Newport High School - Blunita Yearbook (Newport, PA)

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THE BLUE AND WHITE 9 door ard ran 1o the stable where she saddled her favorite horse. She 'vaulted into the saddle and spurred her horse to a gallop. There were many dangers connected with this ride as there were English men hiding nearly everywhere, but Betsy only thought of her mis-slon which was to go to Boston and warn George Washington. While collecting her scattered wits her horse suddenly stumbled and fell, breaking his leg and throwing Betsy to the side of the road. She was not hurt but her horse was in great pain. She drew her pistol from a pocket in her dress and shot the horse. She did this without a tear because it was for her country. She was now over halfway and without delaying she started to run as fast as possible. Finally she came to a friend's home where she got another horse. At last she reached Boston and after much persuading, a servant led her to interview Washington. She told him her mission in a few sentences and he at once dispatched a regiment of Continentals. These troops came upon and captured the English regiment a couple miles from Boston. It was in this way that Betsy helped her country and made for herself a lifelong friend in George Washington. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SYLVIA By DOROTHY TUCKER, ’27. Dick and Sylvia Benner had been pronounced man and wife only a few weeks before they took possession of a cozy bungalow in the Seven Mountains. They were very happy, until one day when Dick came home from work Sylvia was not at the doorway to meet her husband. Thinking that she was probably hiding to scare him. he tiptoed into the house and began to search for her. He continued searching for some time, but all in vain for Sylvia was not in the house. Dick could not understand why Sylvia had gone away and not told him. Finally he decided to go to their neighbor’s to see if she had gone there. Dick had only gone a short distance when he saw something lying on the ground. Upon looking further he noticed that it was the revol'ver which he had given Sylvia to use in case of an emergency when he was not at home. Dick became very much excited for upon approaching the spot where the revolver lay, he noticed large spots of blood. He hurried back to the bungalow and telephoned for help. When it arrived he began searching for Sylvia, who he thought had been murdered and carried away. After many hours of search, the party returned to the house. Dick was almost wild and paced the floor until almost exhausted. IFlnally dawn came and Dick, determined to find Sylvia, again

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8 THE BLUE AND WHITE till ----------- “For pity’s sake, Betty, quit screaming and tell me what’s the matter,” cried Louise by Betty's bed side. The Indians! The Indians!” screamed Betty. Then gaining clear consciousness, and realizing where she was, she looked up at her sister and said, “Oh, Louise, why did I ever read that Indian novel before coming to bed? I should have known better, but oh, what a horrible dream!” A GIRL OF 76 By DOROTHY SWARTZ, ’29. Betsy Jane Merideth lived in a small town, fifteen miles from Boston. Betsy was a rather tall girl with black, curly hair and dark, flashing eyes. She was very daring for a girl of 1774. There were mostly Tories living in this town, her father being the foremost one. Betsy was a patriot through and through. Oft times the wives of these Tories would get together and discuss Betsy, saying that sometime she would bring misfortune upon her Tory father and all his associates. • • Two years have elapsed and we find Betsy still living with her father; the Declaration of Independence signed, and the preparations for war with the Mother country were being accomplished. One cold day in November, Betsy was home baking, when all of a sudden she heard a cry which arose from the throats of hundreds of men. Looking out she beheld many Redcoats. They marched on until they reached the door of the Merideth home. The leader jumped from his horse and came up the path to the house. He rapped at the door which was opened by Betsy. She made a very pretty picture standing there with her cheeks flushed and her eyes blazing. After entering and shutting the door he demanded where Mr. MeTideth was and when Betsy said he was away the officer called to three of his friends to come within as there was a beaut” in here. These men came in and asked not very gently for food and drink. This made Betsy’s hatred for the English burn more deeply. She resolved there that they would not get anything over on an American. That night when her father returned home and was entertaining the four Englishmen, she stole into the back room and stationed herself at the door. Her father thinking that she had gone to bed drew his chair near his visitors’. Then they planned to march quietly to Boston that night and capture the American Army. When Betsy heard this she quietly left the house by the back

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10 THE BLUE AND WHITE went out to search the mountain, but returned with very little hope of finding her. While eating his supper Dick’s attention was drawn to the sound of an automobile horn. He rose from the table and looked out of the window. There in the car sut Sylvia with her uncle Jim Stephens. Oh, Dick, came a sweet voice. Dick came running to the door and cried, “Where in the world have you been, Sylvia?” “Oh! there you go again, always worrying about me,” snapped Sylvia. Dick stood motioniess near the car. “Why, Sylvia,” he said in a half whisper, “I thought you had been murdered.” “Murdered!” cried Sylvia, “why, what do you mean?” Dick told them to come into the house and he would tell them his- experience. After Sylvia and her uncle Jim had eaten their supper, Dick told them how he had come home from work only to find Sylvia gone. Then how he went in search of her, finding only her revolver and blood spots on the ground. Dick, whose face was almost colorless, sat staring at Sylvia. After he had finished talking, Sylvia burst out in laughter. “Well,” said Sylvia, I’m here and we owe It all to uncle Jim. Sylvia then told how she had decided to go over to visit their neighbor. While on her way she saw something coming toward her. Upon looking the second time, she was satisfied in saying it was a bear. Having her revolver with her, she fired, hurting the bear’s front paw, thus causing the blood spots on the ground. Just as all this was happening along came her uncle Jim in his car. Seeing the position she was in he bade her hurry and get in the car which she did. Her uncle then asked her to go and visit with him and her aunt Ann until the following day. To this she consented, not thinking that she had not left word for Dick of her going until she had reached her uncle’s house. Upon retiring she discovered she did not have her revolver and decided she must have dropped it while hurrying to her uncle’s car. After Sylvia’s story ,Dick felt more relieved but made Sylvia promise she would never go aw’ay again without telling him. SPOTTY By MARGARET CARNS, ’29. “Spotty! Yrh, Spots! Here boy, here!” The owner of the name looked up eagerly, wagged his tail and rushed straight into the arms of a small ragged boy of about twelve. “Thought you wasn’t coming back, Spotty boy! Wouldn’t leave me, would ye? I’d pre'ty near die without yc!”