Lansing Central High School - Oracle Yearbook (Lansing, MI)

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her time in teaching them not to quarrelg and some day she will suc- ceed. she says. The porter paused, and the monk thanked him and returned to his mule, contentedly grazing on the side of the road. He mounted and rode thoughtfully on his way. After traveling two or three hours he came abruptly upon a narrow road. which appeared to lead into a dense forest. The road was lined on both sides with huge trees. At the end of this road a castle rose to view. The castle con- sisted ol' a large and high square tower surrounded by buildings of in- ferior height which were encircled by an inner courtyard. Around the outside wall was a deep moat, once full of water but now dried up. The monk rode up to the castle. He was shown by lodge-keeper Herbert into the great hall. As the monk entered this immense room he paused and looked around him. At the end near the entrance was the great tireplace. and at the other end the tables spread forthe next meal. In the embrasure of the window sat Lady Donovan, master as Well as mistress of this imposing pile, since the death of her husband. She was surrounded by her maids. Marian sat near her Lady trying to em- broider by the fading light. but it was easily seen that her mind was not on her work, by the tender glances she cast at something concealed in her lap. All the maids knew it was a written message from her Knight, far away. In the mighty fireplace stood a little wizened old woman, stir- ring some herbs in a caldron over the tire. lt was Mother Bell, the herb woman. who did all the doctoring for leagues around. At her right stood Emma, at an easel. trying to paint by the tire-light. Maid Mabel sat near her. playing softly on her harp. while Millie and Ruth sang to her accompaniment. In seats on either side of the fireplace sat Mistresses Armstrong and Butts, reading their Latin most industriously. Just as Lady Donovan arose to greet the monk. down the long hall came Mistress Robertson, the housekeeper. with a great bunch of keys at her side. She asked how soon her Ladyship wished to have the evening meal served, but was interrupted by the barking of dogs. the clatter of horses' hoofs. and over all, the winding of horns. All rushed tu the windows in time to see a merry party of Knights and Ladies just from the chase, ride across the drawbridge, the foremost lady carrying the brush. They all dismounted and the horses were led away by the grooms. Hopkins and Frazer, while John W'imble looked after the dogs. The merry company tripped into the great hall. First came Sir James

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Class Prophecy Along one of the principal highways of Northern England. a solitary monk amhled on a peaceful mule. As he rode. the monk's head was bowed in deep thought and the mule seemed to be taking his time. stopping now and then unnoticed by his rider. But suddenly the mule stumbled and the monk looked up to see that he had come to a break in the woods, and that on a slight eminence, not far from him. was a soli- tary tower. The tower was high and built of rough stones. which were overgrown with moss and lichens. Near it was a small cottage com- pletely covered with ivy: so much so that it could hardly be recognized from a distancce. The monk dismounted from his mule and walked toward the tower. Looking up at the high windows he saw at one of them a sweet. pensive face gazing intently down the road. and as he looked the face of an ener- getic woman appeared beside the other. Immediately both faces were withdrawn. The monk turned to the lodge-keeper. who now greeted him. and asked who the ladies were. VVhy. Father. said the lodge-keeper Adelbert, the young lady is Lady Marie: she sits at the window all day. and when people ask her why she does it, she says she is watching for her knight, who is coming sometime to carry her oil. The other one is Mistress Dresser. her aunt and housekeeper. and she thinks Lady Marie a silly little goose to put faith in any man. The monk turned again to look at the tower. and saw coming from a small postern gate a Sister of Charity in her gray robes. He asked the porter who it was. and was told that it was Sister Margaret. who had, in her youth, been the bosom friend of Mistress Dresser. and that she now paid her a half-hour visit once a month: and, continued the porter. do you see that little cottage yonder C' There lives Mother Renner and her forty cats: and if you will believe it. she spends all 1:

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With the lady of his choice, Mistress Daisy. She carried the brush, and of her it may be said, her tongue was hung in the middleand wagged at both ends. Following these came Lady Gertrude and her admirer, Sir Austin Brant, closely watched by Lady Gertrude's stiff and dignilied guardian, Mistress Beiinett. Then the three suitors of Lady Donovan, Sir Philip Hasty, Sir Harold Hedges and Sir Samuel Davis, who had been devoting themselves as much as was consistent to Lady Helen, Mistress Jessica .Toy and Lady Julia. As the guests greeted their hostess and told of their splendid success, as if from the clouds Arthur Tracy, the jester, appeared among them, and soon had everyone in the best of humor with his fun and nonsense. Just as all were quieting down, the porter announced that there was a company of players from London at the gate. and that they would be glad to perform if her Ladyship so desired. All cried with one voice for them to be admitted. There was a hasty clearing of everything to one side, and the players were ushered in. There was the renowned Clark Jagger. with his noble air: and Roy Moore, with his eagle eye: Floyd Wilson with his awkward gait, Theron Chase and Earl Hamilton with smiles for everyone. and last of all, Deak Mead with his lazy, list- less air. The performers arranged themselves and gave the company two very appropriate selections. t'The Mouse Trap and The Mis- placed Kick. Among those who had joined the group after the play began were Father Reasoner. the father confessor of the household. Brother Charles from a nearby Monastery, and Sisters Inez and Theo from a neighboring convent. After the players were through and the company once more gathered around the great lireplace. Lady Donovan suddenly said to her maidens grouped around her: Maids, today I had a message from your com- panion, Nora, and she says she will not return to us, for she is going to share the home of some brave foreign Knight: but she sends to us in her place, a great friend. Mistress Edith Davis. When the excitement over this announcement subsided, the monk began to speak. He said that on his way that day he had stopped at a Gipsy Camp. There he had found four gipsies who gave their names as Lillian, Alice, Mame and Beulah, and they insisted on telling him who he was to meet on his journey. They said that somewhere on the road he would come to two small cottages, in one of which dwelt Mistress Hrisbin with her hus-