Petaluma High School - Trojans Yearbook (Petaluma, CA)

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;NTEPPPlBi “That’s right, Theo, it pays to have no opinions of your own. Come on, let’s go down to the shore and see if it is ITunning.” They descended slowly from the high overhanging cliff, to the water’s edge. Little was said as the path was narrow and all their attention was given to their footing. As they reached the lake and neared the boat, Lawrence exclaimed, “Yes, it’s Running’s boat. I hope he offers to take us out on the lake. ” Robert Hunning, standing in the boat, glanced up to see the three approaching. He rushed forward and greeted them. Presently he said, “How do you like California, Miss Clark?” “Oh, I think it is wonderful, at least what I have seen of it. The lake holds some magic power for me, I can’t just exactly explain it, but—” “Yes, I know how you feel. Everyone who looks at Lake Tahoe says that. Wouldn’t you like to go out for a boat ride?” “Sure would,” exclaimed both men, and Nannette assented, though not so emphatically. “Isn’t the canoe rather small for four of us?” asked Theo. “Suppose I don’t go this time. I’ve been out lots of times before, anyway. ’ ’ “Oh, come on,” exclaimed Lawrence, “that canoe is larger than you would think for.” “Where are we going?” asked Nannette, as they pushed off. “There’s a very pretty little bank not far from here where we might go. Remember that place we found, Whitten, when we went off to fish last week?” “Sure, that’s fine, but I’ve forgotten how to get there,” answered Lawrence. “I haven’t, as I’ve been, there several times since. It’s rather easy to miss though, as the trees hang out and almost hide the nook beyond. The day after we found it I looked for it and went past twice before I realized where it was.” They paddled on for some time, Nannette exclaiming over the trees, water, sky and everything in general. They were drawing near the shore, and Nannette noticing the trees that hung their branches far out into the lake, decided they must be nearing the se¬ cluded little haunt of Robert’s. “Oh, Mr. Hunning, look at that pretty moss-like stuff hanging from that tree. AVon’t. you stop and let me get some?” Nannette asked. “Most certainly,” he replied. “I will run the boat up so you can get it.” As the boat came under the tree to which was fastened the moss, Lawrence rose to gather it. It was a very rare specimen and Nannette was admiring it, when in the water on the other side of Lawrence appeared a snake. Nannette shrieked. “Lawrence! Behind you! Oh!” —28—

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;iitee i “Here, take my field glasses. Now right out there; no, you’re looking too much to the right. Don’t you—I” “Oh, yes, I see it! Isn’t it tiny? Oh my! it must be great out there! Have you ever been over there in a launch, Lawrence?” “Not in a launch, but I went in a canoe one day with Robert Hunning. You remember Robert Hunning don’t you? He was the man who acted so beastly in that accident at Long Island. I remem¬ ber, though, that you liked him and made all manner of excuses for him. He has a canoe up here. Maybe that’s it. Let’s see the glasses a minute, will you, Nan?” “Yes, providing you will stop calling me Nan,” she replied with a roguish smile as she returned the glasses. “Forgive me, Miss Clark,” he said with mock solemnity as he adjusted the glasses, “but you see accidents ivill happen. That’s Hunning’s canoe all right! Now here’s your chance Nan, to see the most adorable lady’s man. I remember your taste for them.” “Lawrence Whitten, you know that isn’t so! I don’t like a lady’s man any better than you do, but I do like a quiet man who isn’t forever telling what he can do. Besides Mr. Hunning isn’t a lady’s man. I got to know him pretty well when I was at Long Is¬ land and believe me he’s a perfect gentleman, and there wasn’t a word of truth in that talk about his running away from that accident. Perhaps if you had been brought up the way he has been, by an in¬ valid mother who idolized him and gave him everything money could buy—maybe you wouldn’t be the strong, self dependent man you are.” “Now, there you go, if that isn’t a woman for you! You start in by saying he isn’t a lady’s man and coward, and now you end up by making excuses for his being one. Oh, you women!” Just then Nannette’s brother, Theo, came up and hearing the latter part of their conversation, said, “Well, have you found some¬ thing more to fight over? That’s the second disagreement you’ve had in the last hour. Don’t you know, dear children, that it isn’t nice to quarrel like that?” The last was said with such an attempt at paternal affection that they both laughed. Never the less Nannette could not hear her sex criticized without rising to the occasion. “Lawrence, you’re forever talking about women shifting from one thing to another and doing this and that. 1 don’t suppose men ever make mistakes, do they? Well, you’re making mistake number one right now in saying Robert Hunning’s a coward.” “Robert Hunning? AVlio said anything about him?” asked Theo looking from one to the other. “Oh, Mr. Hunning is up here this su mmer and Lawrence says he is a coward. He believes that he really did run away from that acci¬ dent on Long Island last summer. You don’t believe that stuff, do you, Theo?” “Now, looky-here, young lady,” Theo said evasively, “I wish you to understand I am absolutely non-belligerent.”

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:ntepppis With a whirl Lawrence turned. The little boat already over¬ loaded, made a final attempt to balance itself, and failed. Without further notice the occupants were in the water. Tlieo Clark, who could swim very little, started for the shore, Nannette and Lawrence were absolutely helpless as neither could swim a stroke. Robert Hanning, on the other hand, was an expert swimmer and he immediately sensed the danger of the others, A half hour later Whitten lay on the bank, gradually returning to a realization of living things. What had it all been? A night¬ mare? Suddenly he was aware of people bending over him. Oh, yes, it all came back, he had been gathering some moss, the boat turned over—and what then? Dimly he remembered Hmining’s helping hand. As Robert Hunning bent over Lawrence, he heard him murmur, “Sorry, old chap—my—mistake—you’re all—right.” Robert lifted a perplexed face. “What is he talking about?” he asked Nannette. But the murmuring began again. “Nan—was— right—always is—but—women do—shift subjects—I—I” The voice became inaudible. “Funny,” said Robert, “but no telling what he’s thinking of.” Nannette Clark smiled wisely but said nothing. PEARL FOSTER, ’24. —29—