Piedmont High School - Tris Yearbook (Piedmont, WV)

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l. We rl ters now ? But the old man, who seemed not a whit disposed to hurry with his work, replied: No, Smoking clears my head and wakes me up. Bur-r-r-whiz-z-ding-ding! went the clock. Tormented lightning ! cried the deacon, staring up and dropping his pipe on the stove, What in the creation is that ? Whiz-ding! ding! ding! went the old clock, furiously. Sally, who was trembling from head to toe, said: It is only the clock striking five. Powers of mercy I cried the deacon, striking five? Why, it has struck a hundred already. Deacon Culpepper, cried the deacon's wife, who had hastily dressed herself, and-' now came plunging down the stairs in the wildest state of a- larm, what is the matter with the clock ? The goodness only knows, replied the old man. It's been in the fam.ily over a hundred years and never have I known it to carry on so before. Whiz-Bang! Bang! Bang! went the old clock. It will burst itself, said the old lady, shedding ag flood of tears, and there won't be nothing left of it. It's bewitched, said the deacon, who retained some New England superstitution in his nature. Anyhow, he said, I am going to see what's got into it. Oh, don't! cried his daughter affectionately, seizing one of his coat tails, while his wife hung to the other. Don't, cried Hooth of the women to-gether. Let go of my coat, shouted the deacon. I ain't afraid of it. But the women would not let go, so the deacon slipped off his coat, while from the suddenness of the jerk the two women fell to the floor, he darted forward and laid his hand on the door of the clock case. But he could not open it, because Joe was holding it with a death grip. The deacon now became dreadfully frightened. He gave one more tugg an unearthly yell, as of a fiend in distress, came from inside, and then the clock case pitched head foremost on the floor, smashed its face, and wrecked itself. The current of air put out the light. The deacon, the old lady and Sally fled upstairs, and Joe Sikes gathered himself from the clock and went from the deacon's house by the same way he entered. The next day all Pikesville was alive with the story of the deacon's clock, and though many believed the versions, some and especially Joe, af- fected not to believe the whole affair, hinting that the deacon had been tasting some cider, and that it was all imagination about the clock. LORNA C OLE '27 Page eighty-nine

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lrl The igztnitnzbzh Qllurk It was in Pikesville on a Sunday night at about half past eleven o'clock that a human leg might have been seen entering Deacon Henry Culpepper's kitchen window. The leg was followed finally by the entire person of a live- ly youth. Joe Sikes, thus in the dead of night, won his way into the deac- on's kitchen. Formerly the deacon had told Joe not to darken his door again. Joe promised him he wouldn't, but the deacon didn't say anything about the windows, so Joe took the advantage. When he landed in the kitchen it was as cold as an iceberg and all the lights were out. Joe could not move for fear that he would wake the old folks. So he stayed in the same position waiting for Sally, the deacon's daughter, to arrive. A Finally, the beautiful maid descended the stairs with a tallow candle and a box of matches. After greeting Joe, Sally made a roaring fire in the cooking stove, and the happy couple sat down to enjoy the sweet interchange of hopes and views. But the course of true love ran no smoother in old Culpe4plper's kitchen than it did elsewhere, and Joe, who was making up his mind to treat himself to a kiss, was startled by the voice of the deacon shouting from up- stairs: Sally, what are you getting up in the middle of the night for ? Joe whispered: Tell him it is morning. I can't tella fib, said Sally. I'll make it the truth then, said Joe, and running to the huge, old fashioned clock that stood in the corner, he set it at five. Then from above the voice of the deacon was heard again. Look at the clock and tell me what time it is. Sally responded, It is five by the clock, and corroborating the words the clock struck five. The lovers sat down again to continue their conversation, when sud- denly the staircase began to creak. Good gracious, it's father, cried Sally. Hide me, Sal! Hide me quick, cried the nervous Joe. Oh! Where can I hide you ? cried the distracted girl. I know. said Joe. I will squeeze into the clock case. Without another word he concealed himself in the case and drew the door behind him. The deacon came down fully dressed, and seating himself by the stove, pulled out his pipe and lighted it, and commenced smoking very deliberate- ly and calmly. Five o'clock, eh ? said he. Well, I shall have time to smoke three or four pipes, then I'll go and feed the critters. The dutiful Sally suggested: But pa, hadn't you better feed the crit- Page eighty-eight l

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Kaus F125 X C Beaping The Iaarnest There was a sad heart in the low-stained, dark little house that stood humbly by the roadside under some elms. Ruth Scott had just returned from school and was sitting in her room trying to study her lessons, but her mind was troubled about something else. To think, that after all the years she and May Clark had been friends, that May should think her guilty of so contemptible an act. It was unpardonable. She would never forgive May, not if she lived a thousand years. English had always been iRuth's weak point, and when the new teach- er announced that every Senior in the class was to hand in an essay every Thursday, Ruth saw where her daily grades would fall far below the pass- ing grade. Ruth's first two essays were so ipoor that Miss Vlfhite called her atteition to them. Writing was fun for May and she always made good mar s. During May's summer vacation she had been given the opportunity to visit a paper mill, a glass factory and two other factories. She had readily accepted the invitation and had immediately invited Ruth to accompany her. Ruth refused to go because she knew May would suggest taking notes which would spoil her trip. So Ruth did not go and May got enough mater- ial for several themes. Now, that the weekly themes were a necessity Ruth longed for May's note book. One day Ruth asked May to lend her the note book, and, altho they were good friends, May refused. At this refusal Ruth was very angry. Even then, matters would have been adjusted .pleasantly had not May's note book disappeared the very next day. She had taken it to school and had forgotten it entirely until after her return from lunch. Ruth, who brought her lunch, had stayed in the classroom during dinner hour. May discovered her loss immediately after her return, and at once re- ported to the English teacher. She also told the teacher she was sure Ruth had the book. Promise me, Miss Clark, that you will not mention this to anyone for a week, said Miss White, the teacher, and May promised. For the next week the two former friends scarcely exchanged a look, and on the day the essays were to be handed in, May had almost forgotten that she had lost her book. The next morning after returning the corrected essays, Miss White withheld two of the corrected papers turned in by.Ruth and May, and at the 'close of the period she announced: Miss Scott and Miss Clark will re- main after the class has passed out. ' Ruth looked at May Wonderingly, but May looked straight ahead. When the door was closed after the last student, Miss White addressed Ruth Page ninety ,