Manchester High School - Somanhis Yearbook (Manchester, CT)

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10 SOMANHIS THE CHRISTMAS GIFT By C. Rubinow, '31 Scene-The well furnished private office of Attorney A. E. Brown. Time-The day before Christmas. Characters: Attorney Brown--an elderly, successful- looking man. Miss Allen--a capable-looking young busi- ness woman of thirty-tive, Brown's secretary. A stenographer--a typical young typist. CMr. Brown signs the last of a large stack of letters and then, after consulting his memo- randum, presses a button on his desk. He smiles mysteriously as he awaits the arrival of Miss Allen. Miss Allen enters from another office, and she approaches Attorney Brown's desk, notebook in hand.J Atty. Brown: Miss Allen, being awoman, you ought to be able to advise me about what would make a suitable gift for my wife. Heaven knows, as far as I can see, she buys everything she wants, but there'll be war in camp unless I present her with some gift on Christmas morning. Miss Allen: Well-I think perhaps a new pocketbook might do-or perhaps some sort of a necklace. Really, I don't know just what she would like. Atty. Brown: All women like the same sort of things-think of something you'd select for your own Christmas gift. Surely there is something you want. Miss Allen: I think I'd choose a dressing gown, Mr. Brown. The new ones are ex- tremely dainty and good looking. Really, I think that would make an excellent gift. Atty. Brown: Don't know much aboutwo1nen's things, but it sounds all right to me. You may leave the office now to purchase it. Better get it at Gordon's or King's and charge it to me. Get something nice, now. Miss Allen tleavingjz I'll try. QExit Miss Allen. Atty. Brown resumes his work as curtain falls to denote the pass- ing of about an hour.J As curtain rises again Atty. Brown is seat- ed at his desk dictating to a stenograph- er. Miss Allen enters carrying a box.l Atty. Brown: How did you make out? Miss Allen Cplacing package on deskbz Well, I think that it will do. Atty. Brown: Sure that it's a nice one? Miss Allen: Well, I like it very much, myself. Atty. Brown frising and smllingbz Keep 'lt for yourself, then. I wanted to give you an especially llne present this Christmas in appreciation of the excellent and 'con- scientious work you did on the Byron case. I decided that this was the only way to get you something I'd be sure you would like. As for my wife, she always selects her own Christmas gift. CURTAIN THE DOUBLE BARRELED CHRISTMAS GIFT By James Toman, '33 This story is true enough. It sifted over from Ireland: Pat and Kate Malone lived, or managed to exist, in a mud hovel consisting of almost tour walls and a root, in Golway. One of the numerous persecutions was in full swing, and the people of Golway could have counted their shillings on the Hngers of both feet. Kate Malone had consumption, and Pat didn't even have that much. . . Pat, it's Christmas Eve. It's cold, too, but they don't put that on the calendar. An' there lsn't onythin' to ate in the house, nor onythin' to burn. It'll not be much of a Christmas for us, Kate. It could be worse, Pat. Ye've still got me. How long can either of us last, the way things is? I've got to raise money somewayf' Ye wouldn't steal it, Pat, nor ye cou1dn't beg nor borrow it. But I could earn it, love. The British gov- ernmint is obligln' that way, if you know what I mane. Ye mane ye'd be a dirty traitor and inform on a man that trusts ye? Ye're the only one that knows about him, Pat, an' ye wouldn't betray him. I know it's hard, but it's his one'-life against our two. I wanted to buy ye a Christ- mas box, Kate. But ye know I'm only slobber- ing. Go to sleep, now, an' I'll try to dig up some wud for the ire. ' She went to sleep, but not forlong. Icy hm gers dug into her lungs, and she awoke lin a spasm of coughing. Pat was gone. She looked out. A double row of footprints stretched down the hill and up the next toward town, where

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S-OMANHIS 9 since you have no family. You've been there nearly a year now, haven't you? ' Mary remembered. A year ago . . . that was when the real Mary Roger had died-when she received the yellow paper that said Johnny was dead, a statement that she could never quite bring herself to believe, and when Pa died just a short time later of heart trouble. It was a tremendous task, trying to forget. but after all one couldn't come to life if one were to keep constantly before oneself the memor- ies of one's former life. How old are you, Mary? Ann asked, as she continued washing the dishes. I'll be sixty-ive in September, Mary an- swered. Ann laughed as she remarked, Why, that is old! .Mary hardly heard what Ann was saying. She always felt so strange at LoWell's. Some- thing seemed to take place inside her that she wasn't exactly sure whether she liked or not. I 'heard you were going to get married, Ann. She must say something or Ann would ask her whether-she were ill. I'll say I am, Ann answered proudly. It's only a week now. Billy and I have been en- gaged for almost two years. I think he is the nicest boy in Franklin. Honestly, Mary Roger, what do you think of him? Why, I think he's a very acceptable young man. But who is going to stay here when you're gone? The girl stopped washing the dishes and went nearer to Mary's chair. Now listen, Mary, she said in a hushed voice, don't tell this to a soul. I don't think anyone is going to stay here. Why! Mary exclaimed. You don't mean that Doctor Lowell has lost his money and Mrs. Lowell is going to do her own work? No! Ann replied. Don't you ever breathe this, but Mrs. Lowell and the doctor are go- ing to separate. Why! You don't mean it. They went to- gether for years and almost broke their hearts at one time because the doctor didn't have enough money to start a business. It can't be true that they are going to separate! . I wouldn't tell it to anyone unless I was sure, Ann said. They've been quarreling for several weeks now, and they hardly ever speak to each other pleasantly. Of course, they try to be good-natured when I'm around. The tears began to roll down Mary's cheeks. So this was how it was all going to end. I-Ier, eyes wandered around the cozy little kitchen where she had come to bring her soul to be nourished, but the kitchen was also to be lost to her. Mary thought it was time for her to be go- ing, so Ann helped her into her coat. U O U Doctor Lowell was interrupted in his daily perusal of the market by Ann's cries. Mrs. Lowell came rushing out of the other bed- room. What was that, Henry? Ann yelling about something. I'll have to see what it is. He opened the door and hurried down the stairs, with Mrs. Lowell in close pursuit..Ann was on the front steps, trying to support the unconscious body of Mary Roger. Ma.ry's face was white, and a bloody gash stood out on her forhead. Ann was crying and muttering something. . Oh, Doctor, Mary Roger fell down the front steps. I'm afraid she's hurt herself badly. Doctor Lowell knew Mary, because he had been her family doctor in former years. With the help of his wife and Ann, he was able to carry her to the upstairs guest room, where he dressed her wounds. I-Ie could not tell immediately just how serious the injuries Were. Mrs. Lowell helped to make Mary com- fortable and sat at the bedside through the night. l ' Mary began to mutter in' her delirium. Everything must die-potatoes and even love. Love dies quicker than anything else 3 the doctor and his wife for instance. They loved each other once better than all the world and now-.When I saw that a potato could come to life--I thought perhaps I could come here to live and work--and make my soul alive-. I wish the doctor and his wife could see 'that their life might still send out green shoots. ' It 'was Christmas morning when Mary awoke. Mrs. Lowell was bright' and happy. The doctor came in and put 'his arms' around Mrs. Lowell. . . if - Hurry and get well, he said. Billy has taken Ann away, and we thought that you would like to come here and keep house for us. ' 1 Do you think you would like it? Mrs. Lowell asked. ' , Like it? To work in a small kitchen again! To be with people who are happy! Why, here's my soul coming alive again!

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SOMA NHIS 11 there were British soldiers and ten pounds for rope-stretching information. She did not hesitate. For flfty years her man had led an honorable life. He had never suffered a moral collapse before, and he would not do it because of her, on Christmas Eve. She pulled down the shot gun from over the nre place, threw a shawl over her shoul- ders, and dragged her pain-wracked frame out through the door in pursuit of the traitor. Because of his tortured conscience, he was walking very slowly-taking two steps for- ward and one backward, as they say. She toil- ed painfully up the hill after him. Her cough- ing was drowned in the whistling wind which kicked up the snow around her. Within twenty-live yards she went down on one knee and took aim. Pat, she sobbed. He must know how it happened. , He turned. Her tlnger tightened on the trig- ger. The Christmas present bit so deep that he never heard the shot. She crawled, to his side. Pat, I made you a present of your soul, an' him a present of his body: an' I'll not be needing a Christmas box now. Two souls were reborn on the Birthday. THE ADVENTURES OF BLOIS CA Count of Some Accountl By L. Caroline Borsalino, '31 It was about a year and a half ago that Jacques Blols decided to utilize his most val- uable asset-namely an intimate knowledge of the habits and manners of swanky army of- dcers. He knew them by heart and could as- sume them with ease. His father was a coachman on the estate of a wealthy family in Lyons, and Jacques him- self, while serving in the Imperial Guard, was for a time, an orderly to a real count. The count's name was Monvert, and Jacques ob- served the impression this name made every- where. The count could order what he liked on credit and shop-keepers felt honored when he came to buy from them. Jacques wondered if he could not make a similar impression if he had the same name. He tried it once or twice, just for fun in Paris where he was a taxicab driver, and it worked quite smoothly. Of course, the name alone was not enough. He had to have good clothes, brilliant uni- forms and military decorations. To these he added a monocle set firmly ln his right eye. With this equipment. he was sure, he could live like a real count, and that would be bet- ter than drlvinga taxi. With this idea set tlrm- ly in his mind he bought a ticket to Nice, and launched upon his spectacular career, as Count Jacques Monvert. He took the most expensive suite in the best hotel, donned his uniform and breezlly enter- ed the dining-room on the evening of his arri- val. He was elegant, handsome, a bit rseerved but genial, and spoke his French in short sen- tences and with a commanding tone affected by the officers of the former Imperial Guard. He ordered champagne, and when the propri- etor of the hotel came to ask if Hls Excel- lency was satisfled with everything, Jacques nodded graciously and asked him to recom- mend a reliable automobile house where he might buy a car. There was an initial pay- ment required which Count Monvert ordered to be paid by the hotel clerk and added to his bill. He couldn't be bothered with trlfles. For the balance payment Monvert gave a note, which was readily accepted by the dealer and discounted by the local bank. ' The next day Jacques hired a chauffeur and made a tour about the city. He took luncheon at an exclusive restaurant where the city's most prominent business men assembled. Count Monvert found it easy to make acquaint- a.nces. He received invitations which, however, he did not accept for the time being. He was duly reserved, as became a real arlstocrat who could be a charming companion at the dining table but was particular about his so- cial connections. On the other hand. he made no secret of the fact that he was interested in business. He was an importer of German chemicals, he explain- ed, and was on a buying tour. There was a chemical factory in the city, and Jacques vis- ited it: in fact, he bought a large quantity of chemical products, and gave promissory notes by way of payment, and had his purchases ent to a Berlin address. - ' Two days later Jacques went to Berlin, re- ceived the goods and sold them at a low cash price. On the strength of this, Jacques decid- ed that he wa eminently ntted for the Count's business and made necessary preparations to