Piedmont High School - Tris Yearbook (Piedmont, WV)

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l ,. I Fllll5 I 1926 j Her husband sent for all the servants and, after attending to Lady Duncan, rushed up to Albert's room and saw a scene too horrible to describe. My boy! My boy! To think that your life is cut off just when was beginning to have much hope for you! Who could want to take your inno- cent life ? As the bereaved father mourned over his son, the cook burst into the room and exclaimed, Master Georges is gone! When I Went to take his breakfast this morning I found his room empty and my keys gone! Duncan jumped to his feet with Oh, I see now. Georges killed him to get the ring, for see! it is gone! But how did he see the ring, since he was- n't present at the ceremony? Sir, I couldn't find my keys to his room this morning. He must have taken them from me when I carried up his supper yesterday evening g then last night, hearing all the talking and laughing, he must have sneaked out of his room and in this way saw Albert receive the ring. Would that such a custom as bestowing that infernal ring upon one's son had never been established and I would still have my boy! But We will find that fiend Georges, and he shall pay, yes, he shall pay dear for my boy's death. So help me God I After a hasty meal and a tearful farewell from Lady Duncan, the be- reaved father and his seven faithful servants set out in search of the mur- derer. There was a dense forest on the outside of the Duncan grounds, and through this forest Duncan led his servants. They plodded on and on, searching every hiding place available, but not a trace of Georges could be found. Daylight darkened into night and still the little band kept on. A- bout midnight they stopped to build a fire and rest. As they sat there a faint noise rustled the leaves just outside the circle of light made by the fire. Duncan signalled the men to be on their guard, and the seven m.en sat ready to jump at another sound. Staring into the darkness one of the men perceived just behind Duncan a crouching figure with tousled head and shining eyes. The man sat transiixed, unable to speak. The figure crept sliowly up behind Duncan and with a triumphant snarl he jumped and - Wo e up. K.AfrHlER1NE CRAWFOIRD '26 '63 Page fifty-eight

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fa Z1 jaigbt nf Ztaurrur The night was calm and still. The owls with their weird hoots occa- sionally broke the stillness of the night. The moon had been shining, but a passing cloud came between this orb and the earth, causing a dense black- ness. A dog somewhere in the distance howled ominously. At this moment a cry broke upon the air-such a piercing cry that would have caused one's blood to run cold. :F is X SF The Sabbath dawned calm and clear. Duncan I-Ball, the hall which had been the scene of great festivities the previous night, lay peacefully dozing under the warm sun. But presently the castle took on a more active ap- pearance as the inmates began stirring around. Lord Duncan, the beloved master of the castle, was a handsome man of forty years. He and his wife and one son, Albert, lived happily in their castle. Lord Duncan was a descendant of one of the oldest families in Eng- land, and he and his family were loved and respected by all who knew them. Duncan had one secret from the world and that was his brother, Geor- ges. Georges was a lunatic from birth, and Duncan kept him in a room in the top of the castle, Where he was secluded from the world. No one ex- cept the family and the servants, whom Duncan trusted faithfully, knew of Georges' existence. He was not a raving maniac, but if excited he would be dangerous. He was fascinated by any sort of jewels and would never rest until he had a number of them, so Duncan kept him well supplied with imi- tations. The previous night Duncan had celebrated the sixteenth birthday of his son by inviting the nobility of England to be present when he bestowed upon his son a certain valuable ring set with brilliant and costly jewels. This ring had been passed from generation to generation to the oldest son in the family on his sixteenth birthday. Thus when Albert reached this age the customary ceremony was celebrated. This morning as Lord and Lady Duncan sat in the dining room discuss- ing the night's entertainment, Milly, a faithful old servant, rushed toward the-m, her face deathly white and her eyes amazingly wide. When she re- covered her breath she exclaimed, He's dead! Who ? came from Lady Duncan as she sprang to her feet. Oh Albert, my poor, poor boy I wailed Milly. Wha-What's that ? stammered Duncan. He stood staring at Milly, and wondered if he didn't have two lunatics in the house. Oh, when I passed Albert's room this morning I saw a smear of blood on the door, and when I went inside there lay Albert in a pool of blood, with a slit in his throat. Oh! Oh l A little cry broke from Lady Duncan as she sank to the floor in a heap. Page fifty-seven

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f ,, QH5 ' , 1926 ' l 3H1Iarie's Qliaster llaat Marie Simpson rushed into the kitchen where her mother was prepar- ing the evening meal and exclaimed, Oh Mother! I have just seen the prettiest Easter hat imaginable at Mrs. Hardy's shop. It's tan with pink rosebuds, foliage, and black velvet ribbon, and just think, it's only ten dol- lars. Ten dollars! I don't think that is cheap. Oh Mother, don't say I can't get it. Grace Meredith is paying twelve dollars for hers. Her father makes that in one day, where your daddy only makes half of that, besides she is an only child, and there are three of you children. But Mother, Mable can wear her old one, and George only needs a cap and suit. I think I heard a certain young lady say that she would be the one to wear the last summer's hat this year when Mable volunteered to wear hers a second summer last year, said her mother with a sigh. She felt very sad over her oldest daughter's selfishness. Oh but Mother, listen, I am invited to Grace's lawn fete and I can wear it then too. Well, help me with the supper and then we'll talk the matter over this evening with Mable, as I think she ought to have a new hat this season. After the supper things were all put away, the family gathered around the pleasant fire in the sitting room as it was a cold day in March. Marie waited for her mother to broach the subject of the hat. At last Marie couldxstand it no longer, so she said to Mable, Did you see that tan hat in Mrs. Hardy's window as you came from school? Yes, Mattie Wilson told me that you said you were going to get it. I thought y-ou told Mother you were going to wear your last year's hat two summers, said Mable with a smile. That was last summer, though you see. I positively can't wear it this year. What would a new dress look like without a new hat, and on Easter, too ? The one you want costs ten dollars. I don't think Mother can afford that much for one hat. As for me, I don't want any for Easter, but Mother can buy me one later. Who is this I hear doesn't want a new Easter hat? I thought all girls wanted a new one then, her father said. Mable says she doesn't, said Marie. , I And why don't you. if I may ask ? I have my reasons for not wanting one. I'll tell you after Easter, Page fifty-nine