Loyola University Maryland - Evergreen / Green and Gray Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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THE LOYOLA ANNUAL 9 “ I wonder what kind of a looking girl Miss Norris is any- way. Jack is not a beauty by a long shot, and if she re- sembles him, I see where she — O but Jack is such a nice fellow, he doesn’t need to be handsome; may be she’s that kind. Anyway I hope she’s not one of those little things that just talk you to death — don’t give you a chance to open your mouth. At any rate I’m going around tomorrow night to look her over.” Next night Dick, carefully attired, rang the bell of the house indicated by Jack. He gave his card to the servant, asked for Miss Norris and was ushered into the parlor. Sev- eral minutes later, the portieres parted, and Dick beheld a very charming young lady who did not bear the slightest re- semblance to her brother. She welcomed him cordially and said she was very glad to meet Jack’s friend. It certainly was lucky Miss Norris could talk well. Dick was so flustered he could hardly speak ten words at a time, and spent his evening agreeing to everything the young lady said. Dick told me that it was only after he had said good-night, and walked away in the cool air, that he remembered having asked Miss Norris to go roller skating with him the next even- ing, and that he had likewise appointed a night the following week for the theatre. Miss Norris had very charmingly ac- cepted. Dick was overjoyed at the meeting, and was thinking pleasantly of the rink and the Academy. Just then a street car approached and Dick swung aboard. Thrusting his hand in his pocket to get the required nickel he encountered the mighty trio that stood between him and bankruptcy. His heart turned a somersault and so did Dick. He had forgotten all about the low ebb of his fortunes, and not waiting till the car reached the next corner, he jumped off immediately. After picking himself up and dusting off his coat, he felt in his pocket. They were still there — the nickel, the penny, and the key.

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8 THE LOYOLA ANNUAL a a pmnfi and a iiet. (A Story.) D ick Powell was broke, “ dead broke and his allowance not due for ten days. There he sat, head in hands, sunk in our friend Bunyan’s “ Slough of Despond.” The room was bright and cheery, facing on the campus, and decorated with the college man’s usual abundance of pen- nants, pillows and well-seasoned pipes. Outside, a crowd of Sophomores listened to a lone Freshman’s attempt at a song. The unmusical tune floated through the open window, but failed to rouse Dick; he was watching his air-castles fading slowly away, — with a sort of grim pleasure — a pleasure such as the criminal feels when he sees that the axe is newly sharp- ened. The sun was sinking. As the magazine stories say, “ twilight was spreading her cloak over all,” and Dick was away under the cloak. Over, and over again he revolved the unpleasant situation in his mind. “ Jack Norris’ sister coming tomorrow, and Jack writes me to show her a good time. How in the mischief I can show anybody a good time in my present condition of ‘ frenzied finance,’ I don’t see. Just at present my total list of assets is a nickel, a penny, and a key. Board is paid up, and if that confounded Miss Norris had not appeared on the scene, I could have invested my nickel in a sack of tobacco and lived comfortably until Pa sends my allowance. As for the penny, — well I was going to keep it just to be able to say that I’m never without money. If I had only known this was going to happen I would never have — O but that’s ‘ spilt milk. It was too easy; I ought to have known something was going to happen. Well it happened all right; as I can testify.

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10 THE LOYOLA ANNUAL Next day Dick approached his friends and asked for the loan of a five-spot. Every one of them was broke. Some had a key ; a few had a penny; not one of them had a nickel. Dick thought of all kinds of desperate remedies to fit his horrible straits. He even thought of boarding a freight train and leav- ing town, but at last resolved to “ sprain his ankle ” for the time being. That night Dick joined the “ Ananias Club.” He appeared with a very forlorn face telling Miss Norris of his misfortune and how it all occurred. Of course the trip to the rink was called off. Strange to say after they had been talking a while, Dick suggested that maybe a little stroll would not harm his ankle. If Miss Norris was surprised, she did not show it, and readily acquiesced. Dick reduced his limp as much as possible, and was enjoying himself immensely, when they passed a drug store. Now in these civilized days drug stores mean nothing to the feminine element but “ ice cream soda.” It was up to Dick to ask Miss Norris if she would have a glass. Then remembering that they charged ten cents at this par- ticular place, he immediately suggested ‘‘ a better place — down the street.” Dick knew that at the latter place the beverage was only five cents. Arriving at the store he ordered a soda for Miss Norris, but declined to order any for himself. He avowed, al- most with an oath, that soda never agrees with him. Here the first member of the trio parted from Dick. The nickel went for Miss Norris’ soda, which Dick half-famished watched her drink. Then, as Dick was hurrying Miss Norris past the candy counter, the latter remembered that she had a postal which she wished to mail to Jack. Here the second member of the trio went into the druggist’s cash drawer and Dick never saw it again. Fearing that Miss Norris might find another postal to mail, Dick’s ankle suddenly began “to pain” him, and he suggested a start for home.