Prescott High School - Hassayamper Yearbook (Prescott, AZ)

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Dan. “just as soon as you give me the job. I have already asked her. Well, boy, I gave you credit for more sense than that: you can't marry her, I tell you. If you do I won't give you the job, and knowing that the position was what Dan had banked on he thot he had scored on his son, and Dan realized, too, that he could not marry without the posi- tion. “Well, Dad, tell me why. “Why?” Mr. Taylor ex- claimed. “Why? Can't you see why? What have you got besides that job? S'posin' you get sick and didn’t have me, what then? Think of these things, boy.” Dan could see some argument in his father's words, but in the buoyancy of youth these were mere trifles, yet he knew, too, that he had better try and win his father around in some way or other. So, in- stead of answering, he left the room and went to tell his sweetheart bad news instead of the good he had planned on. As soon as he entered the door Marthina knew something was wrong and she challenged him with it. With a heavy heart Dan told her his father’s words, but this did not daunt the little girl. She had all the confidence in the world in Dan and when he looked into the big brown eyes he felt some of her confidence in himself. “But, Toots,” this was his pet name for Marthina. “what are we going to do?” he asked. “1 don’t know, Dan, she answered, “but you wait until to- morrow and see your father again and maybe he will have thot better.” “You don’t know father like I do,” Dan said with a sorry little smile, “but, we'll hope for the best.” Dan went away that night with renewed hope, determined to see his father again and persuade him that his course was proper. It was the next evening when Dan again brot the mat- ter up. Mr. Taylor rather expected it and was in a good humor and prepared to reason with his son. To Dan’s question of his still being opposed to the marriage, he said he was, and con- tinued. saying, “Dan. you are a good boy and I like your little girl, but it isn’t a business proposition for you to go into this thing without something more than a job. Mow about it, have you seen the Senator yet?” “Xo,” said Dan, “he won't be back from Washington till next week.” “Well, my boy. I’ll tell you what I'll do. You give up this proposition for awhile and go into the plant and work, and work well, and for every thousand dollars that you save I will give you two thousand in Power stock. When yon have fifteen thousand dollars T will give my free consent to your marriage. Your salary instead as T first said, will be three, so you can shorten the time. Take my advice, though, and don't try to hasten the time by speculating, it might make it longer.” and Mr. Taylor laughed. Dan knew two things; that this 22

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Hhere ilherp’0 a Hill ©liere’s a Hag DAN TAYLOR had just received his degree as an Elec- trical Engineer at the University of Arizona, and was now working at his father’s plant familiarizing him- self with the details of operation preparatory to taking the position of superintendent which it was his father's intention he should have on his graduation. Dan was a fine big fellow, broad-shouldered, a fine chin that bespoke determination, and grey eyes in which there always lurked a smile. He had done well at college and his father’s faith in him was unbounded. Mr. Taylor, Dan’s father, was the president and principal stockholder in the Southwestern Power Company which sup- plied power and light to the city of Roanoke. Arizona. He had come to the country in the early days and had seen his plant grow from a small one-engine affair to its present great size with its modern turbines and generators, and now an- other pleasing step in his progress was his son’s taking the important position of superintendent. The time set for Dan’s accession was at the end of August. Everything seemed to be settled, but even the best of plans miscarry. It all came about through the meddlings of that mischief-maker, Dan Cupid. While home on his Christmas vacation Dan made the acquaintance of Miss Marthina Sherman, daughter of the Hon. H. F. Sherman, United States Senator from Arizona, and in the few weeks of vacation a strong friendship sprang up be- tween them and on Dan’s return to School a correspondence was started that paved the way for a greater feeling when they met again at the beginning of summer. There were no objections on the part of Dan’s or the girl’s parents to the young folks going together, in fact it was rather encouraged, the parents little suspecting that their friendship had ripened into love. The future looked extremely bright to the lovers and Dan knowing his position with his father was secure was led to a proposal which met with a joyous and ready ac- ceptance by Marthina. Neither of them gave the least thot to any objections on the part of their parents and their con- sent was never asked until one night Dan resolved to tell his father. They were sitting in the library, Mr. Taylor read- ing his evening paper. Dan’s mind was in a whirl as to how he should broach the subject, and at last broke out with. “Say Dad,” Mr. Taylor grunted assent without looking up, “Marthina Sherman and I are going to be married as soon as I am superintendent.” Then Mr. Taylor woke up. “Mar- ried !” he thundered, married!” and gasped for breath, lack- ing words to express his horror at any such idea. “Yes,” said 21

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proposition was final and that the whole idea was to delay his happiness. He rapidly figured that it would be at least three years before he would have fulfilled the conditions. Three years: the time appalled him. Three years when all his plans had been laid for three months. His heart sank ; he tried to look cheerful and as he left the room he said, “All right. Dad.” As he had promised the night before he now went to tell Marthina the ultimatum. She had such a way of seeing the bright side of things that whenever he felt badly he always went to her for consolation and unfailingly he got it. Tonight he hardly expected it, but in the face of all their dis- appointment, that she felt as much as he, she managed to cheer him up. “Well,” he said, “here’s the proposition: it will he three years before I will have enough, unless I have a rich uncle leave me about fifteen thousand dollars, and I can’t think of any right now.” “Well. Dan.” said Marthina. “why don’t you form a company and build a plant of your own?” and she laughed a little at her own suggestion. Dan smiled, too. He knew that it was an impossibility. Their conversa- tion turned to that subject closest to their hearts, that of their union and its unavoidable delay. As he left that night his sweetheart’s last words, “Don’t you worry, Dan, I am willing to wait for you,” and her little smile and the love in her big brown eyes told Dan more than words could express. It seemed to stir him to his very depths and he went home re- solved to fulfill his father's demands in other and quicker ways than merely saving his salary. Sleep did not come very soon, and as he lay there think- ing, the words of his sweetheart, “Build a power plant of your own,” came and went thru his brain. He wondered where he would get capital for any such proposition and then the idea behind the Wallingford stories came into his mind. Dan had read every one of these stories and longed to per- form some of these wonderful financial exploits himself, and now more than ever. He thot of every plan possible but without satisfaction, and finally resigned himself to sleep to dream he had formed a power company along Wallingford’s line and sold it to his father with immense profit to himself. The voice of his mother calling him to breakfast woke him out of this. The day was Sunday and feeling his disappointment he took his rifle, called to his collie and together they set out for a walk. Unconsciously their steps led them up the river. When they were a mile or so out of town Dan sat down on a rock to contemplate the scenery. Here was the Tug River, a stream of considerable size, coming out from between two 23