Providence Technical High School - Review Yearbook (Providence, RI)

Page 105 text:

1928 THE TECH REVIEW 101 Checkmated By Amerigo A. Peluni, '28 Night was setting over the shore road. Masses of gray clouds sullen and angry were fleeing across the frowning sky. A light fog rendered objects indistinct, and a drizzle added to the cheerless ap- pearance of the road. The distant roar of the surf heating mercilessly against aged rocks of the cliff was in tune with the howling wind shrieking through the pines that boarded the desolate highway. Scarcely diseernable under the cloak of the approaching night, a young man trudged along the muddy route. The col- lar of his coat was turned up. and his hands were hidden in the depths of his pockets. With his shoulders humped up to withstand the force of the wind, he forged forward against the buffetings of the gale. His dripping hat hung over his eyes, while his wet cloths clung to his body and impeded his progress. A gust of wind sweeping the road lifted his hat from his head, and as he dashed after the disappearing article of apparel, a shock of curly blond hair was disclosed. The hat was captured and returned to its ap- propriate place while mutterings excaped from his lips. “Whew! What a night to be out,” he exclaimed. Anger resounded in his voice. In fact, Norman Watson was lost though he did not know it. Two miles hack, instead of taking the left branch of two forking roads, he had taken the right. The left led to his destination the right led into the forest along the shore. Norman was having a difficult time. Not only was the walking tiresome hut the uncontrollable anger which surged through him multiplied his uneasiness and distress. Norman’s being there was the re- sult of one of his characteristic outbursts when lie often did things rashly, things which he strongly repented afterwards. Norman was the only son of Jeremiah Watson, the chief prohibition officer of the district. As the only child Norman had been brought up to have his own way. He was at this time close to twenty and attended the local high school where lie had attained his senior vear. Here •• the trouble began. Norman was in love. 'I'lie center of his attraction was Claire Winston. For several years they had been friends but friendship had ripened into love. As the most popular senior girl, Claire had many admirers. Roy Marsden, the captain of the football team, was Norman’s closest rival and bitter con- tention was the result. The day on which we find Norman lost on the shore road had been scheduled as a gala one for the senior class. The class social was to be held on that night. Excitement had rung through the school. That morning, meeting Claire in the cor- ridor between periods, Norman had stop- ped to speak to her. “Claire, may I take you to the social to- night?” he had asked. “I’m awfully sorry but 1 promised Roy to go with him. Immediately that ever ready anger of his flared. “You knew I wanted to take you; why did you accept him?” “Now how did you expect me to know if you didn’t ask me. You had all week you know.” At that moment, Roy himself appeared

Page 104 text:

100 THE TECH REVIEW 1928

Page 106 text:

102 THE TECH REVIEW 1928 on the scene. Norman’s deep scowl was quite a contrast to Roy’s happy smile which was only fuel for new anger. Leering at Roy he asked, “Who gave you permission to take Miss Winston to the social ?” “I beg your pardon, but 1 didn’t know you had a monopoly of .Miss Winston’s attentions.” Norman’s face turned red while his body trembled with rage. His speech failed him and his mouth opened to emit choking sounds. “You------you” “Norman Watson! Where’s your man- ners? Just for that you shan’t have even one dance tonight.” Then the bell rang and they parted to go to their classes. For the remainder of school session, anger and jealousey surged through Nor- man. Called upon to recite, he refused and when asked to make an attempt he replied rudely. The instructor resented this rudeness and Norman found himself in the principal’s office. The result was that Norman was sus| ended for a week. Various feelings surged through Nor- man’s bodv as he left the school. The desire for revenge was great. He knew that he had erred, but his pride would not permit him to apologize. All the trouble he attributed to Roy Marsden. The thought of seeing Claire, smiling and hap- py, in Roy’s company at the dance was enough to further provoke him. By the time he arrived home he had come to a dicision. 1 le would make Claire sorry for having slighted him. He would run away, go to New York and make his fortune, join the navv, or do something desjxirate. Someday, he would return a notable person and make her wish she had paid more attention to him. So ran the many thoughts through his mind. At home, he found no one. Working on the suggestion of his anger, he began to col- lect a few personal belongings and to cram them into his pockets. Then with a defiant look around him he rushed from the house. Norman had enough presence of mind left in him not to venture mount- ing a train at the local station. In such a small locality where practically every- one knew everybody else it would have been unwise to buy a ticket, especially if you knew the railroad agent. Norman decided that to walk the ten miles or so to the city was the most expedient method. There in the midst of the crowd there would be no difficulty whatever, and the chance of being traced was slight. So Norman had taken the highway with which he was little acquainted. At the cross roads, he had taken the wrong fork. Unmindful of the approaching dark- ness Norman continued his way along the uneven road. His feet were soaked; his shoes coated with mud from the soft road. From time to time Norman gave vent to his feelings by releasing mutter- ings from between his clenched teeth. Per- haps. these were not only to give way to his feelings but to keep up his courage as well. Without any explainable cause, Norman felt uncanny. In truth, the roar- ing of the surf, the weird moanings of the tree tops, and the suggestive forms of the moving objects made by the wind tossed landscape was enough to unnerve any- one. The isolated road on which Nor- man had shunted was one destitute of houses and rarely used. Norman began to feel a slight feeling of remorse for his foolhardy adventure. The thought of home and the warm meal with mother and “dad” anxiously waiting for him was the chief factor in quenching somewhat his anger. But Roy and Claire were there before him as well. No, he must go on for was he not to avenge an in- sult. As Norman continued, a car was ap- proaching from the rear. The automo- bile, running without lights and at a low