Petaluma High School - Trojans Yearbook (Petaluma, CA)

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The Old Manor House Story Wi-nning First Prize AVID KENT left his friend's house hurriedly. All day a. storm had been brewing and at any minute it was liable to brea.k. He had a long way to go through a deserted neighborhood. It was very la.te in the afternoon, in fact, it was almost night. As he hurried along a. large raindrop fell on him, then another and another. Suddenly, with a swiftness that astonished him, the storm, broke. David looked around him but saw no place of shelter. He broke into a run, covering the ground rapidly, but in a few minutes he was drenched. Suddenly he remembered he was near shelter. Turning to the left he ran until he came to a grove of trees surrounding a house. It was the old Manor House, deserted for many years. It was a tradition of the neighborhood tl1.at this old house isolated from the others, was haunted. It was a large house, and the gardens were overgrown with weeds that had not been cut down for over half a century. Yes, it was fifty years a.go when old man Crawford had been found dead in his study. How he had died no one knew. There were no marks of violence on him. People thougl1.t that he had died a natural death because he was so old. But when his children-he had two- had died in the same way, people said that the house was haunted. So with no one to care what became of it, the house and property went to ruin. But David, young and strong, laughed at the idea of being frightened away because the house was haunted. The rain was pouring down and he was wet and cold. All he wanted was shelter. He pushed his way through the bushes and weeds to the front door. He turned the door-knob. The door was locked! VVhat was he to do now? He couldn't go home in the storm. He looked around him. It had become so dark that he could not even see his hand before his face. He felt his way a.round the house to find a window. Perhaps one might be un- locked? He remembered that one of them was broken, but he didn't know where it was. Then, as if in answer to his thoughts, there was a crash of thunder, followed by a streak of lightning. As soon as it came it disappeared, but it lit up the house and he saw what he was looking for, the window that the small boys of the neighborhood had broken while playing. The window was low and without much difficulty he climbed through. How silent it was! Like the silence of a tomb! Involuntarily he shuddered, then laughed at his own weakness. His low laugh echoed weirdly through the silent room, and he shuddered again. VVh.y not go upstairs where the wind and rain did not beat into the room? He stumbled upwards in the stygian blackness, and felt his way along the upper landing. His hands felt a door-knob. As he opened the door the hinges seemed to shriek out in protest. The sound i -28-

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TI-IE ENTERPRISE '24 Blessings on thee, learned one: VVise in high school work. and fun Oh for the Senior's time of June, Queening joys in one brief noon. I was rich in things to do Facts to scare the Sophomores new. Sadder seemed the world to me, Wlien I thot I'd soon be free. IVork now Senior for your fun, Soon your happy year is done. Proudly then while yet you may, Frown and smile in Senior's day. Tho the days at times seem drear, Wo1'k and laugh, 'tis your last year. Tomorrow finds you outward bound Another journey you'll have found. Ah that thou couldst keep thy place, Now that you have won the race. From my heart I wish thee fun For my Senior year is done, ELEANOR PHILLIPS Youth Some angel had let down the bars 'Twixt my ambition and the stars. The breeze descended from the cloud And beckoned me with friendly tongue I heard it and was filled with joy For I was young. But then the gale blew loud and hoarse And fought to throw me from my coui se In hope I would return to ea.rtl1 It voiced its raucous strident mirth. But never downward was I flung, But still ascended deaf and blind For I was young. MABEL M XRTIN .27-

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TQHE ENTERPRISE '24 echoed and re-echoed through the silence. It seemed even louder than the crash. of thunder that followed it. David waited for the lightning that would follow, and when it came, his eyes rested on a fir place, and beside it he saw some large pieces of wood. Now, at lea.st, he could be warm and dry. Anyway, he hoped so, if tl1e matches in his breast pocket were not wet. However, tl1ey proved to be dry, and he soon had a roaring fire. As he turned around and around before the fire drying his clothes, he looked about the room. The dust of fifty winters covered the old furniture and fifty years of cobwebs hung from the ceiling and furniture. He looked out of the window beside him. How the rain did pour and the wind did blow! The light given out by the fire seemed to make the house less silent and ghostly. He drew up an old comfortable chair before the tire and, after brushing the cobwebs from it, sat down to enjoy the warmth. The wind seemed to howl more fiercely through the trees. It seemed to David to be the scream of lost souls. Vilhat was that? 'David stiffened in his chair. It had sounded like a step on the stairs. At least, he consoled himself, it couldn't be a ghost. Ghosts didn 't 1nak.e a noise when they walked, but came and went silently. But he must have imagined he had heard a step. It was now as silent as ever. Silent! The very silence seemed to shriek aloud! Again he gave a start. Below him, down on the lower floor, or even farther, hinges creaked loudly, then silence. Still something seemed to keep him alert, he seemed to sense a presence. Turning his head he looked toward the door. lfVould horrors never cease? Through the door glided a ghostly figure. It was draped from head to foot in a white mantle, and in its hand-. VVhat was it, a glass? It was certainly a. glass and from it came a peculiar odor. It was a glass of poison! David's brow was wet with icy-cold perspiration, a shiver ran down his spine, and his tongue and limbs seemed paralyzed. Slowly the spectre glided toward him. It lifted its left hand and held up three bony fingers, then lifted another. Vilhat did it mean, and what was the glass of poison for? In a flash the solution of the problem came to David. Fifty years ago three persons had been killed, and, he guessed, by poison. NVas he to be the fourth, as indicated by the other finger? Horriiied, he sank back in the chair. The spectre advanced, holding forth the glass. Drink, said the spectre in a ghostly and hollow voice, holding the glass to Davidls lips. The liquid touched his lips and- VVith a start David opened his eyes. It was daylight and the sun was shining through the windows. The storm had blown itself out during the night and now the sun was shining. He looked around him, bewildered. Th.e iire burned until only glowing embers were left. Had he been dreaming during the night, or had the ghost really come to him? Anyway, the ghost was gone now and he was alone. The bright sun seemed to dispel the horrors of his dream, and leaving the old .29-