Lockport High School - Forum Yearbook (Lockport, NY)

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plain Jim Wl1ite. Characteristically, this smiling, blonde boy never thought to question his new friend's motives, and Nate understood this and respected him for it. 'Several days later, two boys left New York Harbor on two different ships. One was Nathan Rusk from Ruskridge, tall, smiling, blonde. The other-plain .lim VVhite, tall, smiling, brown-eyed, from an orphanage in a town along the Hudson. P is vs wk Rusk was lonely. No one guessed it --a Rusk had always been one to hide his emotions-but, eating his solitary dinner, night after night, he had grad- uallylrealized just how lonely he was. At first he had been angry, had de- spised himself for a soft hearted old woman, but now that was past. I-Ie wanted the boy back .... but he was still proud .... the Rusks had always been proud, often too proud... and Rusk was hanged if he'd make the first move. It had been two years-he had had a note from New York after the boy had left: Father, I am going to sea. Although I can't go as an of ficer-that's what I wanted to do, you know-I'm on my own, at least. -That was all. Two years of dining by himself-oh, occasionally he had gone out, but peo- ple asked so eonfoundedly many ques- tions, and he saw that they pitied him. No doubt the young fool was a hand- some fellow now, strong, and browned by the sun-well, the Rusks had always been handsome, all of them ..,. VVhere was the boy-why didn't he come home? Every' evening such thoughts had filled Rusk's mind, and now he had eve11 taken to soliloquizing in the seclusion of his study .... Rusk was tall--taller than Nate, and although he had not yet reached sixty, his hair and moustache were snow-white -his eyes were dark brown, piercingly Page Tiilfllfjl-SIi.l' sharp. He was Hawthorne, John Hay . . . he was completely himself, like no one else, ever. I'll send the boy to Annapolis when he comes home! Yes, by gad, I swear I'll do it . . if he comes home. I Then one morning a telegram came from New York- Son injured stop slzifv in fort at time stop will arrizfe about 3:00 P.M. It was signed by the captain of the S. Transatlantic. Rusk felt young again. The boy was coming home! But he was hurt .... still it couldn't be so serious or they would- n't move him. Qnly a few more hours. The doorbell ....., brushing Timson aside, he flung open the door .... an Indian squaw with a basket of wild flowers, . . he bought them all. . . . 'Would they never come? .,.. Hark, . ..a siren .... the ambulance of course . . . again he threw the door wide open . . . a stretcher .... now they were bringing' him up the walk .... the steps . . the sltairs. , . . The driver and his assistant set the stretcher down in Nate's old room and gently lifted the still figure from it to the bed. There y'are, sir, and the cap- tain says to tell you he'll be good as ever in a coupleiof weeks. VVhy, what's the matter, sir? You ain't gonna faint, are ya? Rusk was deathly pale with excite- ment and bitter disappointment. Gasp- ing he cried, He's not my son .... not Nate .,.. U VV hy, he must be, sir. Nathan Rusk, that's his name. Now I think of it, the captain told me he's been delirious since it happened this mornin' .... kept askin' fer jim VVhite and sayin' he'd have to explain somethinl! The doc put him to sleep fer a while so's he ..., i' Not Nate, not Nate, Rusk repeat- ed slowly. Then who is he and why have you brought him here P THE FORVM

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at his surroundings. He had been riding perhaps an hour, and in two more his goal would be reached. On the west the Hudson was golden glass in the afternoon sung regal, im- passive, mighty sovereign. The greater part of the city stretched toward the east, and somehow--it reminded him of Ruskridge-home .,.. He abruptly turned his eyes to scan boy replied in like vein, Never better. Won't you switch the seat around? Seeing that we're both alone, we ought to do something about it. In an instant they were facing each other, blue eyes gazing into brown. For a moment, both were somewhat at a loss for words. Finally the strange boy spoke. My name's jim VVhite, former- ly residing in the orphanage back there, the entering pas- sengers. T h e first was a tall, furtive-faced in- dividual in a black overcoat, his hat pulled over his eyes. He was carry- ing an obvious- ly heavy black brief-case a n d could easily have been a des- perate character Nate thought w i t h mingled awe and pleas- ure. Next came a non-descript woman with a whimpering, sticky child, and then a tall young f e ll o w about Nate's own age. THINGS NAOM1 NELSON, '34 New things thrill me. Do they you? .4 flower, fragrant, steeped in dew- Tlie fresh, young green of leaves in spring, .4 bird just learning how to sing. Q, Sweet things thrill me. Caift you tell? The ringing of a niellow,'liell,' .4 garden's soft and sleegjugrace, Or-honey on a fl1iId's bright fare. But free things thrill me most of all,' The glory of a water-fall, The sun in liquid waves of gold, ll'oodland people not yet bold. For though life is souietiuies dull or cold. And things are ever dying, old: I make nzy way on swifter feet Because of things-new, free, or sweet. now on my way to j 0 i n the N a v y. What about you? Nate gasped. That's it- what I wanted to do all along and didn't know it. I'll join the Navy too! and he proceeded to tell his new friend simply that he and his father had had a disagreement. Then he hesitat- ed. Why not wipe the slate clean . . . start his new life as somebody else . . Say, Jim, does your name mean a lot to you? who took the seat ahead of him. During Nate's inspection of his new neighbor, the last of the passengers had taken their seats and the train with re- newed choking recommenced its mo- notonous chant. The blonde, crisply curling hair be- fore him seemed to Nate a cheery invi- tation. and clearing his throat experi- mentally he remarked, Fine weather, isn't it ? The well-shaped head turned quick- ly and brilliant blue eyes examined the speaker. Then with a flashing smile the THE FOR VM he asked excitedly. VVhy no, not much. You see it's just a name they gave me at the Home. They found me on the steps when I was just a little kid. Seems like the stories you read about, doesn't it P Tough luck, jim. Nate paused a moment, reflectively. With a brother like this, things might have been different . . . . VVell, look now, fellow, what do you say to our changing names. . . just for the fun of it? I say it would be great. From now on I am Nathan Rusk, and you are Page 'Twenty-Five

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I see there's some mistake, sir, but this young fella' goes by the name of Rusk, like I said-Nate Rusk. His ship docked this mornin', an' as I understand it he had a two weeks leave. He hadnlt been gone more'n half an hour with one 0' his buddies when they brought him back. Been hit by a car. Bruised up bad, but no bones broken. What'll I do with the boy now, sir? He can stay where he is. There's room enough and to spare here. Rusk quent visitor at the law office and dis- played a keen interest in the profession. It had set Rusk thinking. True to his word, he soon broached the subject of Annapolis. Nate was over- joyed but a little skeptical about qualify- ing for an appointment. Rusk reassured him. After all, one's clients, when suf- ficiently important, were frequently use- ful, especially when they happened to be Congressmen. And so it was settled. was recovering rapidly. I'll get in touch with his captain, and I'm obliged to you for your trouble. No trouble at all, was the cheery response. Good luck to you both, sir. In a moment, he and his speechless as- sistant had picked up the stretcher and left. Against the d0ctor's protests, jim had told the whole story the following day and insisted upon sending a message to Nate.- I have been hurt and am at your home. COINS here as soon as you canf' As soon as you can was three weeks F UTILITY H ELEN GEBBIE, '34 I fancied that God .mill to mc- I give tlzrf world to yon. Do 'zciitlz it aryon will. I tools the world. I felt no great .vzzrjwlsc at such a gift. I built a nziglzty mansion ofuerlooleing all the town, And 11010 I own three nzansions, earlz Its prrrdcccssorls ftccr. I have my mrs, my clogs, I have A l1'Zl11dl'Cll servants, yet I almost wish I lzcm' cz son to take tlze world when I am. gone. boys. But Nate was not completely self- ab- sorbed - W h a t would become of jim? This smiling, dependable fellow - this almost brother. R u s k solved the problem. ' ' I l v e b e e n watching the boyf' he said slowly, and he's a born lawyer. A few years at Harvard and some practic- al experience, and he'll be ready to carry on the prac- tice. He gazed affectionately at his tall, bronzed son. I'm going to be proud of my You're a prince, father, exclaimed Nate impulsively. Let's tell him now. later, and Nate, taller, browner, hand- somer, had come back to find his father ready to listen, anxious to help. The old Rusk would have been out- raged at the exchange of names, but now, with a smile, he simply said, You young fellows have been pretty lucky, I'd say. You could have had a good deal of troubles after changing those names. And he clapped each fondly on the hack. During his stay, jim had been a fre- THE FORVM jim was overcome for a moment. I . .I canlt tell you how much I. .you see nobody has ever given me a second thought before. And then, you've been so fine that I .... His voice broke. None of that, boy, none of that. Now what do you say to this Harvard propo- sition ? Rusk, the new Rusk, could not conceal his eagerness. VVith his brilliant smile Jim replied, It's the greatest thing that's ever hap- Pagc Twenty-Seven