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

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1980 THE TECH REVIEW 47 was the possessor of a mop of curly coal- black hair, rather deep set blue-gray eyes, and a shining row of even, white teeth, which showed to advantage when he parted his lips in a quick, dazzling smile, which he often did. It was with one of these flashing smiles that he greeted Jim Richardson as he seated himself in a chair directly opposite. I say, Jim, who is that stunning blonde over on the divan with Natalie?” Jim shot a glance in the direction of the divan. “Oh, that’s Jcanie Patterson. She’s to sing tonight I believe. Not of much consequence socially but has a good voice.” At this moment Jeanic began to sing, and the as- sembly with one accord ceased their chatter to listen breathlessly. “Jove! what a voice,” murmured Bruce Sydney under his breath. Dancing followed later in the evening and Jeanie was whirling merrily around the floor with a rather sophisticated young blonde when she felt a light touch on her shoulder, and she found herself surrendered from the arms of her partner to those of a tall, prepossessing young giant with a most captivating smile. She tilted her head saucily and looked at him. “I think you’re rather presuming, aren’t you, to carry me off like this? I don’t even know your name.” ” I hat’s easily remedied. Miss Patter- son, I’d like to present Bruce Sydney. At your service.” All this was said so courteously and with such irresistablc good nature that Jeanic found it impossible to be angry with him. I hey danced together several times after that, and Jcanie found herself liking him more and more as the evening wore on. After the dancing came games, and, of course, the inevitable mistletoe, which latter Jeanie had artfully escaped. But even on the night before Christmas people begin to get tired when the “wee sma’ hours o’ morn creep round, and thus Jeanic found it. At last people began to go. She was rising from her chair when Bruce suddenly appeared as though by proxy. “I’m going to see you home.” Jcanie smiled. “I’m too tired to object. Even if I wanted to.” Bruce did not deign to answer this last remark, but picked up her wrap and held it for her. She looked up to thank him. As she did so she felt a hand under her chin, her head was tilted forcibly back, and before she knew it she had been kissed. She wrenched away quickly. “How dare you,” she blazed. For answer, Bruce pointed laughingly to the mistletoe hanging directly above her head. She blushed furiously, and during the ride home silence reigned. • About a month later, around ten o’clock in the morning, a hatlcss figure ran up the steps of the Richardson mansion, rang the bell furiously, rushed past the astonished maid and into the living room. Seeing no one in sight he called, “Jim, oh Jim! In a few seconds Jim appeared clad in a bathrobe and slippers. He blinked a few times as though to assure himself that he was really seeing straight. “Bruce Syd- ney! Of all persons, what brings you here at this unearthly hour in the morning? Bruce dismissed all preliminaries with a wave of the hand. “Jim, I’d like to talk with you privately for about ten minutes. May I?” Wondering, Jim led the way to his study. Once or twice he glanced at Bruce’s face and what lie saw there did not reas- sure him, for Bruce looked as though he had not slept for a week. He was not kept in suspense long, for as soon as they were fairly seated, Bruce burst out with, “Jim, where is Jeanie Patterson? Jim stared at him uncomprehendingly. Why, surely you’ve heard. She sailed for Europe last week.

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rilE TECH REVIEW 19:50 40 The Night Before Christmas By Helen E. Kinnccom, '30. “’T was the night before Christmas And all through the house, Not a creature Was stirring; Not even a mouse. Jeanie Patterson’s cheeks dimpled in a smile as the nonsensical rhyme flitted through her head, but she sobered again as she reflected on the probable truth of the statement. She thought of that last Christ- mas Eve, of the lights, the gay crowd. Oh what a party that had been! Dear old Dad! Jeanie cupped her chin in her hands and fell to musing. A sweeter lass than Jeanie Patterson would be hard to find. Small of stature, golden hair, blue eyes, peach bloom cheeks and a wistful heart-shaped mouth combined to make what seemed to more than one person the most adorable bit of humanity he had ever seen. But this same, small Jeanie Patterson also had a will of her own, a stubborn will inherited from her Scotch- Irish father. A little less than a year ago these two wills had clashed. Jeanie had wanted to go abroad to study music; her father had been determined that she should not. Edwin Patterson was not a hard man, and he was well able to give his mother- less daughter anything she might desire in the way of education, travel or pleasure. But Jeanie was an only and idolized child, and her father wanted her all to himself. Yet she adhered to her decision, and on the night her father pronounced his verdict, Jeanie ran away, determined some- how to earn enough money to get across and thus obtain her one desire—to be a famous singer. Jeanie secured a small flat in a fairly good neighborhood in Brooklyn, N. Y., and managed to live by giving piano lessons to such pupils as she could pick up. and occasionally singing at parties or recep- tions at the homes of some of the more in- fluential members of the community, with whom she had become acquainted. That her father had searched for her, she knew, even to the extent of having hired detec- tives on her trail. But they had never found her, and the people about her were none the wiser. And tonight she was to sing at the Glcnn- Richardson’s Ball. Jeanie found herself thrilling to the fact, and her eyes sparkled as she slipped into her dress. It was a dainty affair of orchid taffeta which had taken two weeks’ pay in the purchasing; but Jeanie put it on without a pang. Tonight was to be a night of joy; time enough for remorse later. She powdered her small nose, gave a last searching glance in the mirror, and then, in the height of her ex- travagance, called a taxi. The Glenn-Richardson party was in full swing when Jeanie arrived, and she was met at the door by Mrs. Richardson, whom we shall call Natalie, herself a charming debutante of only three years previous. As Jeanie entered, a young man in a corner of the room started violently, but soon re- covered himself and hastily looked around to see if anyone had noticed his act. He reassured himself on that score, and after staring hard at Jeanie for a few seconds longer, he rose and made his way to the side of James Richardson, of the junior law firm of Richardson Bourne, who was sitting rather disconsolately on a sofa and looking decidedly bored with the whole affair. Bruce Sydney, whom we shall take this opportunity to introduce, was a young fel- low of about twenty-three, and just out of college. He stood about five feet nine, and

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48 THE TECH REVIEW 1930 Bruce looked up thunderstricken. “Europe! But how, and why?” A friend of Natalie’s heard her sing at the Christmas Eve Ball last month, and offered to finance her musical education abroad. So . . . she’s gone. That’s all I know.” Bruce’s eyes were pleading mutely. “But she left no word with me. I did not even know she was going.” “Was she — anything to you?”, Jim spoke hesitatingly. Bruce looked up quickly. Was it as obvious as that? “I guess I’d better tell you the whole story,” he said. “Then you’ll understand better.” He began de- terminedly. “Ever since I graduated from college I have been with the Secret Service. A little over a month ago I was sent to New York by Edwin Patterson, a Chicago millionaire, in hopes that I could find his daughter who had run away from home some time previous, and whom he has never heard from since. All by accident I chanced upon Jeanie Patterson and decided that she was the party I was looking for. Then the trouble began. The moment I set my eyes on her, I fell madly in love with her. We went around together until last week, when I asked her to marry me. She refused on the plea that she preferred a career to marriage. I begged her to re- con: idcr, but it was useless. And now, she has gone, leaving no word. “But what of her father? Bruce groaned. “That’s the worst of it. I wras so engrossed in Jeanie that I ne- glected to write her father. I never made my business known to her, so of course she never suspected that I knew her father. And now it is too late.” “Couldn’t you locate her in Paris?” “I can at least try, for her father’s sake.” “How about your own?” Bruce rose to his feet and shook his head unsmilingly. “I don’t think it’s much use.. Thanks for the information, Jim. See you later.” The two men parted, and although Jim heard that Bruce had sailed for Paris the following week, he was destined to lose all track of him for a long time. Three years had passed and Christmas Eve had come again with its joys and sor- rows, its gaiety and laughter. In a small but select cafe in Paris sat Jeanie Patter- son. She has not changed much since we last saw her. Though fame and fortune had smiled upon her, she was not happy. For there was a downward droop of the mouth, and dark shadows under the eyes that had been entirely unknown to the Jeanie Patterson of old. Across the table from her sat a wiry little Frenchman who was evidently asking a favor. “But, Mademoiselle, you will come, yes? I beg of you. It would make me famous. I will make it worth your while. Mademoiselle.” Jeanie assented wearily, and the little Frenchman departed murmuring estatically, “Ah, tonight the famous Mademoiselle Patterson sings at my theatre. And ze Ambassador will be there also. It is well.” After he had gone Jeanie drooped her head pathetically on her arm, and gazed unseeingly out of the open window. Fame was hers, yes even as she had dared imagine in her wildest dreams. Hers was the power to sway a million hearts. She smiled bitterly. Yes, but in the gaining of this she had lost the most precious prize of all—Love! So the American Ambas- sador was to be guest of honor at the 1 heatre Dcs Royalcs tonight. She won- dered idly what he looked like. It would seem good to see an American anyway. Suddenly she became aware that people were staring at her. She rose to her feet, half angrily, and left the cafe.