Oakhurst Collegiate School - Acorn Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

Page 14 text:

1'3 THE ACORN On reaching the hotel, Billy with great glee told of his adventures and 0f the invitation for that evening. iiSis went off into peals of laughter and promised to give him all the requisite aid in the matter of his costume and its accessories. After dinner, Billy, attired in a blue crepe, into which he had squeezed him- self after much breathing-in and grunting, his head disguised by a Huffy brown transformation, presented a passably attractive appearance. At seven-thirty Jack arrived, carrying a bouquet of sweet peas and a box of chocolates to offer at the shrine of his new iigirl -friend. Billy received them gracefully and was then carefully wrapped in his sisteris cape and helped to a waiting taxi. On arriving at the scene of the dance, Billy's popularity seemed assured and his programme was quickly tilled. In the course of the evening he remarked to Jack on Billy Sherwood's absence from both the race and the dance, and was much amused when Jack confided to him that they had hidden Sherwoodis clothesiunder the front porch of the hotel. At the close of a very merry evening, at which he acknowledged to himself that he had been quite a social success, Billy was again tenderly wrapped in his cape and installed in the taxi. When they were about to alight at the entrance to his hotel, Billy quietly removed his fluffy wig, while jack was instructing the chauffeur to wait. Jack's face, as he turned to assist his fair companion from the machine, was a study. With a horrified exclamation he stared at the trans- formed individual before him for an agonized moment or two, then gasping, Sherwood! Great Scott! he turned and tied, and the last that Billy saw of his attentive escort was a white spot in the distance. After groping about under the veranda, he fmaiiy produced a very dusty suit-case and, waving it triumphantly, dashed into the hotel lobby, and was soon rapping peremptorily on his sisteris door. iiHey, Sis, he called, come and help your debutante brother out of his trusty armor! sCHARLo'r'rE HAVEN, 1913. s SARA OLIVER, 1914.

Page 13 text:

THE ACORN 11 most difficult of all. was to make that great big hat balance on so small a crop of hair. He tried hat pins, rubbers and every conceivable thing, but the hat would not stay on. At last a brilliant thought struck him! He would tie it down with a piece of cord, and then when his veil was on the 'hat might easily be taken for a poke bonnet. A short while after, he and his sister were on their way to the river. llSisterfi he whispered, uI'll get a fellow to stay with you during the race, but Fm going to sit by myself and, well -perhaps have some fun. Billy purchased his ticket and soon after was seated in one of the seats on the Harvard division of the grounds, awaiting the beginning of the race. Just two seats beyond him were the fellows with whom he had rough-housed the night before, and from all indications with whom his clothes were now. Gee ! said one of his friends, that certainly is a classy maiden over there li' And smiling at Billy, continued, tiand whatis more, she seems to be unescorted. Thatis capital! Again he smiled over at Billy, and Billy smiled his very sweetest in return, and apparently very embarrassed, continued watching the river. Yes, Billy assuredly did make a most charming young lady. One of his friends could stand it no longer, and advancing toward Billy, hnally ventured, Are you looking for someone ?ii Billy coughed violently, and in a very high-pitcheti and hoarse voice replied, No? that he had come alone. ttltls an ideal day for a race, is it not, Miss - ? Billy replied affirmatively and added, Ilm so glad youive come, for you know I hate to sit here all alone. My name is Frances Clayf' uThatls a mighty pretty name, replied the other, and my name is Jack Pendleton. Just then the two opposing crews appeared in their boats, and after a most violent minute or two of shouting, the race started. Billy was exceedingly agreeable all afternoon, and as he perceived he was making a great impression on Jack. The race passed very quickly, and after it was over Jack offered to take Billy home Of course Billy accepted, as he was willing to put Jack to all the trouble he possibly could. As the two reached the steps of the hotel, Jack, who felt he knew Miss Frances very well by now, asked in his most persuasive way, iiMiss Frances, there is a dance over at the Gym this evening and I want to know if I may take you as my guest ? Billy forced a blush, hesitated a moment, and sweetly replied, liItls very kind of you, Mr. Pendleton. All right thenf' called Jack as he was leaving. ttI'll be around for you about 7.30 this evening.

Page 15 text:

THE ACORN 13 iiJIM NASKER -. S JIM NASKER shambled up the main street of Barton, his lanky, ' 4 loosely-hung frame made grotesque Shadows behind him, causing i the little street boys much amusement. He had no friends, people seldom spoke to him, and Jim never spoke if he could avoid it. But although he was not given to conversing, his jaws were never- theless continually working over his tobacco. Some of the town gossips even held that Jim lichawedil in his sleep, and he was always alluded to as What good- fer-nothinl, no-account Jim Nasker. On this particular, sultry, August, afternoon he was even more absorbed with his tobacco than usual, as he walked home through the gathering twilight from the nGeneral Store, where he was general utility man. A strange thing had happened to him that day. Perhaps it would not have caused anyone else much excitement, but to the lonely, despised, friendless Jim it was an epoch in his monotonous, dreary life. A little golden-haired girl had danced into the store that morning carrying two struggling white rabbits, and while her nurse made some purchases, she kept up such a lively conversation with the clerk, between affectionate pats delivered to the rabbits, that even Jim had stopped his scrubbing to listen. Just then one of the tiny furry creatures escaped from its mistress, arms, only to fall head hrst into the scrub bucket, from which Jim had fished him, wet and wriggling, t0 the great delight of the little lady. From then until she threw him a good-bye kiss, she had directed all her attentions to Jim, and then, like that, she was gone. But all day queer chills had been running up and down his spinal column, for someone had talked to him and smiled instead 0f despising him for his ill looks and queer ways. HThe Little Lady, as he called her to himself, must be one of the summer folks at the hotel, for he knew that the Barton children were reared and kept in the right path by the threat, If you donlt behave, youill be jest like that no-account Jim Nasker. So now, as he plodded home, he wondered why it was that so sweet and dainty a little fairy should have noticed him, and somehow he felt differently towards his fellow-men sinCe that baby hand had thrown a kiss. As he prepared his nocturnal repast, he even whistlecl a lullaby his mother had sung twenty years ago. So engrossed was Jim with his reveries that he did not hear the thunder rumbling and roaring outside or see the zig-zag Hashes of lightning until he suddenly remembered that Tip, his shaggy collie, had not been fed, for he heard him scratching and whining now at the door. Jim unbared the door and Tip leaped up and licked his masterls face, but Jim could not coax him in even with food, and so he finally gave up in despair and tried to reason out why Tip was whining and cutting up such capers. uWell, I guess yer got somepin ter show me out thar in the dark, Jim said after much deep thought, and grabbing his cap and pulling it down over his eyes