Lincoln High School - Lincolnian Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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THE LINCOLNIAN I9 through more trees: into flowers of brilliant hues, and lastly into a sea of gold, the sky. The mist had now nearly all dispersed and the sunbeams filtering thru the green verdure form- ed golden paths which seemed to lead to heaven. ln and out among the trees, birds circled and twittered, ad- ding glorious life to the scene. How wonderful this magnificence of nature was to Dick Richards! How he wanted to have someone with him to enjoy this beauty! lf only he had his mother to talk to! Girls he had known, but with none had he felt the freedom of expressing his innermost and deeper feelings, for he had a mortal fear of being laughed at. Now he felt lonely and he wanted above everything else a friend. Breaking away from his reverie he took out his pocketknife and cut a twig from a tree, to whittle. Slowly he mean- dered over the road, stopping at in- tervals to look longer at the varying woodland scenes or to watch, per- haps, a woodpecker drill holes in a tree. Once when Dick stopped he thought he heard voices singing. He listened, but he believed it must be some sound his fancy had created, so he wandered on a little farther. More distinctly the voices now' sounded, followed by faint echoes. These were human tones, not fanciful. Thru the trees he saw a pathway leading to a sunlit, open plot: perhaps this was the direction from which they came. Dick, curious, followed the path that, taking him to the light, climbed to a knoll which looked off into a radiant, moss-covered valley. ln that little valley fairies were dancing around their queen and paying her homage with songs. This thought Hashed thru Dick's mind: then he saw a cir- cle of merry children and a young girl, her dark, heavy hair blown by the breeze, dancing in the most grace- ful fashion he had ever seen, the dance of the fairies. At Hrst he did not move, but silently, as if held by magic, he watched the girl. Then quietly and unnoticed he descended the hill and as the girl dropped down onto the grass with the children he expressed his appreciation by a hearty handclap. The children look- ed from the stranger to the girl and back to the stranger again in mute bewilderment. The girl was surprised and with a quick, nervous movement twisted up her hair into a loose knot. My, but that was a beautiful dance, little girl. l hope l have not intruded, but l would appreciate an invitation to this party of yours. , Although the girl did not know this stranger, his sincerity of manner won her confidence in him. Why, we should like to have you, most certainly. l- she began, but was interrupted by a child's voice. Running toward her was a small girl carrying a fish in one hand ,and a pole in the other. Oh, Anna! l gotta fish! l gotta fish! yelled the girl. lt was Patsy Morrison, the tomboy. The children clustered about Patsy as she held her prize aloft. Danny, he caught three, but he says he won't come till he gets an- other and- At this point Patsy noticed that the party had grown since she was present last, and immediately she rec- ognized its new member. Why, hullo, Dic. Richards! l didn't know you was comin'. When did you get here? The name struck Anna speechless. Fortunately Patsy aided her for the moment by entering into the conver- sation with her prattle about the fish. Now, being forced to overcome her shyness, Anna soon became an inter- esting hostess. Dr. Richards noticed the slight Hush come over her face

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I8 THE LINCOLNIAN abroad she passed away. The life he had led with his mother formed the fondest memories he cherished while in France, and her death saddened him. The strain of battle, however, prevented him from feeling the great grief and time eased his sorrow. On his safe return to America he decided it would be best to start his practice in his home village. So he was liv- ing in his grandfather's house and was establishing a good beginning. The purchase of instruments had brought him to New York. Now having accomplished his work he was returning to the village. Darkness had blotted out the scenery from the traveler's view, so Dick turned his chair about and started to read. Soon his eyes fell from the book and passed down the aisle, noticing the passengers. He possessed an inher- ent liking for studying human nature and this afforded a good opportunity. ln one seat was sitting a girl, titter- ing and simpery because of the at- tentions of a gentleman. Next to her an elderly woman looked discontent- edly at a book. Farther up the aisle a bored-looking feminine individual gazed at the black landscape. Dick did not like these types. He put on his cap and went onto the rear plat- form. The train had now stopped at a water tank. ln the night air he heard the creak of the frogs, and he liked this. Dick liked nature, for it made him feel good to be near it. Then there was a shunting of cars, a clanging of a bell at the road cross- ing and the train rolled on, its wheels a steady rhythm against the The lights of a disappearing were soon obliterated, and after the lights in the car were being darkened. All the occu- pants of the car had retired, so Dick went inside and made his way to the sleeper for the night. beating tracks. village shortly Anna awoke early in the morning. She had just finished packing her lunch baskets when the first of the youngsters appeared. You are certainly on time, Danny, old boy. Y'bet l am, Anna. l brought my fish pole. Did you? Fine! At ten o'clock all the picnickers, ten strong, except Patsy Morrison, were assembled in the Walters' kitch- en. Patsy when she saw Dan with a fish pole had to have one, too, so she went home after her brother's. promising she would be back in a minute. Patsy did come back, but the in a minutei' if multiplied by thirty would be a more accurate statement of the time of her second arrival. Into the jolly woods they tramped. Morning mist sparkled on the trees, but the sun would take this away and then in some open plot of grass near the river they would have their picnic. Dick Richards arrived home that morning. After going home for breakfast he went to his office. As his instruments had not yet come. he could not work with them, and as he had no engagements until in the afternoon he left on a walk thru the woods. I-low beautiful and soothing the woods were to himl lt was a a thin profusion of color veiled by gray mist. Gradually the sun pierced this curtain of vapor and the near at hand took on shape. right a river, bright blue mixed with white foam where the sunshine caught objects To his it, and an emerald green in the shad- ows of the overhanging, shrubbery- covered sides flowed swiftly on its downward course. Slowly the other colors molded themselves into masses of ferns, their dew-covered leaves sparkling under the light of the sun: into shrubs bordering the roadway that lengthened in a winding course

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20 THE LINCOLNIAN and, realizing her timidity, aided her in overcoming it. . Boys, Anna ventured, let's get the fire started and boil some water. Buddy, you and Robert gather the chips, and Harry will get the water from the spring. The doctor helped in erecting a device from which the pail was sus- pended, and made the fire. ln an- other minute the little blazes circled into the air. Anna spread a white cloth upon the ground and graced it with tempting eatables. Then when the tea was made the group of chil- dren, Anna and the doctor seated themselves on the grass to partake of the lunch. And even Danny. de- spite the fact that he had not caught the other fish, came in answer to the luncheon call. ' Late afternoon found the picnick- ers homeward bound. Dick Richards on that walk gradually saw and felt that in Anna he had found a girl with whom he might speak freely about the thoughts he loved, for she, too,'loved'nature's fair beauties. The sweet and natural way Anna had with each child that ran to her with some fiower or some grievance impressed him deeply. The youngsters, some of them tired, but all happy, parted in front of Anna's gate. Not one neglected to express his childish pleasure and the hope of another picnic soon. Here at the gate Dick met Anna's mother. Although Mrs. Walters did not resemble his mother in stature or appearance, Dick recognized in her the same charm his mother had possessed-the spirit of motherliness. Dick as he left the Walters home knew that he had met a real friend, one of whose acquaintance he night be proud. A few evenings later an excited and unusual Anna darted into Eli- nor's home. So different and full of life she was, compared with what even she, her chum, had been accus- tomed to seeing her, that Elinor felt powerless for a moment. But it was only for a moment. Joy over this change in Anna immediately took the place of surprise ,and quickly an eagerness to know the cause fol- lowed. Elinorl Oh, Elinor! burst -out Anna. Something wonderful has happened! What is it? breathed Elinor. l am going to the dance. Yes, Elinor put in, coming closer. And who do you suppose is going to take me? who do you think? Anna was vitalized all thru her body. Oh, tell me, quick. Don't keep me guessing, her chum pleaded eagerly. Doctor Richards! Words did not come to Elinor to express her feeling. If they had, she probably would not have used them. Her eyes dilated, her smile became more radiant and she took Anna in her arms. Oh, Anna, you don't know how glad l am. Quickly Anna related the meeting in the woods to Elinor, the picnic, and the walk home. Then he came this afternoon to call, and-asked me to go to the club dance, she explained, and added has- tily, Oh, we'll have to hurry and get my outfit made. The days before the event num- bered five. ln those few days were crowded such preparations that the dressmaker, Anna's mother, and the two girls were kept busy until the night of the dance. The rustic ballroom decorated with bluebells and greenery, a-glimmer with the beautiful gowns of the girls and women, and lighted by bright- hued paper lanterns, presented a pic-