Piedmont High School - Tris Yearbook (Piedmont, WV)

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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 ,

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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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El abruptly, Where did you find Miss Clark's note book? I don't understand, faltered Ruth in a frightened manner. Four days ago Miss Clark's note book disappeared. She immediately reported the loss to me. I urged her to keep it a secret, thinking the book had been mislaid. She gave me a list of the notes the book contained. Here Miss White paused and held up the two essays, then she continued: These two essays were both written about a trip through a paper mill, and it seems to me that one is original, the other copied. Miss 'Clark has visit- ed the mill, her note book is lost and her work bears every mark of orig- inality, while yours is a poor imitation. What have you to say? Ruth straightened and looked directly into May's eyes and asked: Do you think I have stolen your note book ? May answered rather nervously: I think that you just borrowed it. Then ,Ruth spoke again: I didn't know the book was lost. It is true that I asked May to lend me her note book and when she refused I was ang- ry, far too angry to see that she was right. That night I spent two hours at the paper mill and I never dreamed that May would select that particular subject for her essay this week. The fact that her work seems original and mine copied is easily explained by the difference in our abilities as writ- ers. You may call the superintendnt and learn whether I am telling you the truth or not. It is true I hate to write, but I am no thief. Miss White and May both felt responsible for the unjust accusation made. Then May asked: But what could have become of my note book? I didn't take it home. You certainly did have the book when you went out of the room, an- swered Ruth and then said to Miss White: You know how May is about her desk, her lessons, her everything, she can't bear to see anything out of wplace. She probably went straight home that day and being through with the book returned it to its proper place thoughtlesslyf' May spoke sympathetically: I remember now, Miss White, I know exactly where it is. Oh, Ruth, can you ever forgive me? Ruth entirely ignored the question. All thru the afternoon Ruth was so angry she could hardly wait 'till the dismissal bell rang, but at last it.did ring, and she hurried home before any of the girls said anything to her. On reaching home she went straight to her room and tried to study, but she couldn't, so she got up and went over to her bed and lay down. She went to sleeup and when she awoke she wondered what time it was. Look- ing at her watch she realized it was time for supper. She immediately went down stairs. Her father and mother were already at the table, so she sat down and began eating. During the meal her mother said: Ruth, I found your lace collar that you were so sure Ella fthe maidj had taken. I have not told her that it is found, as you were the one who accused her. I thought it was only right that you should go to her yourself. Poor Ella has had a hard day of it. Pay: ninety-one