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

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5. x X Jock thrilled with feindish joy, while Caroline was experiencing her first real love. .. Things went on much the same, Jock promoting the affair until he was sure there was no doubt of the fact that Carol still loved him. Wliat fiendish plan was going on in that wretched mind? Like a serpent play- ing with its' victim before anihilating it, breaking will power, sense of caution, decency, pushing every thing that human civilization is based on, before it, that awful distorted idea of revenge. Nothing can stop it now. As a vampire bat drinks the blood of its victim thus did Jock mean to sap strength, vitality and even reason from this beautiful young thing. Can nothing stop him? Oh Heavens! If there is a God, why do you look on from above and let this horrible scheme develop. Is it necessary in your scheme of the universe, that a beautiful, innocent, sweet child should fall into the clutches of an almost-maniac? Do you allow this? We shall see-: As time went on, Caroline became more and more in love with Jock. He was indeed, a perfect lover. She wanted for nothing that he did not do his best to pro- cure for her. Carol planned and dreamed by the hour of the time when they would be as one. This great love completely possessed her. Every waking moment was filled with thoughts of Jock. Every sleeping moment was crowded with Jock. Happy with him, miserable without himg such was the state of affairs when Jock prepared to strike, swiftlyg and with its' terrible effect made a certainty. On a beautiful evening in june, the moon looked down on a powerful sedan, wending its way over hill and dale. At the wheel sat Carol, Jock occupied the other half of the front seat. After having driven for about an hour the sedan slowed to a stop in a spot beneath whispering aspens that seemed to breathe romance and the earths awaking from its long slumber. This spot over looked a lake, so silent, so still, as though it were holding its breath expecting the extraordinary to happen. The moon Cast its silvery path across the shimmering bosom of the water. All nature seemed hushed and expectant. Could any one with a soul blaspheme the night by performing a horrible deed? It doesn't seem possible and yet God and fate had combined to bring forth an animal in human form, utterly without a heart or soulg one who had no respect for the great law of the universe--loveg one whose very being was permeated with the poisonous germ of revenge. Poisoned blood leaped through the veins of this being. The time was fast approaching when a blow was to be struck that would shatter every code of humanity had ever estab- lished for the welfaregand happiness of human beings. The silence was broken by Carols silvery voice. Jock, do you still love me? I know you do but tell me again and again. It is all I live for. God has been so good to me in giving me you. VVhen I touch you it seems almost saeriligious, you are so wonderful in my eyes. For a moment Jock faltered, was he going on with this? Then the old spirit of revenge surged over him like a wave. Now, now, noir, was the time to strike, - Carol, you will have to plan your future without me. I don't love you. I don't even like you. I hate you! almost shouted jock. Nerveless hands fell from his neck, a pitiful little hysterical laugh jarred the evenings' stillness. ' Jock, I guess you don't mean that. Please don't frighten me so. Don't look Fifty-three'

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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

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45 I Q I at me that way. Jock stop, God! please help me. Jock was prying the ring loose from her tightly clinched finge1'. Cruelly he twisted the wrist till the little hand slowly opened and the ring was forced from her. Witli a hideous cry of exul- tation he sent the ring flying out over the expanse of water. Don't sit there like a half-wit. Take me home and forget me if you can, said Jock with a diabolical grin. Slowly, slowly, the truth was dawning on Carol. -lock didn't love her, he never had loved her, he was gone from her life. A numbness stole over her body as she mechanically set the car in motion. Slowly it slid down the white strip of roadway which shone like a ribbon in the moonlight. Faster, faster, it flew. 50, 60, 70, 72, 74- miles per hour the speedometer registered. Fear never enterd the mind of jock. A fierce feeling of exultation thrilled his whole being, driving every other emotion before it. The car swerved, righted itself, swerved again and-: Crash, 1'-1'-1'-l'-I'-1'-lp, bang, the sound of crumpling metal and breaking glass rent the still summer air. A piercing scream and all was still. The moon again looked down this night. A crumpled smoking pile of wreckage blotted the country side. It peered closer. The still form of a girl lay twisted and distorted in a pool of blood. A gash that had severed both jugulars in the neck grinned hideously at the moon. Beneath the wreckage could be seen the unconscious form of a boy. A sardonic smile still gleamed from the blood spattered face. His' legs were pinned beneath a ton of torn metal, wood and glass. A cloud slowly enveloped the moon as if to shut off this gruesome sight. After a short time an antomobile came to a stop beside the pile. of debris that was once a car. Jock's mother alighted first. Ah why, did fate have to send his mother and father at this moment of all times. The first thing to greet her eyes was Carol. With a scream she turned her back and looked straight into the unseeing eyes of the twisted body beneath the wreckage. Upon recognizing it she fainted. Nor was it possible to bring her back to consciousness. By this time several cars had gathered. lN'Ir. Cartier had completely lost his reason for a time. Finally an ambulance was summoned from the nearby city and the bodies loaded in. Nlrs. Cartier was also taken. By this time Mr. Cartier had quite recovered his composure so that he was able to give the names, etc. of the injured people. First to the hospital, the ambulance swiftly drove. lVIr. Cartier and .lock were left thereg but Caroline who but a brief time before was alive, virile beautiful handi- work of God and nature was slowly driven to her home-deadg never to breathe, never to laugh and love, again. Youth shattered and torn beyond recognition. l'Vhyl Because one girl had played fast and loose with an impressionable boy's heart. Jock recovered after having both legs amputated just above the knee. llirs. Cartier died a few days later from a stroke brought on by the happenings. lVIr. Cartier, a broken! tired old man wandered from place to place, ever seeking the blue bird of happiness that he had had once but which was so cruelly snatched away from him by a wayward son. He left a sum of money in trust for the care of .lock who Fifty-four