Milford High School - Oak Lily and Ivy Yearbook (Milford, MA)

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cS OAK. LILY AND IVY. overlooked by the other worthy gentleman in his hasty departure. Thanks to your arrival at the psychological moment, I am-” “Pardon me,” said Henry Ellis, “but I think we better hurry to town with the money and this man. I saw a farmhouse back there a short distance and perhaps we can secure a wagon.” The wagon was easily obtained and, with George driving, they set out with the surly prisoner securely tied. In reply to a question of Professor Smith, Henry Ellis vouchsafed the following explanation: “George and Will asked me to go with them but I was late so they set off without me. I followed them and when I saw you a little ahead of me I began to be suspicious. I kept behind you until we reached the sharp bend in the road, where I took a short cut through the fields and headed off George and Will. We saw the men ahead and thought perhaps you might think they were the boys. If you hadn’t followed them we could have had the laugh on you for we were hiding in the underbrush. When you stopped and hesitated, then we followed you at a safe distance. The rest you know, sir.” “I want to say that was a mean joke we played on you, Mr, Smith,” com¬ menced Will, “and I want to apologize. It was all my fault.” “ No, I thought and planned it,” broke in George, “it’s all my fault.” “I did the typewriting,” said Will, “so I guess both of us are equally to blame.” With a smile as a token of forgiveness, Professor Smith threw the type- v r itten sheets offered him into the bushes as they rode along. At the town lockup their prisoner was given over to the authorities and the money placed in safety to await further developments in the case. The trip to the Professor’s boarding place was made in silence. At last Henry Ellis remarked in an enthusiastic voice: “If you had only hit that robber again in the jaw Professor, I think you would have knocked him cold.” And Professor Smith, being a wise man after all, forbore to comment up¬ on the English of the compliment so sincerely given. Eliot Reeby, ‘17. A BUNCH OF VIOLETS. Marian sat by the window and gazed mournfully at the dripping world out¬ side. Ever since early morning, the deluge had continued until the earth was a dreary waste of oozing earth and cloud obscured sky. Everything was cheer¬ less and melancholy,- in perfect harmony with her own sad mood she thought. Dear me, how it does pour,” she sighed, “it will simply spoil the Junior Prom tonight, but,” with a sigh, “that needn’t bother me, I can’t go anyway, I do think father is just too mean to forbid my going,” and she tossed her pretty head rebelliously.

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OAK, LILY AND IVY. “I tell you what,” said Barker, “tomorrow is a holiday and we will cele¬ brate it by going out in the country and holding a feast. We will take the papers and make a bonfire of them and humbly thank Fate for being so kind to us. We will take some lunch too and have a fine feast.” “Will we let any other fellows into the secret?” asked Williams. “Well, no. Possibly we might let Ellis know about it. He wouldn’t squeal. Tomorrow at ten we will start.” The voices were cut off as the boys turned the corner. The offended Prosessor arose early the next morning and formed his plans. He had no idea where they would go but he strolled aimlessly about the streets looking for them. At last when he was about to give up he saw Barker standing outside the village bake-shop- Williams soon came out loaded with bundles. He followed them cautiously, taking care to keep out of range of any chance look they might cast backward. For some inexplicable reason they lin¬ gered in front of the village high school until quarter past ten. They then started off walking rather swiftly. The Professor puffed and panted during the walk that he had forced himself to take in following them. After two miles of hard walking, as they disappeared around a bend about a quarter of a mile a- head of him, he looked about but could see no one. Finally, a great distance ahead, he saw two figures.. After more tramping the two figures turned into the woods. Professor Smith followed. He saw them bend over and scoop out a small hole in the ground. Suddenly doubts began to assail him. Those two figures were far too large to be Barker and Williams. Determined to find out if he were mistaken in their identity, he walked silently and swiftly toward them. “Young gentlemen, are you preparing your sac ifice?” he snapped out. “Eh!” answered a rough voice, and to his astonishment he discovered that the two were not placing typewritten copies but bank notes in the hole in the ground. And furthermore they were not Barker and Willi ams. “Robbers!” he gasped. “What, you have followed us!” said the rough voice. “Bill, we’d better give this meddler what he deserves,” interrupted the other man quickly. The two men advanced on the Professor and Bill grasp¬ ed him roughly. In spite of his resistance he was being gradually overpowered when suddenly he was released from their grasp. Bill and his companion start¬ ed to run but Will Barker dashing past the Professor brought down the man Bill by a fierce tackle. The two other boys dashed past the Professor in pursuit of the other man but he had made a good start and had completely dissappeared so their search was fruitless. Meanwhile the Professor helped Will Barker guard the prostrate man whose struggles ceased when the others returned. They were George Williams and Henry Ellis, “Well boys,” began the Professor, we have evidently discovered the per¬ petrators of the robberies of the last month. We also have considerable money

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OAK, LILY AND IVY. 9 “My dear daughter,” sternly began her father, who had just entered, “you know perfectly well my prejudice against your attending public entertainments at your age ’ “But” pleaded Marian,” Aunt Martha told me I might go, and I had plan¬ ned so much on this, my first dance. Please.” “Your Aunt Martha, no doubt, planned on my absence to-night. But I am glad that I completed my business sooner than I anticipated and am able to pre¬ vent your disobedience. I have given my decision. Say no more about it.” “But father,” stammered Marian, “I have already accepted Robert’s invita¬ tion and I hate-” But the only sound that answered her was that of the closing door. Now Marian loved to dance but she knew her father and his indomitable will, and with a heart-drawn sigh she resumed her contemplation of the dreary landscape. But sitting by a window and seeing nothiug but rain-swept streets soon became monotonous and she looked around her for something to divert her attention. Her piano faced her from the corner, she scorned that. The book¬ case stared at her, she made a grimace at it and rose and ran lightly upstairs. Ever since childhood when sad or depressed, she would gain a solace in exam¬ ining the belongings of her dear, dead mother. She seated herself on the floor of the room devoted to the memory of her long departed mother, with a huge cretonne-covered chest before her and reverently lifted from its depths now a silk shawl, then a lace handkerchief, again a coquettish, ivory fan, all speaking eloquently of their former owner. From the very bottom of the case, she lifted a faded bouquet of flowers. “Why,” she mused, “I wonder who gave these to Mother.” At the sound of a door opening, she turned and cried “Oh, Father were these mother’s, and who gave them to her.” Her father advanced towards her with a curious expression on his stern countenance. He took the withered blossoms in his hands and stood looking upon them with a tender light in his eyes such as she had never seen there be¬ fore. His thoughts strayed back to the long- forgotten past- Well he remem¬ bered the night he had presented these violets to his youthful sweetheart, well he remembered her sweet face as she thanked him. Even now he recalled the bitter disappointment for them both. With a sigh of regret he turned to his ex¬ pectant daughter and said dreamily, “They were your mother’s violets that I sent her for the academy dance long ago.” “Oh! and did she wear them and did she have a good time?” eagerly ques¬ tioned Marian. “No, her father was a stern man who disliked frivolity of any kind. He was unkind enough to forbid her going. Why” he stopped suddenly. Had not he been equally thoughtless and forgotten his own youth and desire for pleasure and jollity? “Dearlittle girl,” he continued tenderly, “I too forgot. See, it has stopped raining, the sun is already beginning to force its way through the clouds for the dance, little one, go and enjoy yourself while you can, that is what youth is for,” and he patted her carressingly on the head .