Machias High School - Margaretta Yearbook (Machias, ME)

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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.

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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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THE MARGARETTA 21 But don't you see, said Marcella happily, I've switched the envelopes. Eleanor W. Dodge '45 if ik 42 PRISCILLA TESS AND THE STRAWBERRY JAM Mr. Frums tiptoed quietly through the parlor in the dark. In his right hand were his shoes and in his left hand his soiled necktie. He was feeling his way through the darkness when sud- denly he knocked something over, hurt his leg, and let a rather low growl es- cape his lips. At practically the same time a light was turned on and a little girl started to laugh, H'wo pop, she said, what- cha got in yer hands, huh ? Nothing-just my shoes. Why aren't you in bed, Priscilla Tess? Sure- ly you're not taking advantage of your mother's being away, are you ? Nope, I ain't, I was jes waitin' for you ta 'get in', like momma does. Where you been, huh ? continued the child. That was a nice thought, your wait- ing for me, but a little girl needs her rest. Now go on up to bed like a nice little girl, said her father. Gee, pop, I'm hungry. Can I have some strawbry jam, huh? she said, putting her braids over her shoulder. No, you certainly cannot. Not at this time of morning, said her father. Now go on upstairs-hurry! and he sat down on a nearby couch. Mr. Frums lay down and almost went to sleep. Almost, because as he was about to doze off, his daughter, Pris- cilla Tess, hollered down: Daddy, aren't you comin ta bed, 'tis terribly late-huh, daddy, ain't you ? No, Priscilla, I am not! came the reply of her father. Oh, exclaimed Priscilla Tess. Will, will you bring me up a drink of water? I'm terribly thirsty-please? Come down and get it yourself. I'm sleepy, said her father, disgustedly. O'k, pop-if you're sleepy, Priscilla Tess replied. About a half hour later, Mr. Frums awoke with a start from his dreams in which he was being chased by a mad elephant and was running head first into a beehive. Mr. Frums sat upright on the couch and looked around the room. All the lights were on, and then it suddenly came to Mr. Frums that he did not see or hear his daughter. He ran upstairs, hoping to find her safely in her own room. No, she wasn't there. He opened all the doors upstairs, look- ed in all the corners, and when Priscilla Tess could not be found, he hurriedly ran down stairs again. Had Tess been kidnapped ? he won- dered. No, no one would want to kid- nap Tess. Even so, if she had been kid- napped, her kidnapper would probably bring her back very soon. He went to the kitchen, the dining- room and the parlor. He looked every- where-under the couch, behind the desk, in the dish closet-just in case Tess had been playing a trick on him. He was about ready to give up when he decided to look in the pantry and see if his salary, which he kept in the sugar bowl, was missing. He turned on a light and was about to step inside the pantry, when he saw, huddled limply on the fioor-Tess-her mouth and face all red. Oh, Tess, he cried excitedly, are you all right, dear ? Tess woke up and looked at her fath- er curiously. Why, yes, pop, I'm ok -why not?