Mondovi High School - Mirror Yearbook (Mondovi, WI)

Page 11 text:

THE HIGH SCHOOL MIRROR 7 AN AFRICAN POCAHONTAS. A clear, tropical mo : hone on the “King George II” as she s iled calmly throuj li the peaceful waters toward the shores trf Africa. Land was in sight and preparations were being made for the struggle with the natives, which was sure to ensue. To Godfrey Grahme, on his first trip to Africa on the Engl'sh slave sh:p. th s was a wonderful voyage. As the young EngPshman leaned over the railing his mind was busy with the perplexmg queston of the slave trade. Somewhere he had received the vague idea that these negroes were not mere animals to be isolated from their people at the will of the English traders. So he sought the side of Peter Scrim, an aged Dutch sailor, who had kept careful watch of the young English boy. “God bless and keep King George II, exclaimed the old sailor fervently, as the boy reached him. Til's usual exclamation by Peter was considered a sort of pun, for it was never known whether he meant the King of England or the ship on which they sailed. “Peter,” the young man said, “I want to go ashore.” “Aye, aye, so do we,” the sailor replied. The ship then dropped anchor and soon all talking ceased, but still young Grahme sat by the old sailor’s side. “Letter turn in,” the old man suggested briefly. “I want to go ashore,” the other repeated. Just then the first mate came forward. “The captain has ordered me to take a few men and go ashore to look the place over before daylight.” he announced. Godfrey Grahme was on his feet in an instant. “Til go,” he cried. Silently they embarked in a small boat and set off for the shore, five men in all, three middle-aged sailors, , the male and Godfrey Grahme. As he landed for the first time on the shores of Africa he felt a wild desire to shout for joy, but restrained himself. The mate spoke to the sailor, “John, take Grahme and VVhisby and follow the stream a few miles in search of a settlement. Brune and I will take this branch. Be back no later than s:x o’clock in the morning.” And with Brune as companion the first mate disappeared into the night, as he followed a branch of the river in search of native dwellings. Stealthily John, Wlrsby, and Grahme advanced for several rods when they found it necessary to ford the stream. Still farther on Grahme paused with, “I’ve lost my lucky stone.” “You’ll lose your head next, growled the old sailor. “I'm going back after it.” was the response. “Stay,” said the sailor—then, “well go, but hurry back.” It had been the lucky stone in his family for years and he -could not be the one to lose it, for with it he would also lose the luck of the Grahme family. It was a simple thing to find the place where they' had crossed, and not far from there, glimmering faintly. Grahme found his lucky stone. Thankfully he pocketed its and started back. Coming to the place where he had before forded the river, he decided to go on without crossing, thinking that he could catch the others sooner. At last he reached a marshy spot and for some

Page 10 text:

6 THE HIGH SCHOOL MIRROR asked and then, with a smile upon his lips, he whispered, ‘Carlotta,’ and was gone. e cont nued our search for the girl without result. Your story and the mentioning of a picture told me that, at last, I had found you.” For answer, the other rose and extinguished the lights. Stepping to the fireplace, she touched a tiny bulb. A panel of the mantel opened noiselessly, and in the opening was a picture of a youth and maiden, looking for all the world as if the originals stood before the breathless group. The flames fell flickeringly over the scene and at times brought into startling vividness the extraordinary beauty of the picture. For a moment the girl stood motionless before it and then exclaimed. exultantly, ‘‘Yes, I am Carlotta. See! it is Lionel and Carlotta! No one spoke. All eyes were riveted on the opening in the mantel, riveted on that marvelous picture of youth and beauty. At last the spell was broken. All eyes wandered from the picture to the girl beside it. She was leaning forward eagerly, one hand slightly raised, the other clasping the violin. In a voice scarcely above a wh'sper, they heard her say, “Listen! I hear again the waves as they lap against the shore: I see the moonbeams flit across the silvery lake; I hear in the distance the mournful cry of the whippoorwill, and mingling with the music of the night are the strains of a violin, and Lionel's voice, singing softly, sadly, and for me alone. It is a farewell song. Come. I will play it for you, just as he taught it me.” She nestled the violin lovingly against her cheek and with trembling fingers drew the bow across the instrument. The room was filled with music; vvierdly, uncannily, the tones rang out. At first, they were wild and despairing, speaking of untold anguish at parting, then gradually they grew softer, and, as they died away into silence, breathed a calm restfulness, like that which comes after the storm. The music ceased. The girl lifted her head and seemed to listen. “Hark, what is that? Is it but the whispering of the p nes, or is it-- Yes, yes, it it he; he is waiting, I hear him calling for me to come. Lionel, I am coming —coming—coming!” The violin slipped to the floor unnoticed, Carlotta stood, hands outstretched to the picture, and eyes soft and tender, looking into the beyond where the others could see not. Slowdv she sank back in ber chair and lay motionless. Without, the storm had ceased, and within, the room brightened and filled with a heavenly radiance that fell gently, protectingly, over the bowed figure. Caryl Courtnay sprang to her feet and with a quick movement flooded the room with light. Bending over the st’ll form she called, “Carlotta, Carlotta!” The white lips did not answer. Again she pleaded, but the figure remained motionless. The only sound in the room was the last faint chime of the vdlage bell, tolling out the hour of midnight, for, with the passing of Christmas day, Carlotta had gohe to meet her lover.—Mamie Magadance. ’14. Statement of the Ownership, Management, Circulation, Etc., of High School Mirror, published every six weeks at Mondovi, Wis., required by the Act of August 24, 1912. Name of Editor, Edgar Earrington, Mondovi, Wis. Business Manager, Paul Walker, Mondovi, Wis. Publisher, Mondovi Higli Sehool, P. F. Neverman, Principal Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th ay of September, 1912. II. A. WHELAN, Notary Public.

Page 12 text:

rHE HIGH SCHOOL MIRROR s distance it was necessary to avoid the stream and when at 1 .st lie came back to tlie bank, he did no; know that he had passed his companions, who were only a few rods away across the stream. 1 hi he ran. At last the land grew so damp that he crossed the creek. The air was cool and pleasing and he did not realize how far he had traveled. 1'inally despairing of catch ng them lie sat down for a time beside the stream and fell asleep. lie awoke to find daylight approaching and arising, lie decided to go back to the shore. He determined, however, to climb a hill nearby and take a look at the surround ng country. Somehow, and he never could explain it in after years, a slight sound caused him to turn and immediately he was Jelled by a blow on the head by a large and sayage native. W hen he recovered consciousness he was lying in a rude hut. Bes;de him sat a native clothed in a dress of material resembling burlap, and woven rushes. Godfrey Gralime had often seen ladies of nobility in England, but never one whom he remembered as long as that African I’rincess. Around her arms hung great hoops of beaten gold, quite dazzling against her ebonv skin. Lumps of coral, twisted together with gold, hung from her neck. I ler ankles, too, were richly adorned, hrom a stone vessel she sprinkled water on his face. This was the first white man she had ever seen. Gralime tried to arise, but a warrior Irom beside the door stepped forward with threatening glance and the Princess pushed her patient back. lie settled down quietly. His head ached from the terrible blow, and now that the sun had risen to some height it was uncomfortably warm. The man did not think of danger in his position, for he expected his friends to appear at an moment. It was not until he saw the warrors setting a huge post, that he wondered what they were doing. Soon from a neighboring hut appeared a large and savage man. His o'lv black skin fairly glistened in the sunl ght. Like the girl, he“toas decked with gold and coral. In his hand lie carried a golden staff, and at his approach the warriors bowed unt'l their heads touched the stands, for this was an African King. He entered the hut and curiously examined the white stranger. When Gralime looked again toward the stake he saw that heaps of wood had been piled around it, and with s ckening horror, he realized his fate. Then the woman sprang up and stood before the King and talked hurried]v and exc'tedly to him, but his hard face did not relax. He spoke to the warrior , and they half dragged, half carried Gralime toward the stake. The hoarse cry and the pleading tone of the Princess ceased and she threw herself before the King. For a moment he paused, then proceeded toward the stake. Swiftly the Princess arose, and entering a hut, returned with a child which she placed on the fuel before the captive stranger. It was evident that the child was to be sacrificed with the Englishman. A look of anger filled the old King's face, but suddenly he pushed the pleading girl aside and with his own hand unbound the captive stranger and set him free. Gralime reached the ship to find that the crew had captured a great manv natives. Niev're so plentiful that we only take the handsomest,” laughed the first mate. I he next day they captured the settlement where Gralime had been a captive. One by one the natives were forced to file past the captain and he chose the strongest and best. Toward