Pennell Institute - Whirlpool Yearbook (Gray, ME)

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THE PENNELL WHIRLPOOL 13 if they didn't smoke?” asked Uncle Jack sarcastically. “Tobacco is a drug and the continued use of any drug is a sign of mental weakness. If you've got to be an imitator why not imitate the strong rather than the weak points of others? You will never gain the respect of any man by imitating his weak points. X man—a real man—whether he smokes or not—is always disgusted with the cheap little shrimp of a boy who tries to imitate his own had habits.” “But you haven't told us why you don't smoke, Uncle Jack, insisted Bud. Uncle Jack laughed. “That’s so, sure enough. Well, ГИ tell you. When I was a boy 1 didn't smoke for fear somebody might think I was trying to imitate my elders, and when I grew to be a man I didn't for fear somebody would think I was trying to imitate such a silly youngster as the president of your club. JAMES | Rost, 33. THE STRANGER Edward Hackett came into the dim kitchen, gray in the light of the winter dawn. Пе built the fire and began to prepare breakfast, thinking to help his wife, for she was going for a ‘Visit of two or three weeks with her aunt who was ailing and alone. Пе was just pouring the coffee when he heard Jeanne coming down- stairs. She hurried into the small kitchen with an air of authority. “Fow long has that coffee boiled? she asked. Long enough, Edward replied. During the breakfast hour Jeanne gave directions about the manage- ณา of the little farm in her absence. After breakfast she hastened to get ady, for she was going on an сапу train, In the meantime Edward а her bags into the car and they were soon ready to start. As they rode along Jeanne sighed and said, “Oh! Edward, | meant to have you drive me over to John Humphrey's s to see if I could help them before I left. “His niece must be there by now, Edward suggested. “Poor John must miss Sarah terribly.” went o n Jeanne thought fully. When they reached the railway station there came upon her a momen- tary gentleness. “I hope everything'll be all right with you, Edward, she said, to her own surprise as much as her husband's. As she got into the train she thought of possible disaster to Edward hefore not return, perhaps even death, and she frowned at her own foolish- ness. But the train was whistling—there was no time for sentiment. “Good-bye, Edward,” was all she said when she boarded the train. Good-bye, Jeanne, he murmured, as he stared aíter her with a rather

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12 THE PENNELL WHIRLPOOL “That's true. too, put in Fred, so the Jolly Four made a bee line for Uncle Jack. They found him on the piazza reading the paper. What's on. your minds now 7 he asked, looking up. We came to ask your opinion, if you're not too busy, said red. Never too busy for a chat with my young friends, laughed Uncle Jack. Let's hear your problem and we'll see if we can solve it. We were going down to the Marston boathouse this afternoon to attend а ‘Smoker’ and Babs thought we ought to ask you about it, burst out Jim. “Is Babs invited?” asked Uncle Jack, trying to keep from smiling. “Of course not.” said Bud, disgustedly. “This is a stag affair,” added Jim. “It's no place for girls.” Why not?” argued Uncle Jack. “She doesn't object to tobacco smoke. does she?” No, replied Bud. Dad smokes when he's home. Just then a young man swaggered past, dressed flashily, with a cigar- ette hung in one corner of his mouth. Hello, fellows, he shouted. Hello, Bud shouted back. Who was that?” asked Uncle Jack. “He is the president of our club, said Jim. Does he always dress like that? asked Uncle Jack. That's the style,” answered Bud. “How does he stand in his classes? asked Uncle Jack. “He is a little behind in some studies, said Bud, hesitatingly. Do you think he would risk his life to save yours?” “No,” they all answered. Well, to get back to my first question. You don't want Babs to go to the ‘Smoker’ because you don't want her to associate with boys like the president of your club. Isn't that what it boils down to? Just then one of the club members called, “We're waiting for you guys. We're not coming today, thanks,” called Fred. “I hope I'm not interfering with your plans, said Uncle Jack. Don't worry, we can get along without that crowd,” replied Fred. “But say, spoke up Bud, “why don't you smoke? АН the important people do. “What have the big fellows or the little fellows got to do with you or me?” asked Uncle Jack. “Do you have to grow a wart on the end of your nose just because the mayor of your town has one? These important people are not successful because they smoke; nor smoke because they are successful. Isn't it barely possible that they might be much more success ful

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14 THÉ PENNELL IPHIRLPOOL bewildered look. She was gone. He must go back to the little old farm alone. However, he did not go directly hack but lingered about the garage, and dropped in at the little hotel, so that it was half-past ten when he finally started for home. He drove off strangely troubled by the persistent fecling of being alone in spite of his saying over and over to himself that he was free. lle drove off at full speed telling himself that no one was going to be nagging him for a while. Of course, Edward mused, he thought a lot of Jeanne, and it would be dreadful if she didn't come back, but just at this moment he almost convinced himself that he was very happy. When he reached home the place seemed peaceful and quiet. The house was in good order. Jeanne was а good housekeeper. edward won- dered why women who were good housekeepers were so often sharp of speech. There was John Humphrey's wife. There was not a better house- keeper in town, but sometimes it was impossible for John to stay in the house with her. As Edward sat in the quiet kitchen he wondered if John missed his wife, who had died a week ago. Edward rocked and smoked and thought. He didn't seem to have any pep to go out and do up the morning work. He thought of how sweet and pretty Jeanne had been twenty years ago when he brought her to the little farm—the tiny baby, Edward, who had made them so happy in that one short year of his little life. Jeanne had never spoken crossly to her husband until one night after the baby was born she had said, Why don't you ever put anything where it belongs 7 just because he had left his hat and gloves on the table. Having spoken so once, she did it again and again. After this his life had seemed to change. Пе was unhappy and discontented so he had stayed by himself as much as possible. Edward Hackett was thinking of his bride of years ago. Those first days.—and then the days when little Edward was in her arms, when she was still gentle more often than she was harsh. When the child died grief did not soften her; it gave her a kind of hardness that bewildered her husband. Edward was aroused from his thoughts by a knock at the kitchen door. When he opened it, a woman stood there with a child in her arms. “Is this John Humphrey's house? she asked. No, the next place. It's about a half mile from here, he replied. “Oh!” she said. Edward asked her to come in and rest before starting, as the day was cold and raw. She had come from town that morning behind edward. She told him that she was John Humphrey's niece. Edward brought wood for the fire, then helped the visitor to remove her boots to dry them. Ile remembered that John had spoken well of his niece but had said nothing