Port Arthur High School - Sea Gull Yearbook (Port Arthur, TX)

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though Hthe onliest man said to Keith, HBoy, are you willing to eat this? and though Keith vowed he would see the dog ate some of everything first, we noticed they ate it-evei'y speck! Then, that afternoon was the lovliest, laziest afternoon! We all washed dishes and talked about our old school days, then Beth made fudge. She cer- tainly looked sweet with that bunch of curls up on the top of her head, the way Hthe ouliest man always liked them. As she stood there offering Keith some fudge, her blue dress just matched the blue of her eyes, and she looked exactly as she had eight years ago. Both had always been one of the prettiest and sweetest girls in high school. She was Min for all the funeas well as her share of the work, too. Everyone had loved heriand especially a jolly, popu- lar boy of those days, who had since developed into Hthe onliest man of today. UBeth, I said, Hl thought you were the young lady who intended teach- ing art in the big school! I. thoughti - But here Beth laughingly broke in, HNever mind, young lady-donlt you say a word! How about a certain young lady who intended becoming the greatest novelist of today. Thus we spent the rest of the time, until finally Keith declared it to be so late that he wasn yt so sure of not being afraid to go home The next evening we had dinner with John and his wife-or rather Dr. Rader and his wife. Haven't 1 said anything about it before? My goodness! Well. John was the most successful surgeon in town. He had only been prac- ticing two years, and had completely taken all the trade from the other doctors It was rumored that he had been offered a fine place in a New York sanitarium. but had refused to leave his Uold home tnwu -vaml, more important than all thisalohn has a most delightful wife. She is very smart, and most bewitch- incly pretty. After hearing about how stern John was with his patients, I couldn't keep from laughing as I watched his eyes kindle and his smile brighten as she playfully told him that she Hwould never marry a doetor-nian againehe never was at home! HYou have powers untold, young wonianfl I told her, ltif you can make him do anything! Why, sometimes Johns and my will would clash so over a class problem that one could almost see the lightning caused by the shock But I smiled, for I knew that though John had a decided will of his own, he was always one to be trusted you know he was when we always let him be business managereand treasurer! John was also noted for his good humor and kind heart andewhy, how did I happen to foi'get-his continually teasing Herbert. thei-e was Herbert! HDo you know, John, I said, Hllve often read about that representative from Texas that is creating such a stir in politics, named Willard, and ltve often wondered if that could hea HWhy of course, Ruth, John broke in, too enthusiastic to wait any longer, Hof course its che Colonel! Well, that started us talking about

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them. They said that he had a ranch there and seemed to he getting wealthy. His ranch was close to Tucson and as we had to stay over there for several hours we wired Francis to meet us. Well, I was surprised to see Francis! He looked exactly the same, only larger, and he still grinned in the same Hlittle boy fashion that we all knew. But to get back to the surprising feature as I said, we had wired Francis to meet us, and therefore had expected him-hutiwe had not expected the charming young creature with the large brown eyes and clusters of black curls, that looked with undisguised admiration at her grinning young husband I was sure that she was Mrs. Rusting even before he introduced us, for who but a wife looks at a man in that ttyou-are-the-grvatoxt-person-inethr-wurldy, way? Didnit I feel the same way about Keith? tVasn't l awfully proud of my great big, brown eyed, brown haired, young civil engineer? Well, I think so! Francis insisted that we spend the time of our stay visiting his ranch, and 1 did want to get acquainted with that dear little wife of his, so we accepted his invitation. 1t didnit take long to cover the few miles to his place in their big touring ear, and it was not long before we were ushered into a big, comfortable, roomy house with plenty of windows and doors, and furniture that was made to use as well as to look at. But I must hurry. You see, it was my very first Visit to a ranch, and l was perfectly delighted;hut finally we had to leave and we just did catch our train, and wave goodbye to my old sehooltivllow and his friendly little wife before we were out of sight, From then on our trip was long and tedious, but we finally reached Bean- montt Here Elizabeth and her Honliest man met us at the station in their car and we immediately started forittllomo! Many a time had I motored over that old road between Beaumont and Port Arthur, but never before with the same feeling, the same love for each turn and each familiar roadmark! i could hardly talki Everyone else seemed to be talking at once, but I stared 'with strained eyes to catch the first sight of that dear old Port Arthur. Finally, after years, it seemed to me, it came in sightafirst, those big, black Texas Company tanksathen Port Arthur! There were tall skyscrapers nowil could see them outlined in the distance, and long before we reached Blamhs Bend we were in the city. It had grown mar- velouslyi Now the Hmodel addition was all built up and it certainly fur- nished a pleasing entrance to our city by the sea. I am going to skip over those first few days. They were gorgeous! Com- pany from morning until night, and everyone talking at once. I shall never forget those first days of our homecoming! The third day we were home, Keith and I spent, the day with Elizaheth-- and Hthe onliest maILH We had so much fun! Beth and 1 fixed lunchaand

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Herbert. John said he was goingy to Washington to see about some experiments to be carried on in a couple of weeks. That gave me an idea. I always had wanted to go to Washington, ever since I had studiet Hcivics in high school, HWhy so quiet, Ruth? Mildred asked. liJust thinking, I answered. HYes, and just thinking' generally means some mischief, when accom- panied by that little grin, Keith said. But I was too interested to be bothered by Keithls teasing at present. ltJohn, I asked, HKeith and I still have two weeks of our month to travel let't. tYhy cault you take Mildred, and let Keith and I go too, then we can all go to see Herbert ?ly ' HFine!H John cried. HHow about it, people? That would be a dandy tripathen maybe Mildl'etlll-pinching his wifels cheek-Hwonlt be thinking of not liking her doctor-husband. I knew by Keithls smile before he spoke that we could go, While coffee was being served we planned our trip, and it was late that night before Keith and I left for home The next day, Keith and I stayed all day with Rolland and Hthat ol4l sweetheart of his and Hone of my very best chums. I believe I enjoyed this day more than any previous one since my arrival, for I knew how this dear little home had been plannedealmost to the smallest detail. lt was certainly a wonderful little place, and they were veryY very happy Mrs. Lawrence still loved flowers, and dogs and catsein fact, she loved everything in their home, from the tiniest new baby bulldog to the baby grand piano that had been her birthday present. from Rolland. Rolland and Keith spent the afternoon looking over The Texas Company, while my old chum and l curled up on her bed and Htold secrets as 01' old. I knew they were ideally happyiaml l was glad that Rolland was so success- ttulejust lately Min R. L, Drake had been sent to New York and Rolland had taken his place. I knew Rolland would do well, for he was always one of the brightest and most deserving boys in schooliaml he had one of the Hdearest creatures God ever madeH for a wife Our trip to Washington was delightful. The weather was perfect, and the scenery some of the prettiest l have ever seenathrough Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginiaethen W'ash- ington, D. Oeand the Hcrowning glory of the class of y17 ! Herbert didnlt meet us at the train. We didn't let him know we were coming. W'heu we reached his offices we were told that at present he was busy, and were requested to wait in the outer office. After his visitor left, with- out sending in a eard-wo walked in uponiUThe Honorable Mr, Herhort Willard, Representative of 'lWxas'l-and the luau who had all the nation talk- ing over the wonderful things he had aceomplishutlt W'as he surprised? Well