Muncie Central High School - Magician Yearbook (Muncie, IN)

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Won For Himself ,Ebb-QQQTQ H, motherfj said Mary 562, Ellen gleefully, as she ttf Hr' h d ri 1 lk t 073. M rus e up .ic wa o where Mrs. Ashby was sitting on the veranda, I have the best news, guess,,what! ' f' A Q ,letter from Frank, I suppose, said her mother, with a teasing smile, I think nothing else could bring quite such et glow into your cheeks. t'Yes, said Mary Ellen, unabashed, and he is coming, yes, coming here, can you believe it, mother? He says he has been promoted and had his sal- ary raised and I am to go back with him if I will, and of course I shall. IIe's coming on the eighteenth of May, and this is only the twelfth of April. Oh, my, what a long time! she sighed dis- mally, but was smiling again the next minute as she said brightly: f'But think, mother, we shall always be to- gether then, forever and forever, drawing the words out and dwelling on them lovingly, Hand I shall not be so lonesome until he comes anyway, per- haps, for he says that a friend of his, a Mr. Ralph Graham, is to be in our city for some time and asks that I treat him well and make him welcome, as he is a very nice young man and also a very dear friend of his. Mr. Graham is to come on the fifteenth. Just think, that is Wednesday, and he will stay until Frank comes. Oh, I do hope I shall like him, won't I have a perfectly lovely time?,' Si' 3? SG S12 3? :lk :lk Mary Ellen lived in joyful anticipa- tion the next two days. On Wednesdayr afternoon she was in the library writ- ing a letter to Frank. She was inter- rupted presently by a servant who an- nounced a visitor. Mary Ellen looked at the card on the tray and read- Mr. Ralph Virgil Graham. She was so ex- cited that she forgot to tell the servant whether or not she would receive the visitor. After waiting some minutes for her answer, he said, respectfully, Well, miss, what shall I say? Oh,,' she said, recovering her com- posure, show him in, James, by all meansfl To the parlor, miss?,' Yes-No, bring him in here. The servant bowed and departed. Mary Ellen ,pushed the letter which she had been writing into a drawer of the library table. She had barely fin- ished when she found herself facing the tall, handsome stranger. HI have the pleasure of addressing Miss Ashby, have I not? he exclaimed, advancing toward her. Yes, Mr. Graham, I am so glad you have come,'l she said, cordially extend- ing her hand. Please sit down. He did so, and she seated herself directly opposite him. The conversa- tion was carried on in a pleasant in- formal manner and when the caller left late in the afternoon they felt that they had known each other for years. Being thus on intimate terms from the beginning, they enjoyed each oth- er's company a great, deal. Ralph, as she soon came to call him, called at the Ashby home quite frequently at the invitations of Mary Ellen and her parents. S-carcely a day passed that they did not seedy each other. He took her out walking, driving and to many social functions.

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THE MUNSONIAN. 25 of all the music. He could play but his soul longed for the tender feeling in his father's melody. The servants, Why were they so good and yet so silent. The low spoken words. Ilis father's letter today had said he would come soon. What was the matter as he felt so sad when he really should be happy. That evening he started toward the old cathedral. 'l'l'he awakening will come, he re- peated. Father does not understand, he said, talking to a little bird that was balancing itself lightly on a little hush by the walk. He passed some little tenement chil- dren, dirty and poorly dressed, playing in the park. Ile felt a vague longing to be a child once more and play with the same care free light-heartedness that these children did. llis attention was then attracted by two little girls in the charge of a nurse. Ile noticed their wistful faces as they watched these children playing in the sand. He won- dered if they also were unhappy. Other people he passed all seemed to have a note of sadness about them. Ile entered the dim choir of the old cathedral. lle slipped to the old organ bench. Ile had been playing for quite a while when a noise at his side caused him to look up. The old family ser- vant with a grave pitying face, said: 'LMaster lllarold, your father passed away this afternoon. 'l The boy's head sank to the keys. Father, my father dead, he Whis- pered. The cathedral chimes tolled the Au- gelus. llow long he lay there he never knew. Presently in the dim light he raised his head, his fingers slipped over the keys in that familiar melody his father had played that last evening, but the music lived, it sighed, it throbbed with the ache of a human heart. As the last echoes died away with a beautiful light dawning in his face and a joyful sob he 1l1llI'Illl1l't'll as if to someone beside him, Dear father, it has come at last, the master touch. Ruth Williams, 1912. CAST OF A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

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THE MUNSONIAN. 27 After a time Mary Ellen realized that she thought more of him than she cared to own, even to herself. She was greatly troubled when this unwelcome discovery forced itself upon her. She thought of how it must hurt Frank Lester, should he hear of it, she thought also of how true he had always been to her, he had never given her even the slightest reason for mistrust- ing him-and now, now, what was she doing. She pitied herself and won- dered what she should do. She knew that she loved Ralph Graham, and since that 11ew love was burning within her, she was not so sure that she still loved Frank as she had when they had parted four years ago, when Mr. Ashby had been forced to move west in an at- tempt to regain his failing health, tak- ing his wife and daughter with him. Mary Ellen brooded over her troubles continually. She decided that she must not see so much of Ralph, and tried her best to live up to her decision. She declined his invitations to walk or drive under one pretext or another, although it hurt to have to do so. Mr. Graham noticed the change and, seeing that his company was evidently not desired, although he imagined that he knew the trouble, concluded that it was best for him to stay away. He had done pretty Well for a week or so, but could not conquer the desire to see her longer, so one beautiful day, the day before Frank Lester was to ar- rive, he called at her home proposing that they take a walk. She was so taken by surprise that she had no ex- cuse ready, and her desire to accept was so strong that she found herself saying, Yes, Ralph, with pleasure, before she really knew what she was doing. By Mary Ellen 's suggestion they de- cided to Walk up the mountain. They walked on and on, talking gaily all the time for both were in excellent spirits. They had Walked far up the slope, and were now on a sort of flat plateau. They stopped here to rest before starting to descend. Isn't it delightful to be here?l' said Mary Ellen, as she glanced around her, then down, far, far below at the busy valley. Yes, dear, heavenly-with you, said Ralph softly. Mary Ellen started. It was the first time that he had ever taken the liberty to address her in endearing terms. Mr, Graham, she exclaimed in confusion, stopped-and could not go further. She was blushing crimson. Seeing this he leaned forward and kissed her before she had a chance to resist. 'tMr. Grahamf, she said accusingly, and there was no faltering of the clear, cold voice now, I believed you a gen- tleman until this day. You understand perfectly well my relations to Frank Lester-your friend as well as mine, and now-oh, what will he say-H The tears sprang to her eyes-she choked and turned her face away, proud and defiant. Ralph Graham gently took her hand. 'tMary Ellen,', he said softly,- Frank will say nothing only words of love. I am Frank Lester. Look at me, dear, and say that you believe me. She turned her beautiful eyes upon him, full of innocent wonder. You,,' she said, looking at him long and stead- ily, you, Frank? Yes, I swear I am, and to prove-it, I will give you this,l' he said, taking a small band of gold from his pocket and slipping it upon her finger. Is not that the same one you gave me four years ago to keep until we should meet again? She looked at the ring a moment and smiled at the recollection. Yes, but why did you--why have you been de- ceiving melll' she cried petulantly. Because, dear, I Wanted to Win you- Which you have done Frank, dear, she whispered softly. And now we Will leave them, stand- ing on the high plateau with the world before them. Esther Moore, '15.