Ossining School for Girls - Quill Yearbook (Ossining, NY)

Page 99 text:

THE Q,UILL for 1916 Court was in session and all the London fair chose to attend the meeting. A most shocking attempt had been made to murder the Duke of Rochester and the man was even now daring to combat his fate. At times, the long discussions had grown a little weari- some, but since Mistress Phillis Alison had get the fashion, they must follow. Today was the end of the trial, and there was a breathless pause, as the judge rose to announce the sentence. To be sure everyone knew the King's will, but there was an intense silence throughout the gallery, where fashion sat enthroned. Gallant beau and simpering beauty forgot for the moment their part in the play, and sat breathless with eyes fixed on the prisoner. The judge's droning voice ceased at last with the customary question: Have you anything you 'wish to say before you die ? To the surprise of all present, the prisoner rose. T Yes, your honor. Turning with a low bow toward the balcony he fixed his eyes on the face he had once loved. You willpardon, I trust, an addi- tion to an old proverb. This, however, is my expe- rience. 'Put not your trust in princes-or women '. Something cracked in the stillness, and the ivory sticks of Phillis' fan fell to the floor, crushed. Then. with a gay laugh, she turned to face her friends The prisoner chooses to be facetiousj' she said. as she gave her hand to her fiance. Margaret Naramore. 93

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'run QUILL for 1916 No, no, Your Grace, but I have been so fright- ened. I came here early, thinking to be alone awhile, and, as I waited, two men talked on the other side of the hedge. They planned an attack, my lord, as you leave the palace tonight. I was so frightened. You will he careful, will you not, for- She paused, and, in the pale moonlight, her color slowly rose, mautling the white shoulders and throat. Why were you afraid, sweetheart? Didstfear they would discover you ? Her hands still in his, he drew her nearer. Xo! The ribbons on her breast rose and fell quickly. I was not afraid for myselflv For me, then, Phillis ? No answer. Her head dropped a little, but she did not draw away. Does silence give consent, you little coward? Art a feared to say it? Come back with me, and let us see if the lights of St. James do not revive your courage. The wind sighed for a time in the trees, then whistled away to peep in at the palace windows, where the court drank the health of the Duke of Rochester and his betrothed. Wearying of the scene, the wind was off again, howling about the heath where a lonely watcher waited for the ball to break up. '5 it 'F r is as -is an 92

Page 100 text:

'rite QUILL for 1916 Fate IQTTY was as happy as even Betty could be. She may have been a bit emotional, one day in the seventh heaven, the next in the darkest of blues, but just now she was unmistakably radiant. The cause of all this sudden exuberance were two letters, or rather one letter. for it was one especially that caused her excitement. This came from Ted Rogers-Ted, who had first met Betty seated in front of her grand- father's house, and making mud pies. He was now writing to invite her to the Commencement Prom, so Betty immediately sat down to tell her old com- panion how much pleasure his letter had given, and how glad she would be to see him again. The other letter also contained an invitation for the same date. This came from Ted VVells, a junior in another col- lege. who had just lately came to live next door to Betty. She declined this briefly, and had just fin- ished addressing the two envelopes when the bell rang, and she had to rush for a class. As she ran out of the door, she called to her room-mate, asking her to seal the two letters and mail them. Her room- mate, who was also in a hurry, picked up one letter headed Dear Ted, and pushed it into the envelope addressed to Ml: Theodore Rogersf' never noticing that hotli letters were headed in exactly the same XYZIV. And so it happened that the next day Ted Rogers received the following: Dear Ted, Thank you so much for remembering me, but I am SUITS' t0 Say that a previous engagement forces me to decline Your very kind invitation. Sincerely, whrlt I I . Elizabeth Craig. ro-road it Cgutptliis mean? Poor Ted read. it and bpm ' 1 C 5 lad never been so formal with him re. anc she had always signed her letters Betty. 94