Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

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The Golden Rod Sometimes Marriage Proves A Failure Part I The Double X Ranch lay idle under the merci- less rays of a scorching Arizona sun. It was the middle of August and all the ranchmen lay stretched out in the shade, fanning themselves with the broad sombreros and trying in vain to keep cool. Only one man appeared to be busy, he was the largest of the group, a great strapping six footer. Steve, as he was called,sat a little apart from the others, industriously trying to thread a needle with which to do a little neccessary repairing on his ragged shirt. His clumsy efforts attracted the attention of the other men who jokingly suggested that he ought to get married and save himself the neccessity of doing such trivial duties. Big Steve Allison received all their banter good naturedly and continued his task. Sometime later. Steve opened the Daily Ga- zette”, the only paper of which the town of Little Creek could boast. As the ranchman glanced carelessly through the columns, his attention was attracted to an item in the rather limited advertising section. Wanted—a good faithful husband. A spin- ster with a small fortune is desirous to marry; any man who is in need of a good wife will find that she can more than fill the bill. Ed. F. Gazette Office. “Oh, what a chance,” murmured Steve. How much easier, and certainly more cheerful.life would be with a help-mate!” Whereupon,he went into the shack.threw down the paper, found a piece of paper, and wrote the following answer:- “Dear Miss. I’m yer man. Am much in need of a woman like you describe verself to be. I ain’t much fer good looks but I’m strong and affectionate and will undoubtedly prove satisfactory. Take Bill Niles’ stage next Thursday at Cooney’s Cross- road and I’ll be ther. don’t fergit yer dust and bring a preacher. Steve Allison Double X Ranch. The ranchmen outside observing their comrade’s unusual excitement, had sent Shiftless Mike” to reconnoitre. The spy, seeing the newspaper on the table, picked it up and read the advertisement. Ah! this was the cause of Steve’s excitement; here were black marks where soiled fingers had traced lines . Here was an apportunity for some real live excitement. Rushing out to his friends, Mike read the “ad to them. The men put their heads together and decided to wait developments. Soon Steve appeared and casually remarked that he was going on a short ride; as he strode off to unhitch his pony, a bit of white something protruded from beneath his belt. The men chuck- led to themselves for this tell-tale spoke louder than words. Five minutes after Steve had dropped his letter in the box at the Four Corners, two miles distant, eight cowboys rode gaily up to the box and there from took the letter. Part II. Thursday morning at length dawned; Steve was visibly nervous. Oh. the joy of anticipation! And he had had his full share of it during the week. In a short time he would break the news of his happiness to his companions. How they would envy him! Soon the rest of the men appeared on the scene Steve delayed no longer but disclosed the secret of his unwonted gaiety to them. The men appeared to be greatly surprised and offered t heir hearties congratulations. The stage was due at three in the afternoon but by one, Steve came rushing out of the door, trying in vain to fasten his collar. All fell to and after some hard work on the men’s part and much discomfiture on Steve’s the collar was finally fastened. Then leaving one of the number to keep thet bride groom to-be company, the rest pretended to see some cattle which had broken loose on a hummock not far distant. The cowboys,leaving the two alone, made for their ponies while Shiftless Mike” slyly picked up a big bundle which had been concealed behind thecattle pen and threw it on his saddle bow. After a short gallop across the prairie the men soon entered the wood about three miles up. “Long

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THe Golden Rod the invalid was able to take his scat on the veranda, and while there, Miss Planturn first broached the subject of the accident, as she had not wished to arouse him to any unnecessary excitement. After listening to the narrative Bob said “I suppose there is a telegraph station within a ten mile radius, ins’t there?” ‘‘To be sure, responded Miss Planturn, “there's one over her at the “Tri- angle V.” outfit, about six miles distant. I suppose you’re worrying about that money those men made off with. How will you make up with the company anyway?” “Oh, that’s all right,” answered Bob laughing, I took precautions against just such an incident before I left New York. The real treasure box was in charge of the mail master. Too bad those fellows went to so much trouble for a box of iron fillings. I’m sure they’re welcome to it.” At this, a voice from the doorway said, ’’Good for you young man you've got a head all right. Here’s a letter for you. I wrote to your concern while you were laid up. It’s a reply to that I guess,” and Mr. Planturn walked out on the veranda. Such proved to be the case and Bob's cheeks flush- ed several times as he read the words of praise contained therein. Among the several rewards he he received was a two month’s leave of absence together with a companion and expenses, his reg- ular salary being continued. “I’m not so bad off after all,eh?”he said, as he passed the letters over to the young girl at his side. “If I only had some body to go with me. I guess I’ll just take the money and go back to work,that vacation will keep. “Well, not if I can prevent it, you won’t ” put in Miss Planturn quickly, “goodness knows you’ve earned it.” “You're the only one that can prevent it declared the young man simply, “what do you say shall we go?” “What do you mean?” asked the girl, with a quick inhalation of her breath. “I mean, Florence,”he said, looking at her stead- fastly, “that I love you; that I have loved you ever since the day on the praire, two weeks ago . Now do you understand my meaning?” he con- tinued smiling. “I think I do,” she said. “And you say-?” “Yes, she murmured, softly. Three days later amid a shower of rice and old shoes, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Weatherbee took the Overland Express at the little western station and continued on their journey. C. E. Say ward, 1910. PRIZE POEM Tune: “Fair Harvard.” Alma Mater, with loyal devotion and true, To thee we give homage today, Thy memories will linger in days yet to come We’ll bless thee forever and aye. We pause and reflect on the days that are gone As we earnestly speed toward the goal; Our hearts are now heavy with thoughts of farewell For we each must enter Life’s school. Oh may we, as forward we zealously pace Toward that last and mysterious rest Stop to think and consider how few years are left ’Ere we must be named with the blest. So let us decide to make wayfor the right To seek knowledge, love, truth, and obey Yet remember jtwas thee, Alma Mater most dear. Who first taught our blind foot steps the way. Lewis (Vi mbs. 1910.

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The Golden Rod Tom” evidently had his part all learned, for he thrust his hand into the bridle and brought forth some wearing apparel, decidely feminine in appear- ance. With plenty of assistance soon a long black skirt was pulled over Tom’s legs, and a queer-look- ing apron was tied about his waist; while on his head was a hat of somewhat questionable date. After a few touches here and there, the men stood off and viewed the result of their efforts with evid- ent satisfaction. True, Tom’s appearance as a spinster was not very promising: the hat was too low over the face and the black skirt hung too loosely from the hips. But the stage was seen coming over a distant hill, so “Long Tom” was hastily given parting instructions. When the coach stopped the strange looking bride, suit case in hand,jumped in and took a seat beside a grinning parson who had been noti- fied the day before that his services would be re- quired. The other men returned to the ranch where they found Steve restlessly pacing up and down sweating like a trooper, and experiencing rather queer sensation about the heart. PART III. Dust in the distance, a black speck on the road the stage was coming! Steve was calmly resigned to his fate. When amid the cheers of the cowboys the stage stopped, a long angular object flopped lovingly on Steve’s shoulder. The would-be bride- groom decided that the worse had come and started wildly down the road followed closely by his com- rades, the minister and the bride. Up and down hill went the pursued and the pur- suers. Steve felt that he could not hold out much longer; his breathing was laboured and his tired legs were fast refusing to carry two hundred and fifty pounds over the hard ground. Just then he caught his foot in a root and fell headlong. He felt that all was over and he must resign himself to his fate. So he calmly picked himself up to meet his future wife as she came running to him, throwing her arms affectionately about his neck. The ardent spinster tried her best to convince her lover of all his good qualities and hers too. Now Steve was unused to the ways of courting but he bravely reached up and tickled her under the chin. On the tanned and sun-burned forehead, partly- concealed by the broad hat pins, was a long scar, the exact simile of “Long Tom’s”. Carefully' scan- ning the face of his comrade, Steve snatched the hat from his head and then was revealed to him the visage and head of his old pal. For the moment with a flash of anger Steve jumped to his feet and was about to reach for his revolver, then thinking better of it he laid it aside. Stretching out his hand hesaid to his pard,“Put it there, old fellow, I am saved.” Ralph Ford, 1910 A Baseball Game and A String of Pearls T was the day of the great base-ball game between Hilcrest Academy and Bridgeford Military School. For three years the game had been a tie, but this year Hilcrest was almost sure of victory until Jack Lennard, the star pitcher and captain of the Hilcrest eleven, had sprained his ankle a few-days before the game and would,consequently, be unable to walk for se- veral weeks. The Hilcrest team was in the depths of despair, and so was their captain himself as he lay on the couch in his den, watching the people pass on their way to the base-ball field, the day of the game. ‘‘Its bad enough not to be able to play,” he groaned “but not to see the game at all—that’s the limit!” Suddenly the door opened and Jack’s father and mother, carrying Hilcrest banners, entered the room. Mr. Lennard walked over to the couch and patting his son on the back,, said, “Come, cheer up, lad. I know it’s hard luck that you can’t play this after-noon, but never mind, Hilcrest is going to win.I am sorry that you will be alone.I will bring some of the other fellows back with me and you can hear all about the game from them. By the way, do you remember my speaking of a five thou- sand dollar string of pearls,this morning? Mr.Howe