Petersburg High School - Missile Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

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14 THE MISSILE. Phillip could not persuade Mercer to allow him to take her to his father then. She left him, taking a short cut through the woods to her cottage. Phillip walked slowly and thoughtfully home, where he met his father at the gate. “My son, what has happened to you? Your forehead has been cut.” Mr. Hartley asked in an anxious voice. “Oh, Father, I am all right now, for one of the loveliest girls I have ever laid eyes upon brought me to life. I was shaken up a bit. I’ll admit; but how could a fellow not get well at once when doctored by such a girl ? You must meet her, Father.” After much questioning, Mr. Hartley finally understood that both he and his son were greatly indebted to a fair young lady, the daughter of one of his school chums, he thought, for her kindness to his son. He also understood that this young lady wished to become an artist, but lack- ed the necessary means for culture. Phillip was anxious to send her to school; but as he fully realized she would never go at his expense, he was anxious for his father to visit Mr. Craighton and induce him to allow Mr. Hartley to educate Mercer. “Of course, I do not want her to know that I am going to bear the expense. Father, but I should never be happy unless I could afford her that great joy,” Phillip had said. And so it happened that the trees were whispering again on a September day just two months later, for Mer- cer Craighton was leaving the village on that day to take a course in art in New York. Mercer’s day of success had come. She had won the first prize at the Art Exhibition for her simple but true-

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THE MISSILE. 13 was a stranger over whom she was bending, trying so hard to bring him to consciousness. Soon he stirred slightly, opened his eyes, and in a far-off voice asked where he was. As she saw this, she got up at once and in a very unconcerned voice said: “Sir, you have just had a little accident; your horse must have gotten away from you. I think you are all right now, though you did have quite a fall.” Phillip Hartley, for it was he, while she was talking, be- came more and more like himself and slowly got upon his feet. He could not help being attracted by the girl, for, due to excitement, her eyes, as blue as the sky above, sparkled, and her checks were flushed to an unusually be- coming hue. “I don’t know how to thank you for your kindness. I guess I’d still be lying in that ditch if you had not come to my assistance. I can’t imagine why Search Light be- came so frightened at just a piece of white paper in the road. But he is fiery anyway. Oh, in this excitement I have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Phillip Hartley; I guess you have heard about our being here. May I have the pleasure of not only knowing the name of my rescurer, but of seeing much of her in the future ? Oh, what have you there ? Are you really an artist ? Why that is just splendid. My father must see it, for he en- joys collecting sketches and bits of hand-painted scenery. Phil, had grown more and more excited as he spoke, and, due to his weak condition, he leaned heavily against a tree. At his sudden outburst Mercer told him (she never knew when or how) all about her father’s blindness and her being unable to realize her dream of becoming an artist on account of not having the necessary means to study.

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THE MISSILE. 15 to-nature painting, “Home.” Consequently, she was su- premely happy. Louise Montgomery had invited her to spend a week with her in New York before returning to Oakland; and as she had worked hard, she felt that she could conscientiously enjoy this visit. Louise had been so good to her when she came, and remained her friend during their four years’ course in art together. She had spoken to her often of her brother and his chum Phil., and on the day before leaving for home she said, as she pleaded with Mercer to persude her to come. Oh, etc. “Oh, Mercer, I am so anxious for you to meet my bro- ther, and his friend especially. You must come, for they will be there in a few days.” Two days later found Mercer in Louise’s elegant home. Mrs. Montgomery planned a little dinner for Mercer and Louise on the night of their arrival, for then Mercer might meet many people, as well as Robert Montgomery and Phil. “Now put on that lovely pale blue crepe-de-chine dress, which shows your delicate color and glorious eyes to per- fection, for remember you must look your best to meet so many people to-night, especially Phil.; he’s so good- looking;” said Louise to Mercer. Mercer could not understand why every one was anx- ious for her to meet this Phil. He must be very popu- lar in New York, and extremely pleasant. Somehow I cannot help from thinking I know him, she mused. And then she thought of a Phillip Hartley, who was good- looking too, whom she met in such an extraordinary way, but whom she had not seen since. “I owe my whole life to his father, nay rather to him,” she whispered, “for it could not have happened without him.” But strange to