Palmer Institute Starkey Seminary - Echo Yearbook (Starkey, NY)

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Ailx ft r::::::a V , .TQTTT ' Taz-16 q -1 , , haven't touched a drop in over a month. She lead him to the living room where a huge fireplace with a spacious daven- port standing before it invited them to tarry. After exchanging a few nonsensical pleasantries, Jock gulped and launched into the hardest and most beautiful thing he had ever attempted. Delores, I love you, love you with my very heart and soul. All that I have or ever expect to have, is but a particle of what I would give you. As it is, I am offering you 1ny love, the first pure, true love that I have ever experienced. Yopu know that I am something of a derelict, but thank God I am clean, and I want you. I want to break away from this sordid mess called life, as I have seen it. We wilfl go away by ourselves and forget, forget everything, just you and I. I can start anew, and with you at my side, nothing else matters. Kiss me, Delores, if you consent to be mine. Everything ceased to function as their lips met in the kiss that lifted Jocks very soul toward heaven, but was to be the means of driving' his soul into the depths of a living hell from which he could never ascend. Jock lived among the clouds for the next few months. His parents were happy in the thought that, at last, he had found himselfg till one night Delores sent for him to come to her. It was all-important and he must not fail. Seven o'clock in the evening found Jock awaiting an answer to his knock at her door. When she came, he sensed that something was wrong, but he did not attach much importance to it. Come in, jock, just this and only this was her word of greeting. They again found themselves seated on the davenport. jock, I have something to tell you. The night I accepted your 1'ing I must have been crazy. I am to be married on Tuesday of next week. I didn't realize that you were so serious as you really were. Here is the ring and forgive me if you can, for anything I may have done to you. .lock gasped, and everything seemed to whirl! He staggered to his feet with the ring tightly clutched in a nerveless hand, and stumbled blindly to the door. He got in his car and drove mechanically toward Hamilton. All of a -sudden something snapped in his head and he became perfectly calm with but one thing in his mind. That was to forget, no matter how. Upon arriving home, he packed two suit cases. A pawn shop gave three hundred dollars for the ring. He took the first train out after having procured two quarts of gin. After having drunk himself into a stupor, he got off at a station that happened to be Albany. Jock had his senses enough to telegraph his parents. The telegram read: Delores to be married Tuesday. Do not look for me. She marries some one else. The heartbroken parents again turned to God for aid. Why should they suf- fer such anguish! It wasn't fair, but it had happened and must be reckoned with. llfir. Cartier at once took a train for Albany, having found that Jock was there, by the telegram. Upon arriving, he could find no trace of Jock except that he had checked out of a hotel that morning. There followed a heartbreaking fruitless pursuit Fifty-one

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sa NNN Til Q ' '7 ballsh, he-heh-he. Pipe down, kid, or you will have every who was growing a bit uneasy about the boy. The liquor had worn off by the end of sober condition, but-he had experienced the first step which, in itself was practically harmless, but it was to weaken his will and deaden his conscience against the teach- ings and earnest pleas of a loving father and mother. The next two years of Jock's life was interspersed by no particularly astounding things, but they had gradually wrought a change in him. Things had happened that had left their mark, never to be e1'ased. If the moon could have talked during those two years, it would have had many things to disclose, sordid affairs where synthetic gin, spiritious liquors and the like Howed freely. It could have told of street brawls, indecent dances, that caught all the human Hotsam and jetsam who knew no source of entertainment other than that of satisfying primeval desires through the medium of latent self expression. It could have told of a boy caught in the whirl of this sordid mess, kidding himself into believing that this was the channel through which happiness was found. It could have told of wretched parents, lying sleepless night after night, hoping and praying, pouring their hearts out to the almighty ruler in earnest appeals to save their sony' They knew that to rule with an iron hand meant a break between Jock and them, then-utter ruin for the boy. Their only chance was to hope and pray that the honest and true tendencies he had inherited would at last make their appearance. All of these things and more the moon could have told during those two years. Jock was now seventeen and according to his views quite a man of the world. About this time he met a girl from Nantucket, a little town about thirty miles from Hamilton. Delores Channing was a very beautiful girl. Jock interested her as, indeed, he did most people. He became so infatuated that he stopped running around with the old crowd and gave up many of his worst vices. hir. and lVIrs. Cartier felt that their prayers had been answered, therefore, when jock insisted on becoming engaged, even though he was extremely young, they consented. This was the beginning of a one looking at us. This from Tony the game so Jock arrived home in a wonderful period in ,Iock's life. Upon reaching the home of Delores on the night that he had arranged to seal his promise with a ring, the whole universe seemed charged with electrical expectancy. Delores nature could tantalise the about them, petrified, for Hello, Father met him at the door. She was divine. A face as nearly perfect as have created, crowned by a wealth of coal black hair, that seemed to eyes until they danced and flashed, by curling most alluringly close cool provocative lips that seemed to beckon to Jock as he stood there, an instant before entering. Jock, I am so glad you are on timef' a musical voice was heard to say. and mother are out to a bridge party, leaving me here all alone. The usual bright, wise-cracking Jock entered dumbly, unable to speak. Finally he roused himself and said foolishly: You are wonderful tonight, Delores, and I haven't been drinking either. I Fifty

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E. a1:::::: K -1 ,Zgh-3-:gi q throughout New York state. llflr. Cartier did not dare enlist the services of the police, because of the nasty publicity. Albany, VVatertown, Malone, VVhitehall, Utica, Syracuse, then back to Albany, went lVIr. Cartier, always getting there too late. Telegrams came from Jock at frequent intervals, asking for money. This was always given, for fear that something would happen if he were without funds. A pitiful plea for him to come home always accompanied the money, but jock scarcely heeded them because he kept himself in a constant alcoholic stupor. Need we go on with this sordid, heartbreaking description? It ended with the suddeness that it started with. Jock became totally unconscious on a train out of Syracuse en rout to Alexandria. His identification was found in his clothes. He was taken to a hospital and lVIr. Cartier was summoned. For one week Jock was entirely out of his head, suffering with the D. T. When he 1'eturned to normalcy, but a shadow of his former self was left. A white drawn face accompanied by a weak, nerve-wracked body presented itself to the beautfiul sunshine that day in June when Jock again became himself. He came home, accompanied by Mr. Cartier, a physical and mental wreck, that time and care alone could mend, with a dull, gripping, grinding, poisonous hatred in his heart for the opposite sex. Slowly but surely, Jock regained his health, even though he did not try very hard. Through the watchful, loving care of his mother, the warped frame and mind languidly came into their own. After several months of convalescing, Jock was again able to enjoy life as he normally should have, but that burning hatred still smouldered in his heart. Jock was eighteen now, but he looked many years older. YVhen 1he had fully recovered health, 'his warped mind hatiched out this heinous plan. He would make some one suffer as he had suffered-and then laugh. This would be revenge of the most refined sort. He selected several victims, but did not succeed in making them think enough of him to really hurt when he threw them down. Une day, some time later, a beautiful girl crossed his path. She seemed a bit interested in him so that Jock, ever waiting to play his cruel game with human hearts, at once reciprocated and a romance started. The girl, Caroline lVIcKay, was a lover of all things beautiful. Jock pretended to be interested in the beauties of nature and they held many conversations on nature's phenomona. In this way, did Jock litterally talk his way into Carolines' heart. One day when they were driving along the shores of a charming little lake, Caroline broke the silence by saying. jock, you are the most understanding friend I have ever had. Why don't you try to make something of yourself instead of drifting? Jock stopped the car and turned to Caroline. Carol, if I had some one like you to spur me on, I think I would try to do something. Do you think you could ever call me more than a friend ? Jock dear, I guess I've loved you from the start. I tried not to because I didn't think you would want my love, but I can't help it. I am yours if you Wallt me. H Fifty-two