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

Page 89 text:

1930 THE TECH REVIEW 85 and watching every move that Billie and Frank made. Just before leaving the large hall that night, Hal overheard a conversa- tion between Frank and a very intimate friend of his in the gentleman’s dressing room. Frank was relating his plan to the listener. Hal pretending he did not hear, left the room. He told himself that he would not interfere, seeing how coldly she had treated him during the earlier part of the evening. Commencement soon arrived and Hal was graduated with highest honors. He was appointed as an interne at the Jones Memorial Hospital. While Hal was here, he was quickly being noticed as a promising young doctor, by the leading physicians. Frank and Billie were seeing each other just as frequently as ever, and Mr. Swain was easily assimilating Mr. Moran’s for- tune while Frank and Billie had arrived at the engagement stage. The only obstacle in the pathway of matrimony was Frank’s inability to provide a decent home for Bil- lie, on account of lack of funds. Billie read the great publicity that Dr. Harold Wright would receive, and it often caused her to deem herself a fool. Two years passed thus. Mr. Moran was playing the stock market hard and los- ing very rapidly. His health was subject to heart attacks! The family doctor proph- esied that mental excitement of any kind would prove fatal. One evening while Frank was waiting for Billie to get dressed, Mr. Moran came into the hallway and asked Frank to step into his den for a few moments’ conversa- tion. “Frank,” said Mr. Moran “What is on your mind?” questioned Frank innocently. Well,” began Mr. Moran, “as you probably have been informed by your father, I am losing my valuable money every day in the stock market. The stocks which your father suggested, I played. In- stead of their going up they seem to be coming down very rapidly. “Yes,” replied Frank, “Dad told me about it.” “My daughter,” continued Mr. Moran, “must not suspect anything about this. It would break her heart to know. My health also is not in perfect condition, and I hear that I’ll be leaving her soon. Why don’t you get married? It will be a solution to the problem which I am facing.” “Mr. Moran,” stated Frank, I can- not marry your daughter just yet. My financial conditions are not such as to pro- vide her with the luxuries that she is ac- customed to, and furthermore, I shall not marry her until I can fulfill her habitual de- sires.” Billie appeared at this moment, and the conversation was dropped. During the ride that evening Billie told Frank that she had heard rumors around town that he was not true to her. Frank stoutly denied the accusations, saying that the gossipers of the town were eager to broadcast some latest scandal. However, during the rest of the drive he said very little, claiming that he wasn’t feeling quite well and wished to return home. Billie consented, and they arrived home shortly after ten o’clock. She retired with a be- wildered mind. While waiting for breakfast the next morning, she picked up the morning paper. A glaring headline attracted her eye, it read; Frank Swain, son of noted broker, killed in early morning auto crash; Woman companion fatally injuried. Billie could hardly believe her eyes. Now the rumors were confirmed. She could see clearly now why he wished to return home early the preceding night. Well, anyway, she would not be bothered by him anymore—he was gone forever. One week later, Mr. Moran and his daughter were sitting in their immense living

Page 88 text:

84 THE TECH REVIEW 1930 After the Primrose Prom By Rosario Di Malleo, ’3 The junior Prom at the Primrose Medi- cal College, had been a great affair. Here it was two weeks after it was over, and still, it was the main topic being discussed on the campus by the students. Hal” Wright, President of the class, claimed that he had had a wonderful time because he met Billie” Moran there, Billie was a co- ed, popular among both sexes. Hal had called on her eight times in the two weeks since the Prom. One evening while Hal was calling at Billie’s house, Mr. Moran entered the room. Billie introduced the two, and they began to converse in a very friendly manner. When the elder man withdrew to retire, Hal confessed his love for Billie and prom- ised that as soon as he received his M.D. degree, they would be married. Hal and Billie had thus become inseparable pals by the time Hal entered his senior year at the medical college. The results of the election of class offi- cers found Hal Wright president and Frank Swain, his bitter opponent, vowing eventual and inevitable revenge. One night shortly after the election Frank, about to leave his house for an eve- ning’s enjoyment, was called into the pa- ternal library. I have a proposition to present to you,” said Mr. Swain, Sr. What is it. Dad?” asked Frank. Well,” continued Mr. Swain, we have in our neighborhood, a very wealthy, and influential man.” Mr. Moran?” questioned Frank. “Yes,” answered the father, and such a person thus gifted with prosperity should not refuse to aid a neighbor, who feels that retirement and some of the luxuries of life. would be greatly welcomed. Incidently my plan would provide a life of leisure for you also. I am aware of the existence of a beautiful daughter named Billie. Your acquaintance with her would be followed by my subsequent meeting with her father, and some accidental misleading tips on the stock market by a well reputed broker, namely, myself; the rest is obvious.” Frank was contemplating deeply. He finally decided, knowing the relations of Billie and Hal, that this presented an op- portunity for the revenge on Hal Wright. O.K., Dad, we shall act accordingly,” said Frank. Frank soon became acquainted with Bil- lie, and he told violent lies to her about Hal. Billie innocently believed them. Hal was mortified on learning that Billie had refused his invitation to the senior ball in favor of Frank’s. 1 he night of the affair Billie looked charming. The gold of her hair blended perfectly with her pale green gown. Hal pretended not to notice her, but whenever he got a chance, he would steal a glance at her. 1 he orchestra began to play an old fashioned waltz, Hal plucked up courage and walked over to where Billie and Frank were standing. May I have this dance with you, Bil- lie?” asked Hal. I'm sorry, but I do not care to dance with a fool,” replied Billie. Billie!” pleaded Hal, ‘won’t you even listen to an explanation?” “No explanations are necessary,” an- swered Billie, and putting her hand on Frank’s arm, they walked away. Hal, burning with rage, was left spellbound. He spent the rest of the evening alone, thinking

Page 90 text:

8 C TIIE TECH REVIEW 1080 room discussing the unfaithful Frank Swain. Soon Nona, their faithful servant, appeared and announced a call for Mr. Moran. Mr. Moran, upon picking up the receiver learned that he was completely cleaned out; he had lost everything in the stock market. Mr. Moran was so shocked that he fell to the floor murmuring “gone— gone — gone.” Meanwhile, Billie left alone, was musing about Hal. She repent- ed her former actions towards him now. Not seeing her father return, Billie walked into the vestibule and there she saw him ly- ing on the floor gasping for breath, and re- peating “gone—gone—gone—gone.” In the presence of Nona, and Billie, Mr. Moran passed away, regretting only that he was leaving his beautiful daughter penni- less, homeless, and fatherless. One week had elapsed; Billie secured a position as a typist in an insurance office. She and her devoted servant, Nona, had obtained a small apartment on the outskirts of the city, but Billie could not bocome ac- customed to this commonplace life. She had pawned all her jewels, diamonds, and valuables, to keep up her three room flat. One month after this, Billie and Nona were sitting in their dingy apartment dis- cussing their future. “Nona,” said Billie, “I have pawned every valuable in my possession, there is nothing else that I can sell.” “To-day,” began Nona, “while you were at work, I went hunting for a small job, and I got one, too. I am going to work as a sweeper in the People’s Bank. With my small salary, and yours, we ought to be able to live a little better.” “Oh! Nona, you good old soul,” sighed Billie. “I don’t know what I would do without you.” Suddenly the doorbell rang, and Nona rose to answer it. She flew back almost in- stantly announcing a “Dr. Wright.” Dr. Wright! Was it true? Had he come to for- give her? Was she dreaming? No she wasn’t for right before her stood Hal, her long lost Hal. “Billie!” exclaimed Hal. “Why! Hal Wright!” gasped Billie walking slowly towards him. “Billie, what is the matter? You look frightened.” “Oh! n—nothing. I’m just n—ner- vous, that’s all. Come into m—my liv— living room,” said Billie, still shaking with joy. “This is so unlike the living room in which I used to talk to you.” “Yes, I know it, and to think that, that cad, Swain, was all the cause of it. Hal, I will tell you all about it.” “Well,” started Billie, “first, he told me horrible things about you, which I be- lieved innocently. What a fool I was! He said that you called on me not because you loved me, but because by father was such an influential person. Secondly, he and his father robbed my dad of his entire fortune. 1 he elderly Mr. Swain, pretending to be a friend, double crossed my father by mis- leading tips on the stock market. Then I began to feel as though Frank was easily slipping away from me, and then, before I could find out, he was killed, as you no doubt have heard. Soon the crisis came. My dad lost everything, including his life, and here am I, the sufferer. Oh! the thought of it makes my blood run cold.” As she said this, she burst into tears. Hal put his comforting arm around her and said “I knew what was going on all the while, Billie.” “Then why didn’t you tell me about it, Hal?” “Because you had treated me so coldly, I did not interfere at all,” said Hal. “B—But, will you ever forgive me?” “Forgiveness and the past must be for- gotten, and only the future must be planned for.”