Lompoc High School - La Purisima Yearbook (Lompoc, CA)

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LoMPoc UNIONI 23 lHIGH Scuoor. THE OLD MAN I thought I saw her, Jim, the Old Man wistfully said, seems as if she could of reco'nized me. Oh well, Old Man, she's bound to come back, and Jim turned, started to uproot the huge stakes of the main circus tent, and the conversation ended. The tents were wrapped and loaded on bright hued wagons that had seen better days, their paint still held its color, but it was cracked and sunbaked., The small decorative goddesses on the sides of the wagons were faded, their painted faces beaming faintly in the evening twilight. ln front of these bepainted wagons, large black and white horses stood quietly awaiting the on-moving. Their manes, verv curly and thick, covered their very head and eyes. They were a lot to be proud of, these big costly animals of mighty strength. They were a contrast to the beautiful. slim, prancing riding horses, who revelled in their physical beauty, as they pranced to and fro, eager to go on the way. Hoi there, Old lllan, bring those ferocious beasts over here, bellowed the Strong Man, we don't want 'em runnin' around loose among us. A sharp crack of a whip sounded, and the Old Man commanded, Czar! Czar and Delphi, two immense, shaggy, green-eyed lions, surlily obeyed the sharp command of their master, growling and opening those treacherous mouths, not unlike danger- ous caverns. No one but the Old Man and his little daughter of long ago, who was iust a sweet memory to him now, could ever manage those ferocious beasts. Even the Strong Man side-stepped, when they were taken into the wagon. As the Old Man glanced from the lions to the sunset, he drew a deep breath. This was the little valley, so noted for its beautv and its sunsets. its color and its quiet: this was the valley where she had disappeared in the twilight--when in a terrible storm, she disappeared, and had never been seen again. The scene moved him stronglv: the rugged hills in the distance: the setting sun. its pink and yellow glow showering over the valley. and turning slowly to grevish darkness. The old man stood transfixed-such a scene he had never witnessed before. The quiet wind that had sprung up in the last few minutes spread the locks of gray hair over his forehead and made his brow cool. Then slowly each wagon began to move steadilv forward, one behind the other. Close to the rear of that procession was the wagon of the lions. Inside. the old man was fixing the compartment for his night's rest, while the lions switched and swerved in the other. The old man lay down upon his low cot. watched the lions through half shut eyesg noticing the coolness of the air, he drew a heavy blanket closer around him. Then almost in an instant the wind sprang up. The sky became inkyg and the procession was shrouded in total darkness. Rubber coats were hurriedly pushed over coats. And then came the raing it came in floods, in soaking and drenching torrents. The road became slippery, and the horses began to pull harder. The wind drove un- mercifully against the wagons, and the life within them became nervous and alert. Jim, is the storm goin' to quit? the old man shouted thru the crack back of the seat, or is it goin' to force us to stop? lt's worse, but we have to make Grindale by mornin', shouted Jim. A bend in the road, then a swirling creek to be forded with the utmost care. jim noticed the last wagon, it had leaned perilously to one side-then became riglzted as it hit the opposite bank. H6 let the horses pick their way, but they failed. A flash of lightning showed him that the horses were losing their footing, then-crash! and the wagon lay in the dark, muddy water. Jim jumped clear and reached shore. He gave a loud command and the horses struggled to reach the bank. Wet, and shivering with nervous excitement, they gained it, and pulled the wagon clear of the deep swelling pool and stood panting from their effort.

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L-o.M oc UNIONI 22 IHIGH SCH They say that she came for glory, For a purpose bold and strong, 'Twas Cortez or some other brave Spaniard Once bade her leap along. 'tis long that they from her departed, Only the wind walks her rail. as the ship cries, it lingers and sighs, And the wild bird flees from its wail. But And The The shore all about is deserted, Huge rocks loom forth from the deep. roll of the tide is alarming, About that dismal heap. sea breaks 'round that mournful wreck And it speaks o'er the voice of the gale, And as the wind moans and murmurs and groans Hearts quake and lips are pale. The IV. Infinity When night has dressed the seething earth In robes of deepest blue, And pinned them fast with myriad points Of dazzling fiery hueg When she has swept the dusty light ' From off the stifling earth, And blazing windows in the sky Bespeak celestial mirthg I kneel before my window sill, The altar of the skies, And waft my spirit out to play On night's low qualcing sighs. It bursts the bubble of its sphere, The prison of its mind, And leaps among the fleecy clouds To frolic with its kind. And when it comes back once again, It brings peace unalloyedg I know it's played where shining showr's Skim glinting through the void. And then I lay me on my couch To seek the Phantom Lanes, I've swept without all mortal thoughtg Infinity remains. O O 1

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Lompoc T.JNIONl 24 IHIG11 SCHOOL The door of the compartment had swung open, and two slinking, beady-eyed creatures slipped to the ground and disappeared into the darkness beyond. jim found the door open, and located the old man. Say, Old llian, you hurt? There was no answer and Jim drew him out and carried him to the wagon ahead. The old man came back, long enough to gasp out. The lions, Jim, the lions! -lim looked in the compartment and sure enough they were gone. Three of the men volunteered to help Jim search for those lions. Let's strike out east, Jim said, there's a lot of brush and here's a trail. Some- body bring me a flash light. There's only one, and that's under the old man's pillow, said one of the party. Jim plunged into the muddy trail flashing the light on the murky ground. Say, sure enough, they've gone this way. The rain and wind drove against them, and the thick brush on either side of the trail hindered them. It made them nervous and irritable, but they went on. A flash of lightning, then another peal of roaring thunder, then dreadful quietness, but the rain never stopped. Jim looked to the side-stopped abruptly. Was it a light he had seen? He waited. There, not more than a hundred feet away, he could see a pale, flickering light. Then it became blurred. A huge, ugly form blotted it out, it flickered again in a sickly, flaring way. Jim bounded toward the light. It became blurred againg this time he knew it was danger. A second form had disappeared thru that window. A second later -lim was there. He stopped amazed, suddenly stiffened, was as stone, for standing in the corner near a huge crackling fireplace a young girl stood, pale as a ghost and trem- bling. The huge bulk moved, swerved his full length, then faced the girl. A deep scar gleamed between its eyes. There was a miraculous change. As if electrified the girl became taut, backed farther into the corner, snapped her fingers and shouted, Czar l The lions crouched. Once more she repeated the command, then, lJelphil rang from her lips. D0wnl she cried commandingly. The lions lowered, slipped quietly with trained movement, watching her and snarling as they crouched to the floor in full submission. Breathlessly Jim watched, the others watched: none moved. Then jim vaulted thru the window. ' Juliel - - - Jimi Oh! and father? she cried. He's been watching for you, and hc's safe. -Genevieve Ruffner, '26. I