Joliet Junior College - Shield Yearbook (Joliet, IL)

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A Strange Night Second Prize Stoby, by Marguerite Higgins ' ■J T was late when I retired that night for I had been busy sewing 4 on a dress that was to be finished early in the morning. After Z I had completed my task, I crept wearily up the stairs and went directly to bed. I must have been asleep about an hour when I was awakened by a strong, brilliant light shining directly in my face. Looking up, I saw that it came from a lantern held by a most horrible looking man, who was standing on the little balcony which ran around our house. His hair was red; his face round; his small, sharp eyes sunk deep beneath the heavy eyebrows which stood out clearly against his white face; and his whole expression one of intense hatred. In his other hand he grasped a stiletto. Finally he stopped his fierce scrutiny of me, and, as I lay watch- ing him, I saw him look across the street into a room, where, before the open fire, asleep in a chair, was a woman the exact picture of myself. Glancing at the man I saw him reach down into his pocket and get a penny. He looked at me, then at the woman, and flipped it. To my utter surprise, I saw him leap across the narrow street onto the balcony of my neighbor ; raise the window ; steel softly up to where the woman lay ; and stab her. I tried to cry out, but could not. I was spell bound, horrified, and unable to say a word or move a finger to help the sleeping woman. I knew no more. I had fainted. . The next morning as I was reading the paper, I saw this startling head-line: . Insane Man Murders Supposed Wife! I read the article and found that a man, described exactly like the one I had seen the night before had escaped from the asylum, and killed a woman whom he supposed to be his wife. She had lived at - - Ashwood Avenue. That was next door to me. In the afternoon as I was standing by the window, I looked out on the balcony and saw a penny with the head up, and I wondered what would have become of me if it had been tails. Nineteen

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With one cautious glance at her stained hands and soiled pina- fore, she stepped into the skiff, to be ferried across. She put her hands into the water to wash them but it had no cleansing element. The fairy only smiled and Barbara flushed at showing her ignorance. The whole court came laughing toward them and the queen -said, ' Tis but a playmate my fairies, Come kiss her welcome my dears. The vaporous dress of the fairies contrasted strangely with Barbara ' s limp, torn gown. But soon she forgot her apparel and froliced with the rest. It was the blue bells which interrupted the scene by tinkling the supper hour. Barbara ' s earthly appetite was much afraid it could not be appeased in this dainty world, but even it was subdued when the feast appeared. Downy dandelions were used for stools, the green cool grass for tables. Barbara reverently tasted the savorous bit placed on curling violets. The tiny morsels seemed to increase her thirst and she timidly asked for a drink. The fairies, delighted at the sound of her voice, ran to fulfill her wish. They brought her in cups of the climbing honey- suckle drops of the sweetest dew. Cup after cup was drained of its life-blood and Barbara ' s head grew heavy. The fairies sang soothing murmuring music to the tired little girl and soon she slept. Barbara! Oh, Barby, where are you? The jerky voice, showing fatigue and anxiety, brought back the sleeping child from her world of dreams. — E. G. S. Eighteen

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