Northeast High School - Nor Easter Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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12 OF' QELSIQI' room they read the pitiful story. The mother was quite dead, but in her hand was a hastily written message: In my dying helplessness I have sent my darling Diana to find a kind lady who will take her home and be good to her. I pray that she is safe. Diana is not born of a common woman -I am a noblewoman by blood- daughter of wealthy citizens of Ca- tania, Italy. I eloped with an Amer- ican, who deserted me after we came here. I have tried-my God, how I have tried! I only hope Diana may not know the anguish of her mother's heart.. Keep her-someone-love herf' That was all. Celia's heart throbbed and she struggled for self-control. Diana ! she murmured, Dian.a! For several seconds she sat with the little orphan clasped tightly in her arms, deeply absorbed in thought. Then, with a little catch in her breath, she cried, My Diana ! In an instant she was standing before the officer, who had been making investigations. Un- der the circumstances- she began, her face- all aglow, I-it-is apparent she has no one to claim her-no one but me ! she finished with enthusiasm. A few words passed between them, a contract written and signed, and Celia found herself rushing once more down the busy street-but not alone! Light footsteps in the corrider, a door thrust open, a light flashed on and a tiny form placed on the floor. Celia spread her arms, her glance en- veloping the now transformed apart- ment. '!Our home ! she exclaimed, and then, taking Diana's chubby face between her hands, laughed happily. My own! My very, very own ! All that evening she lived in a world of hope and love, dreaming of the fu- ture. Diana was radiant with content and followed Celia around with as much devotion and satisfaction as though she had lived there always, At last Celia tucked her in bed and bend- ing over her whispered a grateful prayer. Life seemed suddenly very u . A bell Yallg- Celia hurried eagerly to the front door to find Mr. and Mrs. Harland, a college friend and her hus- band. My dear! exclaimed Adele, how radiant you look tonight. Perhaps she's in love ! laughed her husband as they removed their wraps. I ,am ! burs-'t Celia. She's the dearest bit of humanity one ever spied ! VVho? Wliat do you mean? asked her friend. Shh-! Come see- was the an- swer. Diana, who had not yet fallen asleep, smiled up into three faces, each with a different expression. There was the familiar one filled with proud delight and love, that of the man, with admiration and longing, and the other had a strange look of surprise, adora- tion, and jealous despair-the despair that comes to one who yearns daily for that which she cannot have. This, little Diana did not understand but reached up her tiny arms to be taken up. Thirty minutes later Celia closed the bedroom door gently and turned sweetly to Adele, Don't you just love her? I'm-why, what's the matter? For Adele was leaning heavily against the mantle, her head buried in her arms. I!t's the child! she sobbed. Love her, I idolize every inch of the little cherub and, oh, Celia, I want her! There was a brief silence dur- ing which Celia's heart stood still. Then like a knife these words pierced her very soul Celia ! cried Adele, her eyes growing big, Let me have Di- ana ! Another dreadful silence, then Adele burst forth in a torrent of in- coherent words. Celia, I have yearned for a darling of my own. Al- ways longing, hoping-oh, you do not know how I have waited, hoping that some day I would find the little one of my dreams! She turned pointing silently to the bedroom door. My Little One ! muttered Celia, sinking into a chair, vaguely realizing that Adele was on the floor beside her, WCCPIUS and lilughing. Mr, Harland wa bar con loo eye Dia YO! adv una tho her whi chil CKBt hav cou inte iool hou IJ G tint Dad deai HYO hav' not Celi ofte wor that the deer siler CCD up ! sona I UI L Klxi fire.' .HA mimi Ii You' G eight

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-- - a - ,vw.fve.-s s-1'r+:w GH-'izi-253:25-EIEQQS1 5-5:33-L l.?.F,Tf.3g,2fgg,ZZIf.2gT '- r pri- fson rays :bel- :ket :hen tried eck- s of ' his be- h of vays intl, vig- for al- me, t rid v al- miss lndy, :ross -who lsed? fe of QV 3 ' l na sg ten, 2 Ulf, QELSTQP Tote of Apology Due to a regrettable error the name of the author of The Triumph of Heredity was omitted in the last Nor'easter. VVe wish to apologize to Miss Laurene Thompson, who is the author of that excellent story. ' EDITOR. Diana ELQISE BLAKESLY. A sultry September afternoon, crowded city streets seething with tired, home-bound business folks-- and one wee child, all alone. Two chubby little arms reached upward, clutching, at a passing dress, two big brown eyes sought the owner's face appealingly, but the little arms were brushed off and the figure swept on. Shoved about, pushed aside and bc- wildered, the little one stumbled on, calling in quaint, childish accents, Fin a kinker-ady to tate a ma home! Absorbed in their own affairs, no one heeded. But out of the hurrying crowd came Celia Burt. Celia was lonesome. 'fAh,,' she sighed. Ts there no one to care, no one to really call my own? For the last three years her life had been only as a tool in the cosmopolitan world. Before, her love for ,lohn had hiddifn her loneliness-but the cruel war took Dlohn. She continued her weary way in and out among the people. Sud- denly she sturnbled, and looking down. beheld a wee bit of blue gingham and a mass of luscious. dark brown curls. Slowly the big frightened eyes met hers, and once more the child pleaded, pin a kinker-ady to tate a ma hom! With a little gasp, Celia bent down 77 and lifted the child into her arms. You darlingln she breathed irgto the tossled curls. A look of joy came to the tiny face and her arms clung tighter as she repeated again and again, Fin a kin- ker-ady to take a ma home. Celia moved aside, glancing inquiringly about her as she said, But dearie, where is your mother? Fin a kinker-ady to tate a ma homll' was the only reply. VVhat's that? laughed Celia. You dear thing, T can't understand you. She looked anxiously about her for some sign of friend or parent, but no one noticed t-hem. 'CVVell,',' she said, VVe'll have to find someone to look after you l The little girl clapped her hands and cried, 'fYes! Fin a kin- ker-ady to tate a ma homli' What does the darling mean. thought Celia as she hurried to the corner fpoliceman with her precious bundle. He hailed a passing officer who was used to interpreting many street dialects and together they fig- ured out what the child was saying. The policeman held her on his knee in a nearby drug store and repeated thoughtfully, 'Find a kind lady to take me home'-that's it, all right I he added as she encouraged excitedly. Well, Little One, he continued kind- ly, VVhere do you live? She slid from his lap and laughed something in Ttalian as she skipped out of the door. Celia, who had been standing with tightly-clasped hands as she watched the fascinating Little Une, rapturous- ly exclaimed. dVVhat wonderful eyes! Vlihat beautiful hair! Sheis thoroughly adorable! But the policeman had started to follow, and excitedly the child led them down an alley to her home. one room in the damp basement of a filthy tenement house. There in the chilly darkness of that wretched 79 P!! -ik i ,.-m - . .-- --- --'H Y-11- Q - 'f-'ff i.....' ' .' . ' T. . Liefff-Fiifffiffif. f'fa ' '-i '.--'- A ' ' ' f if-fn,

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' 'I -Q ' 1 ' i 2 Q' '51 -' 1:fx-1,Qgf'eq'5:5lf.:5vE?-viS4i3mi9i5:QfQQ giQg7Q3fri336QQQg?,iIiif?.SIP?riQE:QflQ1lfQ1.2.-LE 3 5-QQ ,T-A ' .-,AQ .ee-I . he .- ..,.. , . -. . , -. . . , .. l Mrs. r hus- Adele, ed her wraps. 's the ever asked ie an- fallen 5, each There proud 1, with 2 OthC1' adora- lespair s daily . This, 1d but taken sed the turned st love 1tter? against in her sobbed. of the want :e dur- l still. pierced ele, her ive Di- e, then of in- have fn. Al- do not ng that tle one iointing I. CCMY sinking lg that de her, Iarland 1 for' easter' .3 was pacing the floor troubled and em- barassed. Celia, dear, began Adele with more control as she held Celia's hands and looked pleadingly up into the staring eyes and white face, I know you love Diana, I know you want her, but do you realize that Diana should have advantages in life that you would be unable to give to her? I-Iave you thought of the expense? Celia shut her eyes tightly. I have a home which has long been prepared for childish delightsv continued Adele. But most important of all, Celia, you have not time to give to her, while I could spend my every moment for her interests and development. Who would look after her during your business hours? She paused but Celia made no effort to speak. And, she con- tinued. rising. Diana should have a Daddy! Celia winced. Forgive me, dear, said Adele, remembering john. You would see her very often and have her love just the same. It would not be- as if she were taken away. Celia-for-you shall be with her often. Celia gasped. Shall be, the words frightened her. Was it possible :hat she was to be forced to give up the Little One? Celia thought deeply during the long moments of silence. She struggled with self. No ! she thought, I'll not give her up! She is mine! Mine! by all rea- sonable- rights. I need her more than Adele does. I can provide for her, I will not give up Dianaf' But Celia felt the force not of Adele's words, but the force of that which is right and just, the Supreme Power, creeping over her. Finally she saw her helplessness and realized the truth of Adele's state- ments. Slowly she raised her head and looked steadily into the anxious eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Harland. Her own face was a study in deep emo- tions. Every feature wag beautiful and sadly radiant, her blue-gray eyes were tearless, but their expression of sweet sadness became almost painful as she opened her mouth and said with effort, You may come for Diana-- tomorrowf' She bowed her head, and something about the way she did it see-med to say, go now, please. Adele was just realizing what Diana ment to Celia and started to rush to her in apology and gratitude. Mr. Harland caught her back and shaking his head formed these words with his lips, Not now, come. Quietly but happily they left the room. For several moments Celia sat in pathetic silence, unable to move, then suddenly with a low wail she jumped up and ran to the Little One's bed- side. Encircling her arms about her and laying a tear stained cheek against the tiny one-, Celia murmured, Diana, my darling! my own-my very, very own-H Then, with a little choke, she added, just for tonight. Fallen Supports LE ROY SMITH. john- fCJ'Ohr1! !, KCHuh?!! Wake up! Get up an' fix the fire, All right, mother, I'll fix it in a minute. Hurry up! It's almost school time. Youive oversleptf' ' Golly! It's fifteen minutes to eight. No breakfast for me this morn- ing. I'll barely have time to get there and not be- tardyf' You mustn't study so late. You must've went to bed about twelve o'clock last night. Uh, huh, I did. But, anyway. I'm dressed now, and the fire is hot enough to keep us from standing near it long. It's as hot as my temper was last night. Mother, I'm sorry I said what I said. I'm sorry, too, dear, but your father ,ci-Q