Lancaster High School - Mirage Yearbook (Lancaster, OH)

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At the appointed hour, the frightened Sophomores were all assembled, waiting for the sentence which they knew was about to come. The Professor mounted the platform. “Yeung ladies,” he began, “I have summoned the entire class here in order that those who are innocent of wrong- doing may know that they are no longer under ban of sus- picion. And now,” he said in conclusion, “for two weeks you who are guilty shall forfeit your afternoon recreation hour, and pass into this room with books and a monitor to preserve order.” Well, it was over, and heavy hearts grew lighter. For they felt that they had had a narrow escape. “I will never sneer at a goody-good again; for if they arc all as lovely and plucky as Ollie has shown herself, we can’t have too many of them in the world,” Peggy after- wards confided to her friends. 00000 00 ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL By Edna Baumgardner, 191%. AS there a cool place to be found in all the city of New York? This was the question revolving in the mind of Mr. Herbert Ma- son as he sat wearily down in his desk chair before a pile of letters and papers. If there was it would be of no use to him, for he must sit at the top of a twelve-story building and work, while the perspiration oozed from every pore of his body. He glanced hurriedly at a thermometer on the wall, which stood exactly 90 degrees, and shaking his fist angrily in its direction he caught up a fan and began vigorously to fan himsel f. The other two occupants of the room, Mr. Brown and Mr. King, by whom Herbert was employed, were no doubt as warm as Herbert, but had resigned themselves to the in- evitable and were steadily working away. After trying in vain to concentrate his thoughts and forget that he seemed to be melting drop by drop, Herbert leaned back in his chair with a sigh of disgust. He had come to the conclu- sion that it was impossible for him to work in such weather, but the question of what was to be dime was far from being easy to answer. He sat pondering for some time—then his face suddenly glowed with excitement and he unconsciously brought his closed hand in contact with his desk, causing both his employers to turn and wonder at this unexpected display of enthusiasm. He had had a happ}r thought. At Herbert’s heme, which was situated some few miles out of the city, his sister and brother were eagerly plan- ning for a house party to be held the coming week. Must he be excluded from all the fun naturally attending a house party? No! Not if there was any way possible to go. He suddenly decided that a week’s vacation just at this one 23

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what are we going to do about this affair?” inquired Rose. “Oh, let’s fight it out,” cried a shrill voice from a corner. “That means let Ollie fight it out,” replied Carrie. “No, girls, it will not mean that,” said a gentle voice in the doorway. All eyes were turned that way and to their surprise, they found Ollie Beverly standing there. “I have a plan which will get every one of you out of this awful racket you have made. Here, give me a pencil, somebody; I broke the point of mine,” she said, as she moved her chair to a table and drew a blank sheet of paper toward her. Half a dozen were handed to her, and selecting one, she continued, “This is going to be a voluntary surrender.” She wrote rapidly for a few minutes, while her fellow stu- dents regarded her in a curious silence. “Hear now,” she finally commanded, as she threw down her pencil, and, lifting her paper with an impressive flour- ish, read: “To the Commander-in-Chief at Ilillton’s: “News of certain matters, pending at headquarters, just reported by scout. Therefore, this is to certify that the undersigned confess that they led the attack on West wing on the night of May 20th. In view of demands of honor, and of the sentence threatening the valiant soldier at present held as hostage, we hereby make confession and make unconditional surrender to- gether with all ammunition of war; and also hereby beg to be exonerated from blame for insubordination.” “How will that do, my brave company of Sophomores?” she cried. “I am afraid it is not quite up to the standard, but I think it will answer the purpose.” “Oh, isn’t that just great?” cried all the girls. “Where shall I put my name, Ollie? For you know I was the leader.” Ollie showed her and directly she put down: “Caroline Webster Archer, Captain of Company S. Hillton Volunteers, U. S. A.” “Oh, hand it here,” cried Rose. The paper was passed to her and in a clear, bold hand she wrote: “The captain cannot be allowed to go to the front alone. Signed: “ROSE TUTTLE, First Lieutenant, “Co. S. H. V., U. S. A.” This was the ‘bugle call’ that roused them all, and in less time than it takes to record it, the name of every other Sophomore was signed beneath. Then Carrie folded it carefully and ran to the Profess- or’s study. “Professor Seaberly, I have been commission- ed to hand you this communication,” she said bravely. “Very well, 1 will give it my earnest attention,” he re- turned. “Thank you, sir,” and with a nervous bow she left. The Professor waited until the door was closed after her, then unfolded the paper and began to read. But his face grew stern and his brow heavily overcast as his glance hastily swept the page. After reading it through and not- ing every signature, he began it again. This time a gleam of amusement crept into his eyes. “The little mischief is game. But I bet Miss Beverly had a hand in this. Really I begin to think she is a power for good in this school. Anyway, the matter shall drop here.” The following day Professor Seaberly gravely announc- ed that he would see the Sophomore class at four-thirty that afternoon in the recreation room. 2

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certain time would be a most agreeable thing. To obtain this vacation, though, would perhaps not be quite the easi- est thing to do. Obeying a sudden impulse, he wrote a few words to his sister, stating his predicament and asking her help. Somehow he managed to exist through that day in spite of the sweltering heat, and upon arriving at the office next day, he was handed a letter and a conspicuous-looking yel- low telegram. Naturally curious to know what the tele- gram contained, he opened it first and read these words: “Sister critically ill. Come if possible.” There, all his bright hopes were dashed to pieces! He felt a shiver of despair creep up his spine as he nervously opened the letter. Presto! What a marvelous change its contents wrought upon his countenance! It was from his sister and explained that the telegram was false, but was the only means she could think of to help him get a vaca- tion. He mentally complimented his sister for her excellent scheming ability and smiled to himself. But, realizing that this was not the way to proceed, he hastily put on a most solemn, sorrowful face, pulled out his handkerchief and blew his nose violently, frequently pressing the handkerchief to his eyes. In this manner he attracted the attention of Mr. Brown and Mr. King who immediately wished to know the cause of his grief. Herbert sorrowfully shook his head, and without a word handed them the telegram. Oh! how very sorry they were, and how they tried to cheer Herbert with words of consolation, and finally to Herbert’s great satisfaction, decided that he ought to go home for at least a week. So, with his handkerchief to his 24 eyes, he sadly shook hands with his employers, and taking his hat, he left the office. Fortunate indeed was it that Messrs. Brown and King did not see the various athletic stunts performed outside their door just at that time, for they would no doubt have wondered greatly at Herbert’s sudden change of emotion. The merry crowd of young people that met Herbert at the train would not have been complete without him. They were all delighted to sec him, and the manner in which he had escaped was the talk of the hour. Herbert thoroughly enjoyed himself in the next few days and quite forgot everything connected with the city, until he was cruelly re- minded of it one day. It was during a lively game of tennis on this day that a letter was brought to him. After carelessly tearing it open he read it. At his exclamation in which surprise and horror intermingled, the young people crowded about him while he silently pointed to the letter. The others were equally surprised and horrified when they read these words: “Dear Mr. Mason: “Am going to take a vacation myself. Shall call and see sick sister. “RALPH BROWN.” Something must be done and done immediately. Since that afternoon was the time at which Herbert’s employer was to arrive, there was no time to lose, so they immediately held a consultation. There certainly was a variety of suggestions and schemes, but they all failed to suit, and the way out of the difficulty seemed lost forever. There were many things to consider. For instance, since