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

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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

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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

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were whirling giddily. Alice was the gayest of them all. Her words came back to ine: The utter loneliness of the place gets hold of one ! Loneliness! I laughed aloud. No, I told my partner, I was only thinking of a funny story I heard the other day. When the last guest had departed, I climbed wearily up the stairs. Be up early, called Alice after meg we're going on a long tramp. Some of the people from the hotel are going to call for us at eight. I shook my fist at her in the dark. It was simply unbearable! The more I thought of it the more maddening it seemed--the greater grew my rage. I, who had come up here for rest, to have all this thrust upon me. It was too much. It was not the excitement that I minded so much, though I was dead tired, then. It was the awful formality that had to be gone through with-the dressing for occasions when I had no dresses, the smiling brightly at people who, I knew, considered me a perfect guy, the long conversations about duck-shooting with individuals like the Boxers. I could not and would not bear it. Before I went to sleep I had evolved a plan. The next morning after breakfast we set out on our tramp. Thank heaven for one thing, I was suitably dressed this time! The party was small, and we got on famously. I was almost beginning to enjoy myself. But when, upon returning home, Alice announced that in the afternoon, several women Cinclud- ing Mrs. Boxerl had been invited to a little game of whist, and tea afterwards, I knew that my time had come. After lunch Alice went upstairs to dress, and I sat on the veranda. Sud- denly I dashed upstairs. Alice, oh Alice, I called. I've just got a telegram from my Uncle Jim, saying that he is dangerously ill, and wants me to come to the city immedi- ately. And I waved a slip of yellow paper so quickly that she could not see that there was no writing on it. Why, that's strange. I never knew before that you were particularly fond of him, she mused. In fact, I even thought you didn't get along very well. Oh, We're great friends, I continued rapidly, as I saw a vision of Mrs. Boxer and the lorgnette coming up the walk. So sorry! Perhaps I can come back, but I really must go now. There 's no time to lose. Of course not, said Alice, her sympathies aroused at once. You poor girl! Give him my regards, and come back immediately he is Well. On our Way to the train she chatted volubly: l'm afraid it's been rather dull. I looked at her sharply, but she was perfectly serious. I've had a lovely time, I lied. N 1, ,K ,, ,, ,, My uncle's illness has proved serious, and Alice looks for me in vain. Each week I receive a solicitous letter from her, beginning: I do hope your uncle is better, and ending, Be sure to come up as soon as you can. Slimmer is over now, and she is looking forward to my coming next year. Perhaps I shall have mustered enough courage and clothes, by that time, to accept. Of one thing, however, I am very sure: I will take my vacation before I go-not while I am there. The simple life is too strenuous for me! l24l