Petoskey High School - Observer Yearbook (Petoskey, MI)

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a 'green' messenger, indeed, who had made such a mistake, if one had been made, for the street was in the so-called 'Swamp' fvery different from the fashionable avenue.J It took but a moment to find 136 and a little bit to go up the dark, dingy stairway and inquire if anyone by the name of Bentonne lived there. The janitor's eyes twinkled as he answered, s Oi, and if 'ye'll be afther lookin' for a cook, ye'll shure be afther iindin' one of the best this side of ould Ireland where me mither is. CThe Irishman recollected a certain generous piece of cream pie given to him by the dusky mammy.J b Thanking him and gladdening his heart with a generous tip, she hurried up the steps and knocked at a door. There was scuifling of feet, then two big white orbs set in darkest ebony looked cautiously around the edge of the door. The old mammy looked rather suspicious at sight of the wealthy white girl. Are you Mrs. Benton? Jeanne inquired quickly. Yas'm, honey, Ah is, then, hospitably, Won't yo' all come right in heah, and tell Mammy what yo' all hab on yo' min'? Thank you. The room was vacated but as she seated herself Jeanne felt that eyes were watching her. Yesterday, she began, I bought a hat from Madame G-, and this morning it had not arrived so I could wear it to church. My maid suggested that it might have been sent to this street, by mistake, instead of to Hamilton Avenueg so to save time and anxiety, I came myself to inquire. I hope you will not think I am intruding. The old mammy blinked and said, hesitatingly, Yas'm-yas'm. Ah just knowed dat' de Lawd and de blessed angels ub Hebben didn't bring dat hat to mah Jane. It shuahly ain't hahdly neber done. Jane! she called. Yas'm, Jane appeared, her hands hidden behind her back. What hab yo' all got in yo' hainds? Jane produced the hat and immediately handed it over. But the look of profound disappointment on the gir1's face did not escape Jeanne. Then she did a strange thing. Drawing back with a surprised look on her face she stammered: Why, a-, why, I have been mistaken. This is not my hat! Oh, Pm so sorry to have troubled you! And you say the hat was sent by messenger? . ' Ah donf know, honey, Ah found de box wid de hat in it outside ub de doh dis mawnin'. . Oh, I'm-sure this was a present from the angels, after all, she said, rising to go. p 'fDe Lawd help us, Ah b'lieves yo' all hab done tole de truf. Dat hat couldn't hab got heah no other Way, ah knows. Good mawnin' honey. Outside, Jeanne looked at her watch and found it too late for church anyway. V. E., '23. PAGE SEVENTY-FIVE

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THE EASTER HAT. After all, Jane is rather a common name, especially for a girl whose father's bank account keeps the income tax collectors busy for a week out of every year, and who is herself a bit too conscious of the fact. Then we can hardly blame her for changing it a tiny bit, just for con- venience's sake Cshe was to travel in Francel and christening herself Jeanne. Her mother thought it 'sweet' and her brothers thought it rather 'silly' but neverthless the name stuck because of her own per- sistence. So, returning to New York, she was known to society as Jeanne Bentonne. She did not know that another possessed her name, moins le frivolitie, just plain Jane Benton, or perhaps she would have been glad of the change.. Jeanne, a little before Easter-time, found herself confronted with the extreme displeasure of providing herself with Easter clothes. She hated the task of trying on clothes and did not take much interest in them. Nevertheless it had to be done, and so, the day before Easter, she and her mother, having selected a coat, gloves, etc., went to Madame G-'s exclusive millinery shop to select a hat. Let me see that one with the wide brim and crushed flowers, Jeanne demanded. ' . Oui, mademoiselle, eet is ver' beautiful! Charmant! Exquisite! C'est parfait pour vous! exclaimed the little French lady in an admiring wheedling tone. Yes, I think it goes very nicely with my coloring. But is it not a little too common? Ah, mais non, eet ees zee hat originale! Si charmant, mademoisel- le, pour votre type de beaute l Won over at last, Jeanne took the beautiful creation and laid it in its box. Your address, mademoiselle? . N136 Hamilton, madamef' Merci, The next morning Jeanne dressed early for church. Bring me my hat, please, Marie, she commanded her French maid. Eet has no' arrive, mademoisellef' Call Madame G- immediately! I simply must have it now, Jeanne demanded, frowning. In a few moments Marie returned, an anxious look on her face. Eet was sent yesterday, mademoiselle, mais eet has no' arrive' here. Then her face brightened. Peut-etre, eet was sent by meestake to Hamilton Street. Send someone then, right away, and inquire. But wait a moment. I shall go myself. Order the car. In a few moments Jeanne was making her way toward Hamilton Street. As she stepped on the accelerator she exclaimed to herself, I'll certainly have to hurry or I'll never get to church on time! In fifteen minutes she reached her destination. It must have been PAGE SEVENTY-FOUR

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A NElGHBOR'S UNNEIGHBORLY MISTAKF.. Now if you'll just turn around, I'll see if it hangs all right in back. Molly's husband with a half-finished dress draped -on him obedient- ly turned, and his wife, satisfied, commenced extracting pins, saying as she did so, Isn't it convenient, Bob, that you and I are almost the same size l It may be convenient, returned her husband a trifle shortly, but it's darn humiliating to have the men in the office find silk threads hang- ing to my clothes. Take that brush there Molly, and be so kind as to be my valet as I have been in being your model. Molly laughingly complied and bade him good-by. After a long, hard day in the office, Bob returned to his small but comfortable bungalow, to find a note on the smooth, round surface of the dining room table which read: Have had a telegram from Bay City saying father is seriously ill with typhoid. You'll find your lunch on the dining room table-I'll be back as soon as possible. Molly. H'm-well I'm afraid the old gentleman can't last long. How thoughtful of Molly to have a hot supper ready. Bob commented as he stepped into the spotless kitchen. Bob had just finished dishes, when he heard a knock at the door, and opened it to see the plump wash-lady, Mrs. Ricks. Good evening, Mr. Morrison, I've just brought back the washing- It's 32.50 this time. I'm afraid I can't give you the right change, Mrs. Ricks, but if you'll just wait a second, I'll go with you and stop at the nearest drug store and have this five spot changed. Bob might have been greatly annoyed could he have known that their neighbor to the right of his well-trimmed hedge, Miss Sara Bennet, a maiden lady of 45, had stared with raised eyebrows at the indistinctly outlined figures that issued from the pretty bungalow, and could he have heard her remark to her pet parrot: When the cat's away the mice will play and it's quite easy to see that our handsome young bride-groom is no exception to the rule. And it's quite likely, she continued, That he invited this woman to supper with him, as I've been keeping an eye on the house ever since I saw wifey go away this afternoon. I surmised that there would be something doing-husband's are never loyal long-that's why I have never mar- ried. . - Poll wearily turned on his perch, away from his talkative mistress and settled himself comfortably for the night. After paying the wash-lady, Morrison strolled on through town, meditating on his good luck in having Molly for a wife, when a brilliant- ly lighted show window caught his attention. A sign in the window read: Adjustable Models at Half Price-Save Your Wife Trouble in Sewing-Sale Lasts Only Two Hours. By Jiminy, Bob exclaimed buoyantly, She shall have one if it takes my last cent. I'll have one delivered this very night. And so forthwith a model of the very latest make was taken to Morrison's home at 10 o'clock. PAGE SEVENTY-SIX