Orono High School - Crimson Crier Yearbook (Orono, ME)

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NIGHT GF HORROR Mary Lou Chaples '55 Why am I so deathly afraid to stay alone at night? you ask. Ah, I have a very good reason. I'll tell you all about it, and you can decide if my fears have any basis. It happened only a few years ago while my parents were at a dinner party. They thought me old enough to stay alone for a few hours, and when the left, I thought so too. Before going they had left strict orders to lock all the doors and windows and not to let anyone in the house. They were always afraid someone would try to steal Dad's gun collection for it was worth quite a bit. Following instructions, I made the rounds until I reached the kitchen door that led out into the garage. For this I hadn't a key, so I barricaded it securely, I thought, with a chair, on top of which was piled practically everything in the kitchen that wasn't fastened down tightly. Having completed my tour of duty, I say down to finish my book, appropriately enough, a murder mystery. Just as the old butler was about to stab his old crippled master in the back, I heard a noise in the garage. My heart stood still for a moment and then started beating like a trip-hammer. There it went again! Some- one was trying to get in! I rushed to the phone to call my parents. Then a terrible thought came into my mind. Suppose it was only my imagination! I could hear my father now, bellowing like a moose if he found out I'd called them away for nothing. First I'd make certain I wasn't hearing things. I heard it againg no mistake this time. I got Dad's revolver from the case and went to the kitchen to stand guard. No burgular was going to surprise me! For a time all was quite. Then it started again. I knew somewone was trying to get inside. Finally my curiosity got the best of me and I decided to investigate. Cautiously I eased open the door and snapped on the light. No one was there! I couldn't understand it. I went back inside, still puzzling over the strange noises. The more I thought about it, the more angry I became. No noise was going to do this to me. I wouldn't stand for it! I grabbed the revolver and rushed back into the garage. Still no sign of anyone. Then I heard a scratching noise over by the trash barrel. Walking over, I pointed the gun in the direction of the barrel and said, Come out with your hands up. No answer. Come out or I'll shoot! Still no answer. Shaking in my shoes, I walked over to the barrel and looked over it. Nothing in back of it! Where was it coming from then? Suddenly it came over me. It was over powering. I'd never smelled anything like it before. Then -a small black and white animal shuffled past me and out through the garage door into the night. Ever since, I've been deathly afraid of staying alone at night. 60

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P1GEoN's PERCH by Leon Treadwell '54 Tombstone in the still of night, Stand erect in granite dress. While misty arms glide o'er the graves That hold within their secrets known, The souls that never rest. Then from the silent, moonlit night, An object in the sky descends. Slowly in a circle wide A pigeon settles down to rest, Before his journey ends. The pigeon, damp from mist about, Perched upon his granite throne, Slowly blends to color white. And looked, upon, Vfrom a distance short, Takes the form of a statuette. ' Then suddenly as if by magic Words, he comes to life, And disappears into the dark A I While tombstones in the still of night Stand erect in granite dress.