Norway High School - Caduceus Yearbook (Norway, ME)

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18 THE pauscd a moment when she saw Connie's sad figure. Waiting for the bob? she called. '4Why, it 's been gone these ten minutes. Suddenly Connie 's eyes blurred with tears. She knew she had not misunder- stood. Beverly had said, 'fRemember! Seven o'clo-ck! And Beverly had delib- erately left ten minutes before the appoint- ed time! The town clock was striking as Connie stepped onto her own porch. Automati- cally she counted the strokes. Seven! Her anger seethcd within her. Beverly 's treat- ment of her on that hot July day had been impulsive, this was deliberate. Connie entered the house, wearing a forced smile that deceived no one , least of all her brother, Paul. They've gone! she said, lifelessly, and sank into a chair. I--guess-I-misurr derstoodf' Tell you what, Sisf' Paul smiled mat- ter-of-factly, you take my ticket and go to the Public Speaking Contest. Cousin Gene is speaking. I can 't go myself. Must cram this history exam stuff. Thanks, Paulf' Connie said, taking the ticket. I must go somewhere. When she arrived, Cousin Gene spied her and begged her to go up back stage and prompt him in his speech. Connie felt calmer with something to do. Paul, industriously studying about Na- poleon, sprang to his feet when the door bell rang. Instead of ringing once, it kept up a continuous jangling. He jerked open the door, and Beverly Williarns, followed by her excited crowd, burst into the house. 'LWhere's Conniedlw Beverly inquired anxiously. Over at the high school, Paul replied promptly. Over at the high school ! Beverly 's ex- clamation was almost a sob. CADUCEUS Talk about a mean trick! one of the girls spoke up. 4'.Say, let is get this straight, Paul said. Connie went up to your house, Beverly, at seven-and the bob had gonef' t'It happened, she said, Hthat the bob drew up at our curb while the clock was striking. f'We'll give her a chance to explain any- wayf' said Paul. t'I'll run down to the school. Be back in a jiffyf' When he entered the auditorium, Gene was giving his speech with great gusto 5 Paul, looking the crowd over, could not see Connie anywhere. When he got back to the house he was almost as sore at Connie as Beverly was. '4She wasn't there, he said shortly, you might as well go on. 4'All right, replied Beverly. Paul again settled down to Napoleon. Suddenly the door opened, and Connie dashed in. After explaining to Paul where she was when he was at the school and hearing about Beverly is being there, she said, 'tllm going to the party. I 'm going to walk out, it 's only a little over three miles. I've hiked it before. In the summer. It's a whole lot dif- ferent now, Paul argued. I'll be careful, Connie promised, as she pulled on her mittens and an extra heavy sweater. i'Don't worry. 'Bye, Paul. After studying for a half hour, he called Billy on the phone. Billy said the old bus was raring to go and he'd be with Paul in no time-just had to get her tuned up. The tuning up took almost three- quarters of an hour, but at last they were on their way to Dan Williams' farm. Once out of town, Connie walked rapidly, occasionally jumping aside for passing ears. Beverly wanted her! How good that made her feel!

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THE CADUCEUS 17 Beverly did not reply. She made her way to the upper end of the scow and opened an umbrella. The sand along the banks shimmered in the glare. There was a deathly stillness, as there so often is just before a storm. Heat waves rose over the surface of the water. Connic's heavy, dark hair felt sticky and her wool bathing suit scratchy. Her shoul- ders smarted. The oars had never before felt so heavy and awkward. Connie grit- ted her teeth and sent the old scow lumber- ing through the water. She did not pause until she reached the middle of the lake. Then she looked at Beverly, apparently cool and comfortable, her pale gold hair curling in little ringlets about her face and her eyes half closed in perfect comfort, and Connie eyes Hamed. . 'flt's your turn now,l' she snapped. 'Hllhis is halfway! 'il took you all the way yesterday. You can 't be just company all the time, Connie. Be a sport. You invited me, Connie flared. 'fYou wanted me to come out here. I'd be in the shade in town, and l wouldn't have to do more than my share. Beverly was as angry as Connie. '4Well, if you want to know the truth,'l she said, her lovely face red with anger, 'tlllother made me invite you because she and your mother are such good friends. There was a moment 's silence, then Con- nie shoved the oars toward Beverly and said, After this you 'll do all the rowing. Good-by. Connie dived overboard and with long sure strokes, made her way to shore. Bev- erly could not swim very well and Connie knew she'd have to row. .She went into the house, dressed and packed her bag. Mrs. Williains was out picking berries and Billy was in the yard tinkering with his used car . What's the idea? Billy asked, pleas- antly, when Connie appearedwith her bag. lim going into town, Billy. Could you take me 'V' Connie asked, trying to keep her voice steady. Sure,7' Billy replied, so delighted to have anyone show enough confidence in his rattletrap car, that he noticed nothing wrong. Connie, with sinking heart, sat down be- side Billy, and for once, at least, was grate- ful for the sputter and roar of the engine- it prevented conversation. Connie did not see Beverly Williams again until school began in the fall. She had received an apologetic note from her, written, however, in a cool fashion and she had answered in the same manner. Hello, Beverly called, when she met Connie in the high school entrance the iirst day of school. Her greeting was low and she was unquestionably embarassed. After the first break it was easier, and they managed to chat of their studies, but the friendliness was gone. There seemed no way of mending it-until the invitation from Beverly asking Connie to be her guest again on a bob-ride. Connie adjusted her orange beret once more and descended to the living room. There was a pause in the program while the announcer spoke. ' 4Wl1en the gong strikes, it will be exactly ten minutes before seven o'clock. This ser- vice is sent by the courtesy of- Connie did not wait a second longer. Good-by, everybody! she called. Connie hummed as she walked along. She was willing to forgive and forget. Bev- erly had been very generous to take the Hrst step toward reconciliation. Connie reached the corner. The Wil- liams' house was next door. Beverly had said the bob would be at the door at seven sharp, but there was no bob there. Neither were there any guests on the porch nor a lighted living room. A woman came out of the house on the corner and started down the street. She

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THE CADUC EUS' 19 On one side of the narrow road were stony cliffs and on the other side was a steep embankment, sloping down to an old logging road. All of a sudden she heard the back-firing and rattling of an ancient and none too de- pendable engine. As Connie stepped out onto the edge of the embankment into the soft snow, she felt herself slipping. Wild- ly she clutched out and grabbed at some tough ground pine. Luckily it held. She could not see the road, but she heard the banging car go past and on up the road. But she did not feel discouraged. All she had to do was to scramble back and con- tinue her hike. This was easier said than done. As she braced her feet in the snow, the ground pine that she was holding onto broke, and Connie went slipping and slid- ing farther down. When Connie at last picked herself up and looked around, she discovered she was on the old logging road. She knew if she followed this road that she'd eventually come out on the highway. Suddenly there came to her ears the sound of familiar laughter on the road above. It must be Beverly 's party she said to herself. But the team seems to be headed toward town. Loudly she called as she struggled on through the deep snow. The hilarious voices drowned her cries, and so she was obliged to keep on and just wait. In the meantime, Paul and Billy had made good time, and had caught up with Beverly's party. Neither group had seen a sign of Connie and they were consider- ably worried. 'tConnie may have fallen and broken an ankle or something,l' Beverly declared, 'tWe'll all go back and look for her. 'tWhat? Again! inquired several sar- castic voices. Yes Again! Beverly answered. HWhy, Connie 's one of my best chumsf' The team was turned around. 'tPark that car here, till we come back, Beverly directed. I don't want Connie scared olf the road. You two can ride with us. Even though the bob went almost back to town, Connie of course was not found, and it was a very sober crowd that returned to Billy 's car. And then such squealing and laughing arose that even the tired horses reared and plunged. For there sitting in Billyls car, was Connie herself! How did it happen? everyone asked, at once. I fell over the embankment, Connie explained, Hwhen a car went by. I can understand now that it must have been Billy 's. Then I couldn't get back up again 5 so I walked along the wood road. I heard you go by, and called, but you couldnlt hear, so I had to go on. When I finally came out on the highway, what should I see but Billy's deserted car! I knew you id all come back. Oh, Iim so sor- ry I caused so much trouble. Beverly, I-I-. 77 I understand, Connie, said Beverly, and looked squarely at her friend. Somehow both girls knew that all petty misurfderstandings and grudges betwxeen them were forever at an end. -Perry, '34. -Agni DOWN TO THE CITY OF DEATH Perspiration stood on my brow. I felt a chill run down my spine, and my hair almost seemed to stand on end. I became :faint and stumbled to a chair. After a while, my brain grew clearer and I gath- ered the scattered ends of my thoughts to- gether. All I could utter was t'The Boss I While 'sitting there the events of this age crowded on my mind. g s