Hobart Senior High School - Memories Yearbook (Hobart, IN)

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18 HOBART TOWNSHIP the Eight. “Where are the supplies you went after?” he continued. Then began a round of questions from the boys that finally elicited the whole story. Jack was a great favorite — good looking, daring, big hearted, full of fun. When that morning he stepped from the car and climbed into the orchard he did not realize the anger his deed might occasion. Perhaps he should have hastened on to the village for supplies without yielding to temptation. CHAPTER III.— THE COURTSHIP. How to meet Geraldine became the question with Jack McConnel. ITe watched her home almost night and day. For three days she did not go to town and he did not see her. On Sunday they will go to church, he thought. So he went to the village, learned her name and also that the family were Methodists. Sunday morning when their automobile stopped at the church door Jack McConnel was walking up the church steps. He was rewarded by a cold glance from the father and a bright smile from Geraldine. Every day she had been thinking of the stranger in the cherry tree. The next day he met her on the street in the village. Only a few words passed but the meeting was a delight to them both. Another week slipped away and they met somewhere every day. Geraldine’s mother was her confi- dant. She knew Jack’s family by reputation and on inquiry she learned that he was an excellent young man. She suggested to her husband that it would be well to get better acquainted with the young man but he would not listen. At last Jack could stand it no longer. He forced a meeting with Mr. Pam- broke on the village street only to be rebuked with much bitterness. Jack lost his temper and spoke words in return that had he been wiser he would have left unsaid. Returning to his home Mr. Pambroke told his family of the meeting and the young man’s remarks. Geraldine, always loyal to her home and parents, was vexed at Jack and on their meeting passed him without a smile and only a nod. Poor Jack ! A more dejected young man could not be found. Ger- aldine’s hours were spent in thoughts of him but loyalty to her father prevailed. CHAPTER IV.— THE STORM. It was the Methodist Sunday School picnic and great crowds from the village were present. The boys from the camp of “The Silent Eight” were welcomed by the village girls. After dinner many went boating. Geraldine

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HIGH SCHOOL. 17 It was Geraldine’s turn to be embarrassed, but she quickly answered, “Father has always thought our cherry trees suffer from robins and not from blackbirds.” “Your father must be unreasonable indeed, if he expects robins or black- birds to stay away from these cherry trees with their delicious fruit and such charming company. Geraldine was about to laugh at the audacity of this handsome young man but the laughter died on her lips when she heard her father, who had ap- proached unseen, say: “Geraldine, who is this young man who speaks to you with such familiarity and seems to be at home in my orchard ? ” Geraldine would gladly have helped the poor fellow in his predicament, but her father, grasping the situation, would not listen to anything further and, when the young man tried to speak, continued, “A gentleman speaks to a lady in such familiar terms as I have heard you address to my daughter only after long acquaintance and a term of closest friendship. A gentleman asks permission to enter an orchard and take fruit and does not assume the privi- lege. Geraldine, you will accompany me to the house and if I find -this young man here when I return it will go hard with him.” CHAPTER II.— THE CAMP. The young man did not at once depart. He hoped for some opportunity to make an explanation. After waiting in vain for the return of the father he made his way out of the orchard, walked to a nearby cross-road, and boarded an interurban car. Near Sylva lake he left the car and in five minutes had reached the grassy slope on the shore of the lake where in a small grove was pitched a large tent. Over the entrance to this tent was printed in large letters, “The Silent Eight.” A more inappropriate name could not have been chosen. Eight young men of Chicago University were spending a month of their vacation here. They passed the days hunting, fishing, bathing, eating, sleeping, and having a good time generally. It was noon and as Jack McConnel ap- proached he found his companions gathered about a table eating as only hungry boys can eat under such conditions. “Hello Jack ! Where have you been ? Look as though you had been steal- ing a sheep. Where is your panama?” called one of them. “Gee Whiz! I left my hat on a limb in the orchard and, by jinks, I left more than my hat — I left my heart. Boys, she’s a beaut. Joliest eyes and her laugh is the merriest ever. But her dad is a mean old guy. It will be a cold day for me if I get near the premises and he knows it.” “Guess he’s daffy. Know what he is talking about, boys?” said one of

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HIGH SCHOOL. 19 accepted an invitation from a young man of the village and they rowed around a bend of the lake leaving poor Jack despondent. At four o’clock clouds began to gather. The people hastily collected their belongings and hurried home. Mr. and Mrs. Pambroke thought Geraldine had gone to the village with friends, but instead she had left the young man on the village side of the lake because it was necessary for him to return to his home early. Then she had slowly started back to the picnic grounds dreaming of Jack McConnel and did not notice the approaching storm until it burst upon her. Jack, knowing that Geraldine had not returned, waited and paced the beach. At length he saw a drifting boat come round the point. Someone was clinging to it ! Fortunately he was an excellent swimmer. He plunged in, his only thought being to rescue whomsoever it might be. When he discovered it was Geraldine he worked with redoubled energy. The distance was so great that with much difficulty he reached the shore with her. Some friends who lived near took her home. Geraldine’s father upon learning the story of the heroic rescue of his daughter sent to the camp for Jack. But Jack was gone. Because of the mental tension and recent physical strain “The Silent Eight” thought it necessary to take him to his home in Chicago. CHAPTER V.— WHEN CHERRIES ARE SWEETEST. Three weeks had passed since the first meeting and the cherries were almost gone. Geraldine went out to pick a few last ones. Jack had returned to the camp and was again passing the farm. Seeing Geraldine in the cherry tree the temptation to enter the orchard was greater than ever. He forgot his former experience — forgot everything in his one desire to meet Geraldine. As he approached he called, “Not a blackbird nor a robin in the tree this time but ” Well what matter what he said? He clasped her in his arms and they poured out their heart’s love to each other. Again the father saw them but departed unseen, and when at last they came to the house he gave them his blessing.