Reading Memorial High School - Pioneer Yearbook (Reading, MA)

Page 21 text:

Page Eleven The Pioneer Sir Howard, little as he seemed to know how his daughter spent her days, was very quick to find out that Godfrey loved Bertha. “Hannah,” he said to me one day, looking out of the window to where Bertha and Godfrey were, “I want you to see that Bertha is not with God¬ frey so much. He is getting too fond of her, and besides, Sir Robert West has asked me for Bertha’s hand.” “Sir Robert West,” I exclaimed, trembling at his words. “Howard, he is a bad man. Would you give Bertha to him?” “I choose that my child shall be¬ come mistress of West Hall,” replied Howard in a voice of determination, and T said no more, though from w r hat I had seen and heard of Sir Robert West, I had rather have laid Bertha in her grave than see her be¬ come his wife. One day my brother announced that Sir Robert West was coming over to dinner, and was going to stay a few days at the Towers for shooting Bertha made up a face, and said, “That dreadful man; he gives me the horrors.” “Bertha,” said her father, speaking sternly, “speak with more respect of Sir Robert after this.” The next day Sir Robert West came to the Towers, and I trembled when I saw his dark, cruel eyes rest on Bertha’s fair face. Bertha was soon told by her father that she was to marry Sir Robert West. She begged and pleaded, but his only answer was, “I lay my com¬ mands upon you, and I expect to be obeyed.” Then turning his eyes toward Bertha’s face, he said, “Never will I consent to your marrying God¬ frey. He has had the assurance to ask for your hand, and I have forbid¬ den him to enter the Towers until after your marriage.” Bertha’s whole frame shook with sobs but they were of no avail. Bertha obeyed her father, and within three weeks she accepted Sir Robert West, and with a look of tri¬ umph on his evil face, he placed a diamond ring of great value on her reluctant hand, looking straight into her sad eyes as he did so, while Bertha shivered from head to foot as she returned his gaze. As soon as he had gone she burst into tears, and I wept to think of the life before her. Howard so carefully guarded Box tha that she had not been able to see God¬ frey since the day of the rose inci¬ dent, though he had tried in vain to see her. The time drew near for the wed¬ ding, and Sir Robert’s face grew dark with rage to see Bertha growing paler and paler. At last, returning from a walk one day, Bertha exclaimed that she was going to a ball which Sir Robert had desired her to attend, and which she had declined. Sir Robert seemed pleased at her determination, and bought her a dia¬ mond necklace. “You must wear this to the ball,” he said. Bertha thanked him in an agitated manner and allowed him to clasp the necklace around her slim white throat, but when he stooped and, whispering, “my privilege, fairest Bertha,” kissed her, she turned pale as death.

Page 20 text:

The Pioneer Page Ten and without, realizing it he had flayed melodies which were strangely beauti¬ ful. One he played a number of times, until it grew into a piece which seemed to tell of the man’s hopes and fears, his struggles,—and there came a few happy, hopeful notes to prophe¬ sy the fulfilment of his dreams. Two months later, on a bleak, cold February morning, Vineron had an overwhelming surprise,—a letter from the Duchess asking him to come and play for her that afternoon at four. Promptly at that hour, Vineron was at her home. The butler showed him into a small room, and told him the Duchess would like to have him be¬ gin playing then. The cold had put Vineron in a lively mood. He com¬ menced to play a fast waltz of his own composition. As he became warmer, the quick piece changed into a slower, more solemn strain, like a stately, majestic march. When he had finished he glanced up. Before him stood Pier Majesty Queen Marie. “Oh! quel musicien!” she ex¬ claimed. Vineron, startled, and not knowing how to behave, rose, made a deep bow and rushed from the room. He hurried on until he encountered the Duchess. After some explanation, he went back and asked the Queen’s par¬ don for his strange behavior. The Queen replied that under one condi¬ tion she would grant it. Vineron was only too glad to do something to make amends for his shameful behavior. The Queen went on to state that the condition was that he should be leading court musi¬ cian. Vineron could only bow acknowledgment, but he knew that his chance had come. DOROTHY B. SKILLEN, ’13. HANNAH WOOD’S STORY It seems only yesterday and yet it has been sixteen years since Sir How¬ ard Wood sent for me to come to the Towers and live with him and his motherless daughter Bertha, a baby of two years. I remember the first time I saw little Bertha and exclaimed of her beauty, how her father had said, “She will never be as beautiful as her mother.” Howard was wrong. At eighteen, Bertha was very beautiful, tall, and slightly built, with perfectly shaped hands and feet. Straight dark brows over-arched the deep blue eyes, and rich masses of golden brown hair were drawn from a face more lovely than her mother’s had been. Glancing out of the window, I saw r her and Godfrey Wood walking in the garden. Bertha was holding a bunch of roses in her hands, and Godfrey, handsome and eager, was stooping and whispering to her earnestly. Then he took a rosebud from the bunch; put it for a moment to her smiling lips; then kissed it reverently, and put it away. A few moments later they both came in, Bertha blush¬ ing, and my soldier nephew, Godfrey, looking handsomer than ever, with a proud light in his dark hazel eyes. They did not think that I guessed their secret, and that I knew the white rosebud was already fading against the soldier’s heart.

Page 22 text:

The Pioneer Page Twelve “Tears and cold looks for me,” he muttered bitterly, “and smiles and love for another. However, when you are my Lady West, things must be different.” Bertha did not wear the necklace to the ball, but a simple string of pearls, and she explained to me that she had rather have a noose around her neck than those diamonds. Upon reaching the ball I saw the reason for Bertha’s coming. Godfrey •was there. For a few minutes in the evening I saw them together. God¬ frey was whispering something in her ear and talking very earnestly, when through the crowd came Sir Robert West to claim the next dance. He glared at Godfrey, who returned the look with head erect and eyes flash¬ ing. After the dance he noticed that Bertha had not his necklace on, and so he demanded why. “I preferred to wear pearls,” she answered. “Oh, I thought perhaps you had given them to that Godfrey for a re¬ membrance.” “Your diamonds are safe,” Bertha replied, “but I choose what ornaments I like. I am my own mistress yet.” “By my faith, you won’t be long ' he answered, in a passion. The ball was soon over and we got into our carriage for home. It was a long ride to the Towers and long be¬ fore we reached it I fell asleep. When I awoke we were still riding, but were going very fast, and the carriage was swinging from side to side. “Where are we, Bertha?” I demand¬ ed. Then the poor girl broke into tears, and told me that Godfrey was driving. In an instant I understood and demanded that they stop, turn, and go home. “Aunt Hannah, did you ever love anyone?” asked Bertha. “Yes,” I replied. “Then you know why it is impossi¬ ble for me to marry Sir Robert West.” In five hours more we were over the border, and in less than an hour Godfrey and Bertha were married. “She is my daughter no longer,” said Sir Howard Wood. But in less than a year, as we sat around the fire in the Towers, feeling lonesome, we heard the sound of wheels outside, and in came Bertha and Godfrey. Go¬ ing up to her father, Bertha knelt down and asked if he had forgiven her and Godfrey. Gathering her into his arms, Howard answered “Yes.” He then turned and shook hands with Godfrey. MARY A. TURNER, ’12. French IV. 1 ranslating “La Tulipe Noire” “Cornelius baisa passionement le bout des doigts.” M. E. M.-ntg-m-ry, “Cornelius low¬ ered passionately the tips of the fin¬ gers.” —“presque aussitot qu ’il a soupe.” E. F-tts, “almost as soon as he had slippered.” —“un corps etendue pres d’ un banc de bois.” M. E. M., “a body extended near the wood-pile.” “mon unique heritiere.” F. N-ch-ls, “my unique heir.” “ils avaient bu.” R. B. M-nsf-ld, ‘they had dranken.”