North Quincy High School - Manet Yearbook (North Quincy, MA)

Page 15 text:

13 MANET Hazel Borne THE IVORY PAPER KNIFE Beverly Hills, the ho1ne of the silver screen stars, lay simmering in the heat of a. summer 's morning. A dog barked piercingly somewhere, a lawnmower whirred in the distance, and a few high-powered cars whizzed by on the road- way. The sun poured down from a brilliantly blue sky, and a locust sang in a eucalyptus tree that hardly stirred in a faint warm breeze. Spread over a lounge chair, on a cool ver- anda was a boy. He was immaculately attired in white shorts, and through half-closed eyes he surveyed the stretch of green lawn with its white crescent of drive and its big trees. The toe of one of his black and white sport shoes thumped on the tiles with irritating regularity. Aside from that he was entirely still, and on the whole, conveyed the impression that he was either a permanent invalid or a person ex- hausted by heat. Suddenly, inside the house, a telephone jangled loudly. The boy didn't move. The gardener, on his knees among the roses. mopped his perspiring brow, and looked toward the boy. You'd best be after answering that there telephone, Master Nicki, he said. He bore the imposing name of Fyodor Pakinovitch, tho' he spoke with a thick Irish voice. ' Nicki sighed languidly. Oh, all right, tho' it's probably for Chris, he said, and arose slowly, and went towards the door. The tele- phone was growing more insistent as he went. Hello,'7 he said, in a dying voice.i Oh, Chris?-I'll call him! Oh-oh, no, anything for you, Margief, He shouted up the stairs. 4'Oh, Chris! Margie 's on the 'phone! An irate voice floated down, 'cTell her to hold the line! I'm not dressed! That's all right, Nicki assured him. '4She says come just as you are! I can 't, cried Chris, I'1n in the shower. Nicki returned to tl1e telephone. Hello, Margie, Chris says to hold the line-hels tak- ing a shower, that's the noise you hear. He 's awfully noisy. No, that's the lawnmowerf' At that moment nineteen year old, blond, Chris dashed down the stairs. Give me that, you imp! He grabbed the 'phone, where upon Nicki retired into the library to gleefully jiggle the hook of that 'phone up and down, to the indignation of Chris., we LITERARY 919' Fifteen minutes later, a big car was gliding through Beverly Hills, with Nicki sitting be- side the chauffeur, who also bore a Russian name, and who was reputed to be the son of the late Czar of Russia. Certainly, in his dark and handsome face, there was all the pride of the Romanoffs, and he wore his chauffeur's uniform as a prince might wear his. The Thorpes ran their household with Russian serv- ants, at least, those with Russian names. Nicki's real name was Nikolai, but his screen public knew him as Nicki Thorpe. Chris's middle name was Alexovitch, but he never told anyone. Chris was vainly trying to say something, and Nicki, who had installed a siren on the car, rang it every time he heard Chris' voice. At last he stopped and kneeling on the cushions, looked over the back of the seat at his brother. VVhat's this? asked Chris, holding up an object. Its a paper knife, replied Nicki. An ivory one, I bought it the other day. It cost five dollars. t'VVhat do you want a paper knife for? queried Chris. t'It's awfully heavy.'7 The handle was heavily carved in relief, with oriental figures. It seemed to be loaded. ' UI don 't want it. said Nicki. You can have it. 'fWhat would I want it for? said Chris, but nevertheless he put it in his pocket. You shouldn't waste your money on foolish things. You might need that five dollars some dayfl 'fHey, Chris, said Nicki after a few minutes' silence. VVhat did Margie have to say? None of your business, retorted Chris, flushing. Never mind, said Nicki, I know any- way. Look here, said Chris. I don 't, like you. The Doctor said to me 'Chris' you've been blessed by a little brother,' I thought I was then, but now I know I was cursed. How long did it take you to think that one up? flashed Nicki, 4'Did you ever think how I felt when I first looked at you? VVell, I felt positively nauseated! He slid around front again and chattered into the Crown Prince's ear all the rest of the way. At the studio Nicki paired off with his bosom

Page 14 text:

12 MANET lVhat was it that made Karl Schmidt, the little foreign boy, whose parents, although ex- tremely poor, had determined to send him to a good American school, be the very one who. with a happy smile on his usually sad face. walk to the front of the room to receive from the beaming teacher the coveted reward? That was luck. YVhat was it that made the same happy boy lose, on his way home, the money wlnch he received that morning? That was fate. lVhat was it that made Peter Steele. whose parents were equally as poor and who had tried. to the best of his ability to 'earn the money for his parents, watch with a sinking heart another boy earn the much desired prize? That was fate. XYhat was it that made the much disap- pointed Peter, on his way home that evening. ind a well worn purse, bearing the initials K. with the money inside? That was luck. VVhat was it that made Peter, after a battle with his conscience, take to Karl 's humble home and give back to him the money which he had lost? That was love. A XVhat was it that made Karl, with a brilliant light in his eyes, divide equally the money? That was the greatest love of all. Priscilla Xvallace, 9-3. SUNSET The tops of pointed pines arise Against the glowing sunset skies: The sun, a ball of molten gold, Appears to have settled on the crest Of yonder mountain in the west. Lending the sky its brilliant hue lVhich melts above into softest blue. The night-bird callsg its shrill notes wake Echoes far across the lake: No breeze stirs through the woodland dalesg Tl1e stillness of the night prevails: The lake reflects the gold and green And mirrors the beauty of the scene. Sinking. a crimson blaze in the west. The sun now leaves the world at rest: No human voice to break the still, Softly the shadows fall, until The evening star gleams far away. Eclioes cease, 'tis the end of day. Bernice Lyford. VISION Life would be a crystal draught For which through aeons I had sought From a rounded. golden bowl. The world's not so precious. not the whole And after each sweet taste. then I'd raise 1111' eyes and drink again. Till at last when all was done, And all my drops were gone but one. I'd throw my head back with a sigh And. lifting sad eyes to the sky. See a light 119'G1' seen before. Hear celestial music soar. The sound of white rays as they met Till. with the aching glory. my eyes wet, I would drink the last drop up And laughing. throw away the cup. Elizabeth Balcom. 10 CLOUD F ANCIFS Swift. oh swift. thou lady moon. Across the night sky. soft, star-strewn, Phantom forms tlit by you. Hist! Their wisps of gossamer, cloaks of mist XVrapped round them, iioating out behind, Hastening past. Moon. art thou blind? Uh see. they hasten away. away-- Pray. why do you not turn and play? For see. they all sail swiftly by To Fairyland. Turn thou and fly. Oh. whither goest thou, fair moon '? Fie! Play. for day breaks all too soon. Come. hast thou done some wrong. in haste To flee. as though by monsters chased? Ah. stop. fair moon. the night is sweet, The stars are hung: the fairies meet To sing and dance. But thou-oh. tie! So swift. so white. you hasten by. Hazel M. Borne 10

Page 16 text:

14 MANET chum, and Chris went oif looking for Margie. The day passed uneventfully, except when Nicki ruined a scene by trying to knock Chris out and Chris replied by turning his brother over his kneeiand spanking him, Five o'clock, and a thunder shower was com- ing up. Chris and Nicki stood outside the studio gates waiting for the Prince. Chris looked up at the dark threatening sky, and, as an ominous growl of thunder sounded, looked down at his little brother. He suddenly felt fraternal. How about a soda, Nicki ? he asked. Nicki grinned. Lead me to it! he exclaimed. Right, said Chris, and they started across the broad boulevard. At this moment it was practically deserted. A big car came rolling along and slowed down beside them. A man in the front seat leaned out. Are you Chris Thorpe? he asked, in a rough voice. VVhy, yes. answered Chris, puzzled. 'tYou're wanted at police headquarters, said the man, flashing a badge. A fellow was brought in and he had something of yours. You 're needed to identify it. Something of mine? said Chris. brows knitted. t'iVhy, I don 't know-.H You'd better go, Chris, said Nicki at his elbow. HAH right, said Chris. 'tl suppose l'd better. But you stay here and tell the Prince. He started to climb in, but Nicki saw some- thing that Chris didn 't. the glint of a revolver in the stranger 's hand. Nicki shouted a warn- ing and jumped onto the running board, but a rough hand knocked him off, and he was sitting in the middle of the boulevard looking after the receding car. A policeman came running, and to him Nicki told his hectic story. Chris had been kidnapped. k ' Ten minutes later, Nicki, seated between a couple of policemen in a speeding car, related the story. There was more than one car out. It was raining furiously and was already dark. and Nicki shivered from fear and cold. Speed- ing along a dark narrow road arched over by trees, the car suddenly slowed down, ,gave several snorts, and promptly died. The police- man at the wheel uttered several choice epithets, and Nicki said, I'll go up to this house and get some water if you wa11t me to. All right, said the sergeant. You men get out and look around. Nicki started up a rough path bordered by bushes, with a flash- light. He fell down once or twice and bruised his bare knees, but kept on. Suddenly, on the steps before the house, the ray of the flashlight fell upon something lying there. Nicki's heart gave a great start, for it was the ivory paper knife. He picked it up gingerly and put it in his pocket. Then Chris was in there! With his heart thumping furiously, he rangethe bell. There was a deep silence, broken only by the sound of rain. Suddenly the big door was opened, a11d a maid looked at him suspiciously. l'd like some water for a car, he said, hoping she wouldn't perceive his fright. 'tOh, come in, she said. Nicki went in, and sat uncomfortably on the edge of a chair. He looked about. and saw what he was looking for, a confusion of wet footprints on the stairs. He looked about for a minute and then steadily crept up the big stair-case, looking around at each step. He was terribly frightened. He tracked the footprints to a door upstairs, and with his hand on the knob looked around the dimly lighted corridor with apprehension, then he slowly opened the door. But within there was just a barely furnished room, and there the footprints vanished, and there was someone coming. With one bound, he was across the room and pulling at the casement window. Escape was his only motive. A flash of light- ning illumined the garden below, it was a long way, but he climbed out onto the trellis and started down. He fell half the way, and got up stilily, 'il could have picked a softer place, he observed, and then began to walk about the house. lt was a long way, but he went steadily, and quietly 'til he came to' a window from which issued a faint glimmer. 'A quick survey with his light showed a window seat with heavy hangings beyond. He climbed in ,as quietly as he could and peeped through the curtains. What he saw made him draw back. quickly. For there was a man sitting at at desk, back to him, and sitting before him was Chris. Chris face was white and his nervous fingers drummed a devil tattoo on the arms of his chair. ' W 'tStop that drumming, said the man, f'And come over here. I want you to write a note to 7 .' your parents., ' A A Chris obeyed l1l111,E:lI1Cl sat at the desk. The man gave him pen and paper. Write a note,l' he said, f'And ask for thirty thousand dollars. Read it aloud to me as you write it. Nicki strained his ears to hear Chris' voice. His voice came low and steady. I'1l write to my brother. He can get the money and not tell my parents. 'Dear Nicki', he wrote slowly, 'Take this note and my bank book and draw thirty thousand dollars. Don't tell Dad and Mother. Signed Christobal Johann Thorpe'. Nicki 's heart leaped. Chris had signed the wrong name! Smart Chris! Then Nicki saw his opportunity. The man's back was toward him. Very well ! Nicki moved out steadily and suddenly brought down the loaded handle of the paper knife on the ma.n's head. With a groan he slumped forward, and Chris jumped up. t'Nicki! he cried. Sh! Sh ! cautioned Nickil Come quickly I