vil- lage so long that the chief regarded her as his own. Hawkeye came to stand dir-ectly before Chester and Marie. The raging savage clinched his huge fists' and his face was livid with anger and hatred. Chester seeing that the chief intended to strike him, immediately sprang to his feet. As the powerful savage raised his arm up- ward, Chesty brought the butt of his rifle clattering down on Hawkeye's head. The Indian yelped with fury and pain, then slow- ly sank to the ground and lay still. Chester raised the trembling girl in his arms and hurried outside to his horse. He put her into the saddle, then climbed up be- hind her. He hesitated a moment, then direct- ed the horse into the dark forest north of the wigwam. They rode the rest of the night, not knowing where they were going. To- ward dawn they rested for a short time in a glade. It was while Marie was wandering about that she discovered an old trail, hard- ly detectable. They -followed it and at sun- set came, to a settlement. After looking about, Marie was overjoyed to find that it was her home toin. Her father's cabin was deserted but she immediately claimed it. When Hawkeye recovered from his shock he ran to his horse, mounted, and rode south- ward, whi-ch was the opposite direction than that taken by Chester and Marie. The fren- zied savage did not se-em to realize that he could have tracked them easily. There was only hatred and murder in his heart, all s-ound r-easoning had left him. He rode for days, determined to find his lost princess, caring pot where he went. At the end of three weeks, he had given up all hopes of finding Marie. He knew he had b-een defeated by a white man, yet he still pushed on. The hardships he and his pony had en- dured cannot be described. At last he came to the 'end of a rocky trail which ended abruptly at the edge of a perpendicular cliff. At the foot of this cliff was a deep pool. Hawkeye advanced to the very edge, not realizing that he, as well as his faithful horse, was in a dangerous position, for he was completely exhausted. The wind howled and the lashing Waters pounded on the rocks at the foot of' the cliff. Slowly the brave, proud Indian chief sank forward, the horse crumpled to his knees, and both beast and master hurtled into the fury below, dead be- fore they reached the bottom. Months afterward, Marie thought of Hawk- eye frequently for although she hated him, .she knew he was brave and loyal. She was content to live with Chester, her husband, in their new cabin. 0'Cor'nel never went back to his people but left them to their own fate. He became a succe.ssful farmer and his happin-ess was complete with Marie as his life partner. , -R. E. H., '36. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT A l-one horseman rode up the trail to a group of tumble-down ranch buildings. He was clad in range clothes, a large wide- brimmed sombrero, a blue neckerchief, gray fiannel shirt, and dark colored trousers tucked in the tops of high-heeled boots, Around his waist he wore a gunbelt with a holster from which the pearl handle of a six-shooter protruded. He was young, not more than twenty. He had curly black hair, blue eyes, and a fair, but sunburned complexion. He and his horse, a large roan, were covered with dust for they had traveled many miles since morn- ing. Jim Vesper had come to take over the management of his ranch. His uncle had died and left it to him a few weeks ago. As he slipped from the saddle before the door of the ranch house, he heard some- thing whiz by his head and at the same time a sharp report sounded. He ducked instinc- tively, and his six-shooter came up shoot- ing flame. He ran forward, keeping between the door and the window. As he reached the house, he ran along it to the door, and put his hat through the opening. As no shot was fired at the hat, he ventured inside. To his surprise, he saw, on the door, face down, a small figure. Now, what have I done? he muttered, as he reached down to turn the form over. Reach for the sky , came sharply from the side of the room, and do it quick. I'll

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THE FERGUSON G gang-plank. Maurice Gerand, who had come to England for a short visit, decided. to look around the different places of interest and by this means spend his time. He did not hire a carriage but decided to walk and en- joy the exhilarating salt air and. sunshine. The tang orf' the invigorating sea air seemed to add new life and zest to his already sparkling brown eyes and he seemed to emanate a desire to live in true accord with life. -4 He saw many places of interest and was idly leaning against a white bridge, inspect- ing the people who passed in their daily rush to Work, when he saw, across from him, a beautiful young girl who was apparently waiting for somebody. She seemed, to Mau- rice, to be very impatient. Something gleam- ing in the sunshine at her feet caught his -eye. Lazily, he drew up from his indolent position, to pass by her and inspect the object of his curiosity. She met his eyes as he passed and Maurice, seeing that the ob- ject at her feet was a ring, decided to play the part of a gentleman to a lady in seem- ing distress. Coming back, he stooped and picked up the ring. As his fingers touched the ring, a voice above him, quivering a little, but sweet and clear, exclaimed, Halves! Now, Maurice knew the English language and knew what she had just said but he did not understand it. You mean you only want half of this ring, mademoiselle? But I do not under- deep resonant stood a whole down into her black curling stand, he exclaimed in a voice. But as Maurice, who head taller than she, looked clear, gray eyes fringed by lashes, he knew the meaning of love at first sight. Mon Dieu! Maurice thought to himself, Is she not beautiful? So intensely was he thinking, that he did not hear what she was saying until he felt soft little fingers curl- ing about his hand urging him to come. Then he heard her pleading: Oh, please, Mister, hurry! We'v.e got to go to the silversmith's first . And Maurice only too willingly lflollowed. To the silversmith's they went. The bit of gold was broken, each of th-em holding half, and though Maurice didn't know it, he was betrothed to be married. Marriage followed in such quick succession that he was left in a daze. But, he was still willing to follow wherever the girl should lead. Now , said Mary, after the marriage ceremony was over, You are married to me and you have got to take me with you. But, I'm leaving for America, on the next boat, to earn my own living, Maurice blurted out. Then you must book passage for me, al- so, the girl stated determinedly. So doing, the two, shortly after, were out on the open seas wending their way to a perfect life. At last, on deck, Maurice put his arms around the shoulders of the slender girl be- side him, saying: And now, my dear little girl, will you tell me what this is all about? First let us sit down in these two deck chairs. Well, long ago there was a custom in England called 'Halves'. I decided to revive the custom. A young man would drop a ring before the girl he wished to marry. She, was, would exclaim one half of the ring. and after the consent conspirator that she 'Halves' and be given This was a betrothal, of the families of the two young people the marriage w-ould follow. It happened to be a girl today, though, and I'll tell you why I did it. She then followed with an account of her home life and how her father had tried to drive her into a distasteful mar- riage because of money. I was really afraid to do it, and when you came on the bridge, I wanted you to pick it up, but, I didn't think, for a. while, that you were going to. This was said so low that Maurice could scarce- ly hear itg but she th-en continued, I had decided to dice with the gods though. She looked up at her husband. I'm certainly glad you left everything to fate , said Maurice fervently. Yes, Kismet , Mary said softly. Did you say 'Kiss me'? Oh, noi , blushingly. - But Maurice willfully misunderstood. -E. V. L., '35.