Scituate High School - Chimes Yearbook (Scituate, MA)

Page 15 text:

THE CHIMES 13 gulls screamed a'S they sallied back and forth over the ice- covered rocks and dipped daringly dov n between the waves. Far out on the rocky ledge stood the ice-covered form of Minot's Light. The cedars stood up more erect under their glistening burden, sparkling in the sun. The dreaded blizzard was over. The beach was left peace- ful and calm in its new-found glory. THE SEA VOICE Katherine Somers, '28 It was mid winter and a terrific storm was raging along the coast of Maine. The inhabitants of the small towns which border on the ocean front below Portland were snug and warm before their fires. However, there was one inhabitant who had braved the fury of the elements. This person bore the name of Judd Holbert. Although only in the middle of his fifties, he was already stooped and gray, and he had a very melancholy air about him. Storms had a certain fascination for this man ; whenever there was a storm, he betook himself to the cliffs and gazed fixedly at the waves. He seemed to murmur to himself, 'T hear the sea-voice calling. The people of the town pitied this man greatly, because when he was a youth a very cruel thing had happened to him. It was May, and Judd Holbert and Almira Phillips were making plans for their marriage in June. Together they drew plans for their future home, and they were just the happiest people in the world. But only two weeks before the coming marriage, Almira's sister, who lived in Boston, became ill and died. It was necessary for the girl to go to Boston ; so she bade a tearful farewell to Judd and started on her journey. Judd waited three long days before he got a letter from Almira. It was only a brief letter stating that she must attend to some very important business and wouldn't be able to return until the second of June. Somehow Judd had sensed that the letter would contain bad news. However, after he had read it, he comforted himself with the thought that it might have been a great deal worse. Slowly the days passed, but on June first a frightful storm lashed the coast. Although it was an unseasonable storm, it was furious in its intensity. Judd feared for Almira's safety,, for she would be starting from Boston this very day. Apprehension is a horrible enemy, and it had laid its cold, clammy fingers on Judd. He wandered aimlessly about the house, sometimes gazing out of the window, sometimes try- ing to read. When night came, he was unable to sleep. He tossed on his bed and at length got up and sat by his open window listening to the roar of the storm. He looked at his watch. The boat bearing Almira would soon be pa'ssing on

Page 14 text:

12 THE CHIMES A month had pa ssed. Lass O'Dundee's ribs scarcely showed and she was in just the right condition for racing. Although a month only remained before the Derby, Jock was far from discouraged. Ben Harvers began to train Lass for the g reat race. Every day both Jock and Ben watched Lassie's development in speed and endurance. The track was dry and dusty the day before the race. That morning Lass had not done as well as usual and even Jock was doubtful. Do your best anyway, Ben, he said. Derby Day: the air was heavy and the sky filled with threatening clouds. Lass was not popular in the betting field and everyone spoke of Jock Connors' 'bag o' bones. Fifteen minutes before the race ! Every horse was strain- ing at the reins eager to be off. Rain! Oh, how it rained. The track soon became a slippery slough. Ben was dis- couraged and expected Lass to fall in the slippery footing:. The shot was fired ; they were off ; and Lass held the fifth space. The first six were abreast now. Two had the lead, Three gained. Seven was crowding against the inner rail. Tive gaining, cried one. ''Jock Connors' 'bag o' bones' is in the lead, shrieked one of the men who had made fun of Lass. It was over. Number Five was first, Seven second. All were congratulating Jock. Why, Jock, you nevah told us the Lass was a 'Mudder'. Jock smiled, I didn't know it myself, he said. Thus Lass O'Dundee proved her v orth on the muddy track.. A BLIZZARD AT THE BEACH Catherine Healy, '30 The sun, that dark morning in January, rose cheerless over mountains of huge grey clouds. The wind blew with ever- increasing momentum until it fairly whistled about the tree- tops. It whipped up roaring, giant waves that rolled up the beach and dashed over the wall, sending foaming spray feet into the air. Now a mixture of sleet, snow and hail was whirled down from the foreboding sky and forced against the noble cedars that grew along the cliffs, bending them almost double. The air was filled with this swirling mass, and the bitterness of the cold kept the few inhabitants safely indoors. This dreadful flurry lasted all the morning, afternoon, and evening. Even that night no lessening of the gale could be noticed. But in spite of the blizzard Minot's Light faithfully flashed on. The house rocked; the wires sagged with their burden of ice and, in many places, snapped, thus cutting off this part of the world from all communication. At sunrise the wind had decreased, the sleet had stopped, and the sun shone brightly on the transformed world, all shin- ing and glistening in its gleaming array of crystal. The sea-

Page 16 text:

14 THE CHIMES its way to Portland. An idea seized his brain and he immedi- ately acted upon it. He pulled on his clothes quickly and donned a heavy oil-skin coat and hat. Quietly he let himself out of the house and hurried to the cliffs. He swept the storm horizon with his eyes, but nowhere could he see the lights of a boat. He waited with the fury of the storm beating against him. An hour passed; and sud- denly he saw a light far out on the storm-tossed ocean. His heart beat wildly. Was it — could it be Almira's boat? Suddenly his heart gave a bound and almost ceased to beat. He saw signal lights shooting up from the boat. The signals Avere answered by signal lights from the Life Saving Station, which was not far from Judd. Quickly and almost recklessly Judd ran along the cliffs to the light house. Reaching it, he ran stumbling up the stairs to the lookout tower. 'Hi, Scale! What's the boat out there? he called. 'The 'Carinna' bound from Boston to Portland, Judd! was the reply. Judd groaned. What's the matter? asked Scale. ''Almira's on that boat ! Judd! Scale's face was set. He watched the boat with desperate eyes. Nothing could be done. The ship was too far out. Judd collected all his force and gazed once more at the doomed boat. How far do you think she is from the shoals? Not far, was the grim reply. The minutes passed. The signal lights on the boat became fainter and fainter. Finally they disappeared altogether. She had struck the shoals. Judd seemed to hear a voice call to him from the roaring ocean. Morning dawned on a sea almost calm. The shore was littered with wreckage. Some bodies were found, but not Almira's. Hers had joined the retinue of Old Ocean's Court. Thus it was that whenever a storm visited the coast, Judd Holbert went to the cliffs to hear once again the sea voice calling him. NIGHT Ethyl Tierney, '29 The sun slowly sinks, The sky becomes gray. Gradually comes darkness, And night is on its way. The moon shows on high. The stars shine bright. Lamps are now lighted, — It is night. —