Machias High School - Margaretta Yearbook (Machias, ME)

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THE MARGARETTA 19 portance-a matter of life and death! 'Tm sorry,- Mary hesitated before she told a deliberate lieg but I'm ex- pecting company in half an hour and I really can't be bothered? The company can wait, went on the voice over the phone. What I want you to do can't wait. Dr. Young is- Dr. Young , the name sounded strange on Mary Stokes' tongue, and her pulse leaped. I'll come, I'll come, she said at last, and returned the re- ceiver to its place. A short time later as she climbed the steps to the Army building and entered Captain Montgomery's quarters, she wished that she hadn't agreed to come. But she soon forgot that when she found Jane Montgomery in bed-her white face twisted with pain and her leg in a heavy splint. I've broken my leg and I'm supposed to go on an errand of mercy, but I can't walk. That's why I called you. I want you to go in my place. It's too bad about your legf' Mary Stokes said coldly, but you are asking something utterly ridiculous. I thought when I came it was something impor- tant, but you only want me to run an errand for you! Listen! and she reached out and clutched Mary's hand in a 'firm grasp. For the first time in your life you're being asked to think of others instead of yourself. You've lived here longer than I have. All your life you've touched shoulders with the people in this town. You know all about them. But you've never had the opportunity, as I have had, to become acquainted with the people up in the mountain shacks. You might think they are not human. They're hard and cruel in their dealings with one another. But they are really human underneath and they need help. I just received a call from a family up there saying one little boy has a case of appendicitisf' And you want me to go? Mary's tone was filled with sympathy. Exactly! Mr. Warren won't let the doctor near the house unless I'm with him. If you put on my uniform and bonnet, no one could ever guess. You must hurry though. I've already call- ed Dr. Young and he'll be here in ex- actly seven minutes. Mary Stokes, not realizing that she was doing it, dressed and received her directions for the errand. Dr. Young did not recognize the girl who climbed into his coupe. On the Way to the mountain they talked of Mary Stokes. Did her royal highness bother you yesterday, Cap ? the doctor opened the conversation. You know that is one girl who could be the grandest person in the world if she'd come down to earth. 't Evidently you don't care for the young lady, Mary Stokes said, look- ing away from him. That's just it, the young doctor admitted ruefully, I do care. Finally they reached the Warren cab- in, and Mary went straight to Work. A few hours later when they were on their way back, the doctor said, You were swell. It was a tough fight but you helped like a good soldier. I-I-, but strangely she couldn't say anything. - Quickly the doctor took up the con- versation to cover her confusion. You look grand in the Army bon- net, he said. I wish you could wear one all the time, Mary.

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18 THE MARGARETTA At every place at the table is a cala- bashe full of poi. Poi is made from the roots of taro-plant, is greyish in color, and looks like wall-paper paste. It is eaten with the fingers. Poi doesn't have any special taste at all, and it takes a person quite a long time to get used to it. There are dishes full of different kinds of prepared fish, sweet potatoes, and pork. There is also some pudding served called haupia. Haupia is white in color and is made from coconuts. The drink served is called okolehau. Oke for short. The modern luaus serve soda pop, ice cream and cake. The pork, called kalua pig, is very delicious. It is cooked in an interesting way. A hole is dug in the ground, which is called an imu. The pig, which has been cleaned, is stuffed with white- hot rocks and wrapped in gunny sacks. The sweet potatoes are put around it. White-hot rocks cover the pig and then the dirt is put on top. The pig takes quite a while to cook but it is well worth the time spent. While the guests are feasting, enter- tainment is going on. Hula girls are dancing, and a Hawaiian orchestra is playing. Sometimes a luau may last until morning and the guests are invited to breakfast. June Chadwick '45 bk is bk STRANGE VENTURE Mary had been told about the Salva- tion Army Captain, but she caught her breath just the same when she came through the revolving door of a town drug store and saw her for the first time. The resemblance was amazing. The same jet-black hair, the same ha- zel eyes. Even the same impish dim- ple at the left corner of the mouth! Mary might have been looking in a mir- ror except for the fact that the girl at the kettle wore a dark blue coat and an Army bonnet while the Stokes heir- ess was dressed up in the finest of furs. Feeling someone staring at her, the girl in the bonnet looked up through the crowd and caught a glimpse of her counterpart standing in the doorway. Placing the bell in the wire netting ov- er the kettle, she walked up to Mary and held out her hand in a friendly way. Hello! she said brightly. Pm Jane Montgomery and you're Mary Stokes, aren't you? I've been waiting to meet my twin ever since-1 Suddenly she noticed the little smile at the corners of Mary's mouth and the look in her eyes. 'Tm sorry, she apologized, but I thought- It was Dr. Young who saved the sit- uation by pulling up to the curb and calling Jane over to his car. Mary turn- ed away with a lump of jealousy in her throat. She knew David Young hated her for what she was-hated her weak- ness and selfishness and her useless life. It was during the middle of dinner Christmas Eve, that a call came to up- set Mary Stokes' future plans. The voice on the wire was ringing with ur- gency and need. It was Captain Jane Montgomery. This is Captain Jane Montgomery speaking, the voice said. Yes ? and in the one word was all the ice and formality that Mary Stokes could muster. I need your help very badlyf' the voice over the wire was saying. You're the only person in Lowbridge that can help me and it is a matter of much im-

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20 THE MARGARETTA Startled, the girl looked up at him. David, then you knew all the time? Only after we got to the cabin, he answered. But how ? Your hands told me, he said. They aren't going to be a lady's hands any longer, David, she told him. I'm going back and ask Captain Mont- gomery if she can use me-if maybe someday I can wear a bonnet that I've really earned myself. Elaine Schoppee '45 wk lk HK THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY Marcella was in a very difficult posi- tion. She had two boy-friends, Paul and Billy, and each was extremely jeal- ous of the other. They were getting to be quite a nuisance. She did not like either of them well enough to continue going with them, but how was she go- ing to drop them both at once? Yes, she was in a difficult position, but she must get out of it immediately. She took a new writing pad, a full bottle of ink, and a fountain pen into the quiet living room. She sat down in a large, comfortable chair, and drew a wastebasket near her. Evidently she knew what she was about. This little picture could be called Meditation . Marcella's lovely brows were puckered in thought. A moment of silence, a moment of scribblingg and the paper goes in the wastebasket. Then everything starts all over again. Far into the night Marcella sat hud- dled in her chair. As the clock struck twelve, Marcella got an inspiration. All the furrows in her beautiful forehead disappeared, and her lovely eyebrows settled back in their accustomed place. With one sweaty hand she pushed back her rumpled hair. Even the little wrin- kles around her mouth disappeared. The effect was that of the peaceful calm af- ter a tempest. Everything was going to be all right now. With an unfaltering hand she wrote the following letter: M-i, Mass., July 3, 1943 Dearest Billy, The time has come for me to tell what's in my heart. I only realized last night 5 you are the only one in the world for me. I could never get along with- out you. As for Paul-he's a modern and one of the worst. He's only a passing fad to me. Dearest, I am Yours forever, Marcella. Carefully she folded the letter and placed it on the table. She gave a lit- tle chuckle and started on her second letter, which read like this: M-i, Mass., July 3, 1943 Darling Paul, Since the Barn Dance Saturday night I have known that you are the only one in the world for me. I hope you feel the same way about me. I could nev- er get along without you. As for Billy-he is a stuffed shirt with all his airs and graces. CPoof, we moderns can't stand himlj Yours forever, Marcella. Another chuckle and she placed the second letter near the first. Then she relaxed in her chair and slept till the family got up. When Mamma came down in the morning, she was surprised to see the look of deep content on her daughter's face. A little later, Marcella woke up and explained to her mother, showing her the two letters. Mamma couldn't un- understand how that would help.