Lancaster High School - Mirage Yearbook (Lancaster, OH)

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Why can’t you have that spirit now? It would make it easier for me to crush you! Listen, you damned thief!!” cried Howard, as Tones began to beg for mercy. Howard was all fire now as he leaned forward in his chair, his eyes balls of fire, and his hands clasped thru the arms of the chair so that you could count every vein in them. ‘‘Little you thot that I was Howard Brown when I first came, and it gave me great pleasure to see how easy you were falling for my plans until your daughter came into my life. Then, God! I almost gave up, but to have done that would have broken a promise I made to a dying man. my father. Jones, he never lacked food nor shelter, for he was worth a million when he died, but you had him and with all his money he was nevei the same again. “Now Jones, it is your turn,” cried Howard, bending over Jones1 bended body with uplifted hands as if to strike. “There is no way out for you. You are a marked man! from now on, you cannot secure credit any place because I hold in terest in all the large houses you have been dealing with.” “I have notes with both your son’s and your name signed to them that will take the store, and ycur other debts will take ail the property you own, so you see Mr. Jones, you are in the same position you placed my father in. Now you could have tried in vain to beat that little man across the street but of no avail, for I was backing him and he could have sold at cost till you owed every man in this village.” Seeing that he had inflicted all the harm he could upon the man at the present time, he turned and left the office. Howard, on reaching home about noon found his wife had gone, and a note saying that he should go to her father’s for luncheon. He was thank- ful that he should not have to face the only one he loved. With a determination not to yield an inch he set about getting ready to leave that evening. The men on the bench in front cf the hotel saw him pass down the street in his large white car. and leave the village, but little did they realize that that would be the last they would ever see of Howard Prince as they knew him. FINIS. !•)

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Jones. When Howard left the store he wore a smile on his face and carried a note for three thousand dollars at six per cent for six months. Xmas came and Gladys and Howard were married. The affair proved to be one of Hampton’s greatest social events of the season. The next day they left for their honey- moon in the South. When Jones, Sr., returned to work on the second of January lie was almost afraid to open his mail for fear that some of his large creditors would be writing him for settlement or that some notes were due. But for some reason or other they did not seem to need the money. “If they only let me alone for a month or so I can drive that licund that is trying to ruin me out of business.” thought Jones to himself, but little did he realize the circumstances of his rival. Just before going home to dinner the shoes that Jones had ordered from a Cleveland firm came and on opening them he found lying on top the TRAY OF HEARTS. His face turned pale, and he said to himself. “I can’t see for the life of me where Brown has any hold on me. Nobody has heard from him since a drummer from Cleve- land was here and told us that Brown had died just a month before, and that has been two years ago, in all about seven years since I have seen him. He wrote to the firm from which he had received the shoes and they knew nothing about the card. Spring had come and Howard had returned and was living in a cottage at the edge of town. One evening late in May as he and Galdvs were sitting on the porch, Howard drew his chair up in front of her and taking her hands in his asked, Gladys is your love so great for me that if your father should lose everything lie had and I could prevent it and did not would you leave me?” “Six of one, half a dozen of the other,” said Gladys lightly, for she did not see the lines that were on his face nor how his jaw was clamped together v aiting her reply. “Is not your love that great for me Howard that if you had the chance you would do it? But why sit here and talk about something that is not going to happen.” “Just suppose I would be breaking a vow if I did? What then?” asked Howard. Howard, dear, if you are going to sit here and talk foolishness like that I am going to bed ar.d you will have to tell it to the stars.” Howard probably remained seated an hour without moving. When at last he arose and walked toward the door these words escaped his lips. “Would to God I were dead.” The next morning Howard made his way to the village attorney’s office. “Well, what can I do for you, Mr. Prince?” asked Mr. Haste after they were seated in his office. The next day or so will bring strange happenings in the village. It may also separate my wife from me. I have placed a credit for her in my bank in Cleveland and I want you to see that she gets it. If this happens remember her only.” “You need not tell her where the money comes trom, and if any- thing goes wrong with her wire me at once. “One thing more; if nothing like this happens, please forget it and if it does no one else is to know we had this litle talk.” “Yes. sir,” said Mr. Haste. Your orders shall be carried out to the letter.” From the attorney’s office Howard made his way to Jones’ store, passing seevral people on the way who had to make room for him on the sidewalk because he did not seem to see them, but they noticed that his eyes shot forth fire, his hands were clenched, and his face wore a fsown as he passed them. As Howard stepped into Jones’ office he saw Jones stairing at the KINK OF CLUBS that lay on his desk. A sneer passed across Howard's face, as he noticed the condition offright the man was in. “My God! Brown, why don’t you strike and let me out of this ” said Jones. That is just what I am going to do,” said Howard. Jones had not heard Howard enter and this startled him. “My God! cried Jones, “Are you Brown or are you his double!” “Neither,” replied Howard. “I am liis son. It’s a shame you can’t show more fight, you poor weak thing! You thot you were quite a clever man when you stole this store from my father, did you not? (16)

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(Elaafi fetnnj (By Ruth Suzanne Busby.) In the world of pictures a new play is about to bo presented, a drama in four acts, one of youth and its romance of shadow and sunlight, of work and play, the history of the Class of Nineteen Hundred and Sixteen. And I. as interpreter, shall endeavor to place before you, in a realistic manner, most, the mere vivid of the scenes. PART ONE. It is September, the month, when vacation pleasures are ended and the thots of the young: people again turn toward school. Thepicture of a high school is flashed upon the screen, into which are hurrying groups of boys and girls some with dignified mien and earnest faces; others romping and boisterous; and many, frightened, curious to note, with scared expressions and hesitant manner, seemingly eager and yet reluctant to en- ter the great portals of learning. This latter group is welcomed with the usual affection shown by the upper classmen, and, at last, is assembled in one large rocm. Here their title is found to be Freshmen arid their number ninety-one. What an interesting ap- pearance they make with their annimated faces and shining eyes, frem which radiate the glow of ardeni ambitions and bright dreams of the future. What an inspiration to the teachers to have such ones to grind for four years toward the realization of their hopes! And what a fine spirit is infused into the school by their presence. The scene changes, and the teachers who play the leading role in the first act are introduced; Mr. Brashares, over whose desk the fates of all hang in the balance: Miss Curtiss, whose bright wit and humor make all the more enjoyable the declension of “puella” and the conjunction of •amo:” Mr. Thomas, who so patiently drills into the Knaheu and Madclien, the rudiments of the Teutonic language; Miss Hunt, the fair young teacher of English; Miss Strete. whose depth of mind and heart makes all love her; Professor Hawk, that genius of the lower regions, who strikes terror to the heart of the uninitiated, and last, but not least. Mr. Hickman, back of whose unassuming ap- pearance, has a knowledge of history and mathematics astounding to perceive. These are shown in their respective rooms, in which sit the awed and trembling Freshmen. But as time goes on. and one picture succeeds the other in the portrayal of the busy life of the school room, with its occasional troubles and laughable happenings, the youngsters are seen to gradually lose their self-ccnsciousness ana martyred air, and at last gain an admirable poise, from which nothing can shake them. They are begin- ning to realize that they have a right to exist and that the upper classmen are merely human beings, not as exalted as th' ey seemed at first sight. One important social event is depicted in this first act—the Freshmen reception to their parents. The high school is alight from top to bottom. Girls, in light dresses, flit from one room to the other, proudly showing their fathers and mothers where their study and recitation hours are spent. Boys, trying their best not to appear ill at ease and fail- ing miserably, stand around in inconspicuous corners, and wistfully gaze upon the gay assemblage. In the auditorium, a program of music and speaking is in progress. In the hall, the parents are being served with a delicious beverage. But soon the hour ar- rives for the Freshmen to be in bed. The parents, realizing this, take their departure, after expressing their delight in the evening’s entertainment. The uoor closes upon the last guest and the building is left deserted. (End of Part One.) (18)