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

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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-

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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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band and family, and in the other the four celebrated women astrono- mers. Elsie Hoppham, Lavina Tobin, Mary Martin and Isabella Side- botham. In another part of his journey he would come upon a partially deserted Manor House. and that in one part he would lind what might be called Old Maids' Hall. In the hall there lived six spinstersg there was Mistress Smith. who tended the eats: and Mistress Bird. who sat in a corner and spun flax: then there was Mistress Csband. who kept the Hall. cooked the meals and was always happy and cheerful. Besides the three domestic women there were three intellectual women: Mil- dred who wrote poetry by the yard: Mistress Newland, who read Greek all day: and Mistress Green, who amused herself with writing short romances. The monk paused and looked thoughtfully into the tire: then rose abruptly and said it was late and he must go on. But as he spoke. he raised his arms in benediction and said: God bless this company! Sir suflm fcM'11. ' CoXsTANcrt BEM1eN'1'.