Hillman College - Pioneer Yearbook (Clinton, MS)

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At last the bell rang and Mary and Alice went down together. Supper over, she and Mary started to their rooms when the latter innocently asked, “Alice, will you help me with my Chemistry?” “Why, yes, Fll— “Oh! but I’d forgotten, I can’t come until after eight o’clock for I’ve promised to do something else.” “Come to my room any time, dear,” said Alice with a smile. Half past six. Only one more hour and she would be gone forever! She hastily put on her suit ; but slipped her kimona on over it, — the girls must not see her dressed as if going some where at this time of night. Then she took her suit-case in her hand, slipped through the hall and out on the back porch. She carefully slipped the suit-case over the banister and, holding to the rope, let it rest upon the ground below. “Now for my room and away from here. That think will be as wet as a drowned rat before I get it out of that water.” She went back to her room ; took her cap and rain-coat ; slipped them under her kimona and made her way for the stair-case leading to the dining room. “Suppose the back door is locked ! I guess I’ll — .” “My! My! Alice, what’s the matter with you?” exclaimed Mary, who bumped against her as she turned the corne.r Alice did not stop. “What’s she going to do with that. kimona? Guess I’d better go down and bring it up, when she’s gone. Hope they won’t catch her.” Alice found the back door still open, so she left her kimona on a chair and slipped into her rain-coat and out she went. She ran around the house and finally succeeded in fishing her suit-case out of the water and hurried out to the tree. Having arrived before her lover, all might have been well, had she sat down and waited ; but thinking over the things she had, she thought of her purse she had left. “What shall I do? I know. I’ll leave my suit-case here on the bench and if Aubrey comes while I’m gone, he’ll wait for me.” So back she ran. In the meantime some of the boys on the campus were having no end of fun. Tom Darnell had gone to Applewhite’s room to study with Ray. Craig saw Aubrey’s watch lying on the table and determined to play a joke, turned the watch up half an hour and placed it back where he had found it. Aubrey was packing his suit-case, for which he had made an excuse to Ray, but Tom saw it at once and was in for having some fun, so he left the room after a few minutes. “Say, Ole Lady,” he exclaimed as he burst into his room, “Suppose we have a little fun.” He then told him of all that he had heard at the “Stute.” “Tell you what, Ole Lady, suppose we go down and get Jones, he talks just like a girl, you know T , — and dress him up in some of his sister’s clothes, and take him down yonder and pass him off as M iss Huntington. I don’t know what time Applewhite is going after her, but I’ll watch his room and then we’ll cut across and beat him there.” So three of the boys went to Jones’ home and Tom watched for Aubrey. When he saw Aubrey come out he ran across the campus to the Jones’ home and the five boys ran on ahead. “How in the Sam Hill do you expect me to run with this plagued old skirt on? Can’t hardly walk,” protested Mr. Jones. “Well, we’ve heat him here at any rate, boys.” “Be careful now. You three stay here and Jones and I will look under that tree in front of the Hall.” “By the way! What’s this here? A suit-case! Bv George, she’s been here and gone. Went back for something, I bet.” “Look Darnell! Who’s that coming? Isn’t it Applewhite? You’d better hide behind the tree.” “That you Alice?” whispered Aubrey. You dear girl, you! I’m the happiest man alive, Alice.” And he made an attempt to take her in his arms. 33

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T U “Why of course 1 know that, and that’s what I’m trying to tell you. If you will only do as I say we can both get away from here without any trouble. Ahem ! Three consecutive coughs were given — but neither Alice nor Aubrey heard them. Tom Darnell and Mary Strauss were sitting behind some big ferns and every word that had been said distinctly reached their ears. Mary and Alice were staunch friends. Mary knew that Alice loved Aubrey Applewhite and hoped that some day they would marry, but she had never fancied that it would happen while they were in school, and never in all her wild flights of imagination had she pictured herself, Mary Strauss, listening, unwillingly, to their plans. There seemed, however, nothing else to do but sit quietly by and await developments. Tom wondered at the complete oblivion of the couple near them. Nevertheless he heard the conversation proceed with never a hitch and he wondered how long young Applewhite had been preparing this wonderful plot. “You see,” continued Aubrey, “This is the first of April. Next Monday will be the fifth. Monday night you meet me under that large tree in front of the Hall here. Mr. Hansom, whom I will have waiting at the depot will marry us and we will go to Vicksburg on the first train. Will you promise me — .” “Alice,” the voice was that of a teacher, “excuse me for interrupting, but I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Here’s a young man who wishes to meet you. Miss Huntington, Mr. Godfrey.” Aubrey stood up, as cool and collected as though he’d been exchanging jokes with a college friend. “Miss Huntington, 1 will return in a short while for the answer to that — er — conundrum I gave you. Don’t forget, now,” said Mr. Applewhite, as he turned away. Time passed, and many young men came to meet Miss Huntington, but Aubrey did not return. The bell rang and still he did not come. “Mr. Nobles, have you a little scrap of paper on which I may write a note? And will you excuse me while I write it?” Alice quickly wrote the following: “Mr. Applewhite, ’Twas after all an easy riddle and required very little thought. The answer is — ‘Y-e-s. S-e-v-e-n o’-c-l-o-c-k. R-a-i-n o-r s-h-i-n-e.’ Alice.” “You won’t mind giving this to Mr. Applewhite for me, will you, Mr. Nobles?” asked Alice smiling. She said good-night and ran up the stairs to her room. “O— h! now you see what we’ve done!” cried Mary to Mr. Darnell. “We’ve — we’ve eave-dropped and — and now we know IT.” “Ha! Ha! Ha! That’s the best one on Applewhite, I’ve heard in all my life! Reckon what she said to him in that note? I’d give my last cent to know. By George, if we don’t have some fun! Have the preacher waiting at the depot, eh? Ha! Ha!” “Listen, Tom, please don’t say anything about this for you see Alice is in this thing too, and — and really we were not supposed to hear it. And if this should be found out, why, she’d be expelled. Don’t tell it, Tom.” “Oh, well; if you say so I’ll try not to tell it; but, honestly, Mary, that’s the best thing, yet.” He having promised her again, not to say anything about it, shook hands and parted. The fifth of April was a rainy day and the streets were almost deserted. Alice Huntington was very glad that the day was so favorable for carrying out their plans. She packed her suit-case and tied it with a rope. She put her jewels and what little money she had in her hand-bag, got out her cap, suit, and every thing she would need, so that she might dress quickly after supper. 1 32

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T 1H Oh, no! Not yet. Wait until we’re married. Had we not better go? Here’s my suit-case. I’m afraid it’s ruined, it is so wet. I thought you would never come. I waited and waited.” “Bless your little heart! My watch must have been slow for I started before seven. Darling, I hate for you to be out in this weather. You’ll take cold.” “I ' m uneasy about mv hat. You see I didn’t wear my ‘Stute’ cap for fear of being caught.” “Mr. Hanrom is going to be out on the other side of the depot and marry us in one of tho;e box cars, because it’s so miserably w T et outside.” “In a box car, dear?” (This for the benefit of Tom behind the tree). Little was said on their way to the depot. They were both thinking and often “Alice” became so amused that “she” laughed to herself. “What is it that amuses you, dear?” “I was only thinking of what we are doing tonight. Do you know I think this is the silliest— and funniest scrape I’ve ever been into. I’d love to see the faculty in the morning.” “Yes, but in the morning you and I will be in another city.” They had reached the depot, and Aubrey set the suit-case down and started inside the door, but Alice caught his arm with a strong grip. “Let’s don’t go in there now. Suppose we go and get this other business off hand first.” “It’s perfectly all right with me. We can get the tickets afterward.” As they turned the corner they met Mr. Hansom, who was walking the floor restlessly. “Why hello Applewhite! I’d about given you up. Thought maybe you failed to get your girl.” “No, indeed. We’re ready now. Let’s get out of the rain. Aren’t those cars open? Suppose we go in the first one there. I don’t exactly fancy being married in a box car, but if Miss — .” “I would be willing to marry you anywhere, Aubrey, let’s hurry and get through. It is most train time.” “The car was dark except the light which shone from the post near by. Jones knew that the boys were going to interrupt this thing, but he didn’t quite understand how it was going to be done. In a few minutes, if nothing prevented, he would be Mrs. Applewhite. The minister began the ceremony and then asked, “Do you take this man as your lawful husband ?” There came a great shout from the end of the car and the boys rushed in and threw a flashlight fulHnto Jones’ face; knocked off his hat exposing his wig. And Applewhite — ? — well, that young gentleman said not a word. He jumped out of the car and disappeared in the darkness. An thus ended the Huntington-Applewhite attempt at marriage. It was in the month of August. Alice Huntington, with a little six year old niece was spending the month in Biloxi. The hotel was crowded and Alice and her niece occupied a room on the second floor near the rear of the building. From her window she had a clear view of the beautiful white beach and she loved to watch the children playing there. One morning as Alice Lynn, Alice’s little niece, was playing all alone in the sand, a younir man came bv and stopped. “Hello little girl,” how are you?” “I’m a’wight, t’ank you,” replied Alice with a sweet smile. “May I play with you? I got left out of the picnic party and I’d like to play with a little girl like you.” “But you’re too big to make play houses, aren’t you? asked Alice Lynn. “Maybe so; but tell me your name.” “Alice Lynn,” she told him solemnly. 34