Polytechnic High School - Polytechnic Student Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

Page 17 text:

quisite simplicity. I took out my simple dresses and hung them in the ward- robe. How did I dare to don one in this place? It was several minutes before I could compose myself enough to think clearly. I decided to trust to provi- dence, and, making myself as tidy as possible, ran down the broad stairs, and out on the verandah. Thank heaven, I thought, Alice is not here. I simply must collect my thoughts before she comes. Taking up a magazine I tried to read, but in vain, my thoughts would wander. A shanty! An old, tumble-down aifair!! With great tact, Alice left me alone until luncheon, which was served by a French maid in a blue and white dining room. The meal over, we sojourned to the porch, where we were just comfort- ably seated, when the sound of an approaching motor was heard. Alice jumped up, quickly. Gracious! It's the Boxers, and they're coming here. You run up and change your things and I'll receive them. How provoking! But, Alice, I haven 't a decent thing to wear, I protested. Alice looked shocked for a moment, but soon regained her composure. Never mind, she answered, go into my room and select anything you like. But do hurry down. She ran to meet them. I darted upstairs, and at last found her room. Plunging into the ward- robe, I surveyed the clothes ranged there. A dress for every occasion, I soliloquized, and later added, out of the depths of my bitter experience, an occasion for every dress. There were dainty morning gowns, rough tweed walking suits, afternoon dresses of delicate silks and several elaborate evening gowns. Heavy jerseys and mackinaws completed the list, while the footwear fastidiously arranged on trees, extended from dainty tango slippers to Are- ties. What possible use is this elaborate wardrobe to her, when she never goes anywhere, or does anything? I questioned myself, perplexedly. The sound of voices on the porch recalled me, and I hastily pulled out a pretty little rose silk, which I soon had on. It fitted me surprisingly well, but any of Alice's shoes were out of the question, as her foot was several sizes smaller than my own. Reverting to my own wardrobe I saw that I would have to choose between the walking-boots I had on, and a pair of low tan Oxfords. I decided upon the former. As I descended the stairs in my silk dress and boots, a feeling of nervous- ness took possession of me. The feeling increased as I stepped out on to the porch and saw the Boxers all staring at me inquiringly. As Alice introduced them to me, I felt that their gaze never left me. Mr. Boxer was a portly gen- tleman of fifty or so, dressed in white flannels and a golf-cap, his Wife a supercilious lady in black satin, with a lorgnette, and the two Misses Boxer, aggressive, sportsman-like creatures of nineteen or so, in jaunty outing clothes. They sat on the railing and looked me over as though I had been some curiosity, E221

Page 16 text:

city people. As yet, no Alice. I was about to step up to the station agent and ask the nearest and quickest way of getting to the shanty when I heard a chug! chug! outside. Stepping to the door I saw an enormous limousine slowly edging up to the platform. It was of a deep electric blue color, outlined in gold, and was driven by a colored chauffeur in blue and gold uniform. The instant the car had stopped, the man jumped from the seat and Hung the door open wide. A figure in gray broadcloth and fur and a large picture hat emerged. p Alice, I cried. My dear girl, she exclaimed, throwing her arms around me. You have come. What do you think of my new car? I had it sent up from the city last week in honor of your coming. It's magnificent, I murmured feebly, as she led me to it. In a moment we were inside, and Alice was leaning back on the gray cushions, talking in her usual rapid style. In the pauses she made Cand they were fewl I took the opportunity to glance out of the window. The macad- amized road wound, like a narrow gray ribbon, up a thickly wooded hill. Summer villas of white plaster, with gleaming red roofs shone here and there in the midst of the deep green. The air was clear and cool, for the sun had not yet fully risen above the deep woods. ' After we had ridden Cas I judgedj about a mile, the car rounded a little curve at the top of the hill, and paused before a stretch of terraced green. A house CAliee's shanty J of white plaster with a green roof, stood at the top of the little incline, and from it sloped a green lawn, laid out in regular design, with beds of Haming flowers. A cement walk led down from the ter- race to the road, and a porte cochere and driveway extended from it on the right. Up this driveway we rolledg the next moment we were walking toward the house. Alice led me up the steps to the big verandah, strewn with carpets and cushions. Magazines were temptingly displayed on cunning little tables, and a large hammock laden with pillows swung to and fro in the fresh breeze. Inside, I was struck dumb as I gazed around me. Why don't you say something? cried Alice. I know it isn't much, but still, I have tried to make it look as attractive as I could. I smiled wanly, and murmured something. I can not, for the life of me, remember what it was, but Alice seemed pleased. As she led me upstairs, I caught a glimpse of more oriental rugs, a grand piano, a huge fire-place, and deep, leather-covered chairs. There is your room, she said, opening a door at the head oi' the land- ing. Ring for Lucile if you need anything. Luncheon is served at one. She kissed me and left. After I had made sure that she was safely down- stairs, I sat down limply on the bed. So this was Alice 's shanty! I looked around the room. It was finished in green and gold, and furnished with ex- l2ll

Page 18 text:

recently imported from a foreign country. I don't know Cand probably never shalll whether it was the combination of the silk dress and the boots, or my general air of discomposure that amused them. At last the agonizing ordeal was over. They had managed to stay all the afternoon, and to make themselves thoroughly obnoxious. Mr. Boxer talked nothing but duck-shooting, Mrs. Boxer, nothing but the servant problem, and the two girls sat and stared at each speaker, a fact which very eiectively pre- vented me from joining in the conversation. I believe about the only remarks I made during the entire seanee were, Yes, thank you, No, I don't think so, and Oh, how interesting , a set of phrases which, you will admit, can be adapted to almost any remark, if only judiciously applied. When they had gone, I sank into a chair with such evident relief that Alice looked a trifle hurt. . I know they're tiresome, she said, but they are very infiuential, and one simply must cultivate them. I expect you will want to dress for dinner, now, so I shall leave you. The situation was becoming painful. Oh, I guess I'l1 leave this on, I ventured, but meeting Alice's cold stare, I suddenly retreated. Alice, I said desperately, you know I didn 't bring any good clothes with me. I was under the impression that you were only camping out. So we are, she replied frigidly. What do you call this, if you don't call it camping out? I forebore to reply. The situation became even more strained when I appeared at dinner in a last year's muslin frock, exceedingly mussed from its cramped quarters in my suitcase. After the dessert had been brought on, Alice spoke: I':ve invited a dozen or so people from the hotel for a little dance this evening in honor of your coming. We 'll have the hotel orchestra, too. It is really very good. Alice, I said, hoarsely, I came up here for a rest. I thought you said it was a quiet place. Why, so it is, she replied, looking hurt, one of the dullest places I ever saw. We 'll have to hurry. Again I forebore. . An hour later, I descended the stairs in an evening gown and my Oxfords, and found the lower hall and living rooms crowded with people. I recognized in one group, the party I had' seen at the station in the morning. The women looked charming, and were as carefully clothed and groomed as though attend- ing a senatorial reception. The men were immaculate in evening dress. As I' reached the bottom step, I stumbled. One of the men rushed to my aid, and I felt the eyes of the whole room upon me. I could see that my Oxfords were creating a distinct sensation. My feet seemed to be going in all directions on the highly polished iioor. The orchestra was playing a waltz and the dancers l23l