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

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The Pioneer Page Sixteen AN AFTERNOON’S ADVEN¬ TURE “My! but I’m glad that I haven’t got. to be out in this storm,” said Beth to herself, as she looked out of the living-room window, to see the air filled with whirling snow-flakes. The bitter wind blew them in all di¬ rections, and made her fairly shiver to look at them. “I’m all alone, except for cook, and this is just the time to read that old novel of Aunt Sara’s that I saw in her room the other day. She told me that I might take it to read any time I liked. I’ll go and get it,” she thought. Suiting the action to the word, she got the book, and returned to the living-room. She drew up a spacious arm-chair before the huge fire-place, where two immense logs wore burning. She seated herself and soon became deeply absorbed in her story. It was a tale of old England in the time of gallant knights and fair ladies. The heroine was a beautiful damsel with dusky hair, eyes of the softest brown, and a sweet, senstive mouth. She was tall and stately, and graceful as a lily. The hero was sturdily built, with broad shoulders and muscles of iron w ' hich betokened woe unto his adversary. He was tall, and had the clear blue eyes and flax¬ en hair that marked him to be of Saxon descent. He had gone to a tournament sev¬ eral leagues distant, when it seemed to Beth that in some way or other, she had become .entangled in the story. She saw clearly what a splen¬ did figure he made, seated on his horse, and clad in bright armor. He was wearing her favor, a scarf of royal purple satin, embroidered with amethysts. She sat with the lords and ladies of the court, where beauty and mag¬ nificence were manifested on all sides. The splendor and brilliancy of the attire of both lords and ladies alike fairly dazzled little Beth, born and bred in our modern times. The opening event of the tourna¬ ment was a tilting match between Beth’s hero and a Norman baron of high rank. They each start at op¬ posite ends of the field and ride at each ether at full speed. Beth watches breathlessly! Now they meet! There is a crash, and the baron is thrown from his horse! Beth’s hero dismounts, the baron rises slow¬ ly. and they continue the combat on foot. They are so evenly matched that the contest is extremely excit¬ ing. Oh! Beth’s hero has fallen heavily! The baron stands haughtily aside while he slowly regains his feet. The struggle is renewed with redoubled vigor. “How magnificently he fights,” says Beth to herself, and surely, she does not mean the baron. Ah! The baron is thrown from his feet by a clever thrust from the lance of Beth’s hero. He does not rise. They take him from the fie badly wounded. Upon examination, his wound is not pronounced fatal. Beth’s hero has won the tilt. After receiving the prize, a miniature lance of gold, richly inlaid with precious stones, lie makes his way toward Beth. How her heart beats! “Beth! Beth! Wake up! Supper’s all ready,” cried her mother, gently shaking her.

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Page Fifteen The Pioneer thought, “to have Elinor Raymond of all people take me for a chauffeur.” “Is this the Pines?” asked Evelyn. “Here is yqur pay,” and with that she dismissed Livingston. Hearing someone give the bell two sharp rings, Mrs. Richards flew to the door, thinking the twins stood out¬ side. “Good evening, Evelyn. Where is Elinor?” “Elinor was taken sick, so I had to come alone. But she told me to tell you she would try and be here for the skating carnival the twenty-eighth, and the dance on the twenty-ninth.” At a dance given the next evening, Evelyn Raymond was introduced to Billie Livingston. She did not recog¬ nize in him her chauffeur of the even¬ ing before. Her dance order was filled so Billie got no chance to talk with her. He thought it very strange that she treated him so much like a stranger. Other dances and rides followed, but Evelyn always had oth¬ er partners. Only two more daj ' S, and he had not had a chance to say three whole sentences to her. “Mrs. Richards, I have hardly seen Miss Raymond this week. Will you plan it so she will be my partner at the carnival?” asked Billie. “Haven’t you been her partner at any of the dances or rides?” “No. not one, and I do want her all to myself for one evening.” Elinor Raymond and Jack Roberts came unexpectedly the morning of the carnival. They came on the same train, and no one was there to meet them. Jack Roberts was engaged to Evelyn Raymond, and when he saw her twin at the station he thought it was Evelyn. He attempted to speak to her. She thought he was one of the guests from the Pines, and she stepped into a waiting auto. Jack thought it a good joke and took her to his Aunt’s, returning the auto later At tbe carnival Elinor Raymond ana Jack were partners. Mrs. Richards, true to her promise, had arranged to have Billie and Evelyn together. Billie told her of his love. Evelyn was, of course, surprised as she had known him for such a short time. She told him that she was engaged At the same time Jack tried to make love to Elinor, but she resented it. He reminded her of their engagement. Elinor looked bewildered until Evelyn and Billie skated past them. “Why, it must be my twin you’re engaged to. I am Elinor Raymond.” “And I am engaged to Evelyn Ray¬ mond,” said Jack. “Let’s skate after Evelyn. Does she know you have come?” “No. I think not. I thought I was bringing her up from the station, but it was you.” Overtaking Evelyn they told her of the mistakes they had made, when suddenly Billie began to laugh. “Well, I am mighty glad you were engaged, Miss Evelyn, because if you hadn’t been, you might have accepted me, and it is your sister I want. Do you temember this? asked Billie of Evelyn as he drew a fifty-cent piece from his pocket. “You gave me this the night you came.” At Mrs. Richards’ dance the next evening, another engagement was an¬ nounced. Not Evelyn, but Elinor, will change her last name to Livingston. BEATRICE E. PERRY, T3.

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Page Seventeen The Pioneer ‘What—what? Have I been asleep? Oh dear, I was having the most ex¬ citing adventure!” replied ' , Beth, “Why did you wake me up just at that critical moment?” MARION E. PARK, ’12. A STORY OF DIXIE LAND “Wa’al, now, as I was a-tellin’ yo’, missy. Yo’ grandfa’er, Massa Lee, was a right brave, smart man, an’ when dem Yankees corned down hyar, he jes took his pop gun an’ went right after dem. Missus, dats yo’ ma, walked right up to dat cap’n jes as dignified as could be, when he asks can he go through de house. She says, ‘No! Yo’ cain’t!’ and fol’s her arms so fashion. Wa’al honey, yo’ see dem was de times when dey hid de powder an’ shot in de houses. Dem was great ole times, dey was. Yo’ ma she knowed dat de powder an’ shot was hid in her room, an’ she warn’t goin’ ter let dem Yankees get it eff she could help it. But de cap’n he say he hab got to, by de orders ob de gen’rui. ’Tween yo’ an’ me, missy, t’warn’t de powder she didn’t want him to get, but twas- yo’ pa. He corned home de night befo’ to see us. Lors, honey, mebbe we weren’t glad to see him! Wa’al, dem soldiers dey jes walk right through de house an’ opened all he do’s, nebber saying, ‘By yo’ leab.’ Yas, honey, dey did jes dat. When dey came to de do’ ob yo’ ma’s room it was locked, an’ she was a-standin’ in front ob it. De cap’n, he say, ‘Open dat do’.’ Yo’ ma, she say, ‘No, I won’t; ma chile’s asleep in thar.’ But she talked pret¬ ty loud so yo’ pa could heah jes’ what she said. Dey foun’ it warn’t no use to ask yo’ ma to let dem in, so dey jes right up an’ smash dat do’ in quicker’n yo’ can say ‘Jack Robin¬ son.’ Dey found yo’ and yo’ doll a- sleepin’ peacefully in bed, as yo’ ma said. Dey tipped ebrything upside down, but couldn’t fin’ nothin. Dey went away disgusted, an’ we went back up thar, an’ dere was yo’ pa jes’ crawlin’ out ob dat trunk in de corner, where one ob de niggers had put him when he heerd yo’ ma a- talkin’ to dem soldiers on de fron’ po’ch. He packed a lots ob clo’s ober him an’ dem soldiers dey jes’ opened de trunk an looked in, an’ didn’t stop to ’vestigate. Wa’al, it’s high time yo’ was a-hed. Come ’long, honey.” HILDA PRENTISS, ’13. We went into the garden, We wandered o’er the land, The moon was shining brightly, I held her little—shawl. Yes, I held her little shawl, (How fast the evening flies). We spoke in tones of love, I gazed into her—lunch-basket. I gazed into her lunch-basket, I wished I had a taste. Here sat my lovely darling, My arm around her—umbrella. Embracing her umbrella. This charming little miss, Her eyes were full of mischief, 1 shyly stole a—sandwich. —Ex. What does the cow say? Ask Edith P., T2.