Jesup Scott High School - Scottonian Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

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1 I bulky package she was carrying would permit her. Larry knew it was Ethel. Even while she was hidden by the tall foliage from the light of the moon, he felt that it was she. When she ran through the cleared space and the moonlight fell upon her, he saw that the large package she carried was a provision sack. She stopped at the peon quarters and called at the low ironfbarred window. Someone came to the window, cutting off the candle light which shown through. Ethel spoke a few minutes to the man, handing him something through the bars. Then she went back to the door of the shack where she had dropped the blanket and sack and waited a short time until a native came out. Together they carried the sack to the stables. A horse was brought out, the sack divided and fastened to the saddle, the native mounted the horse and was gone, and Ethel ran swiftly back to the house. She stopped suddenly, surprised at the sight of Larry, calmly gazing at her with his incomparable grin. Ch, I didn't know you were there, she faltered. UNO? Larry laughed, flicking the ashes from his cigarette. Great moon, isn't it? He threw back his head and looked up at the moon, and Ethel almost laughed aloud in spite of her troubled mind at the ridiculous appearance Larry made. His broad, smiling face was turned toward the moon and the moonlight playing upon his rumpled red hair gave it the appearance of flames shooting from his freckled face. She laughed gaily. See you in the morning, she called, and ran lightly up the steps. Larry put out his cigarette, threw it far into the clearing for no particular reason, and went back into his room to a sleep full of white visions. :lf Pk Ik Ik lk Larry had been at the Barton plantation about five days, with no unusual happening to mar the course he had planned. He rode all day llool

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V l Barton folded up his papers and handed them back to him, saying, 'Tm sorry that my husband won't be back from Havana for a week, but my daughter Ethel will show you the grounds. She nodded toward the girl by way of introduction. Ethel bowed and as she smiled slightly, a look of croftiness flickered through her eyes. Mrs. Barton had set the glass of pina a frio upon a low setteeg she now offered it to Larry, saying, You must be thirsty after riding all day. Ethel will show you your room and then weill have supper. Ethel picked up her broadfrimmed felt hat and Larry took the reins of Singer and followed her down a broad roadway to the stables. She was walking a few steps ahead of him, but he caught up to herand remarked, smiling, 'LC-etting cooler, isn't it?,' 'LYes, Ethel answered without turning. How long have you been working for the government? she asked suddenly, facing him and regarding him iixedly with challenging eyes. Larry had been looking at the ground and he now looked up sharply. It flashed through his mind that Ethel was quizzing him, not believing his statements. Oh, it's about two years, he said slowly, as if trying to re- member the exact date. I have never seen you in this section before. Ethel dug her hands into her pockets and quickened her steps toward the stables, signifying that the conversation was ended. That evening, after an almost silent dinner, during which only Mrs. Barton chatted of the weather and happenings on the plantation, Larry went to his room early and read. About ten o'clock he put his book away and extinguishing the lamp, went out on the small balcony of his room to smoke. He was no sooner seated than he saw a white figure come out of the house and run as swiftly as the blanket and l 1 llo8l

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over the land, going over the reports of the three mills situated on the plantation, examining the peon huts, questioning the section foreman, and returning dead tired to the house at dusk. Sometimes Ethel accompanied him. From the manner in which she spoke to the men, Larry noted that she also gave orders on the plantation, and that the men obeyed them. She went into the most lowly huts, asking the mothers about the babies, fussing and laughing with the children, and even giving old juan, who was recovering from the fever, some precautions against taking cold. Larry could see their adoration for her in their eyes. But in the fields he felt the growing tension of discontent. As he looked at the men swinging their long knives and cutting the stalks of sugar cane, he saw a look of greed, cunning and mysterious, which Ethel also seemed to feel, as she went from one gang of workers to another. One morning, upon walking into the little office, Larry was surf prised to see a tall, darkfhaired man, a stranger to him, examining the reports of the week. As he casually walked forward, the man turned suddenly and his steel'grey eyes seemed to bore holes through Larry. Before the abashed Larry could muster courage to speak, the man said: USO you're the young fellow the government sent out? Yes, sir, and I Hnd everything in fair condition. Larry spoke to Mr. Barton, for it was he, as to a superior ofhcer. i'You do, eh? Mr. Barton chuckled sarcastically. Then his manner changed completely. Sorry I wasn't here. Hope you get along all right, he yavvned. Well, see you later. I've got to get some sleepf' He picked up a bundle and walked unsteadily to the house. Larry went out of the little shack and leaned against it, conf templating his next move. He noticed the looks of hate and susf lliooll