Senn High School - Forum Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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illlreting the illllururl. EAR MOLLY: I've the most ex- citing experience to tell you. You know I haven't seen Phyllis since last june when she left school to be- come Mrs, George Carruthers. Sh e didn't have a large wedding or I would have been there. Anyway, ever since the wedding, she's been writing and asking me to come dur- ing a vacation to see her new home, her new husband, and last fhut, as usual, not leastj her new brother-in-law, Law- rence. From her letters, I gathered that he was a model of perfection-all that could be desired in a brother-in-law. The only dastardly thing he ever did, that I can see, was to allow himself to have a nickname. fljhyl, at least, calls him Dade.j I felt that Midge's efforts to have me meet this pink of perfection ought to be rewarded. So with mo- ther's permission I wrote to tell her that if my luck was good and I didn't miss my train, or if it didn't run on the track with yours truly, I'd be with her some- where between dawn and midnight of the twenty-second. I was soon properly settled on my train. Qfixpcrienced travcllerlj I got so tired of riding over the same area, passing the same stations, and seeing the same kind of people that always are to be seen on this train, which I've ridden in so many times when going to Midge's, that I decided to try to get a couple of layers of New York State dirt off my hands and face. This, so that if I chanccd to meet any people they wouldn't think that I was travelling ad for a clever real estate dealer. As I was so sick of trying to peek around and be- tween the tlaws in that old mirror in the dressing room, that I refused to honor it with my presence again, or take any chances of crossing my eyes, and so I triumphantly marched to the dressing room of the car ahead. Here, facing a ' - 412 A blank wall, I began operations. XVhile doing my best to make myself appear beautiful, I mentally viewed the stations as I remembered them. At last I was ready to go back to the car again. As I opened the door to the car platform, I braced my head against the wind, and walked on-bang! into a closed gate. I looked up at rapidly receding tracks. Can you imagine me, my skirts whip- ping around my ankles, a cake of soap and a towel clutched in one hand, a purse in the other, and a look of sheer amazement in my eyes! A conductor appeared, and I looked at him and the track alternately. That man was laugh- ing so hard that Finally I thought it was my bounden duty to help him along. It sounded so cheerful to me in my pre- sent state of mind. lVhen the poor deluded mortal could compose himself, he asked, lVhere did you think you were going? Back to my section. VVhat have you done with it? I came into this car about an hour ago from the car Mohakwa, and now-where is it P Ah, I see fquite a satisfactory re- mark you'll admit.j There was such a long pause that finally I couldn't stand it any longer. Doubtless, I remarked, putting as much of a December ocean breeze in my tone as was possible, but I can't see how that's helping me. Then the conductor came to, and volunteered the information that the Mo- hakwa had been cut off at the last sta- tion and was going rapidly in the oppo- site direction. The conductor offered to help me, and did. I-Ie worked to such a purpose that a few minutes later, the Canadian express slowed down at a small town to allow a hatless, coatless, breathless person to descend the steps. Here I was in a tix! No station agent to be seen, and the station itself tightly closed. After I had stood there for an eternity a young man came up to me and asked whether he could be of any assistance.

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THE FORUM Seven So they carefully put out the candle and, that they might be less noticeable, left the church in little groups. It 4 It lk Ik lk X lk Lana and St. Valentine's Day came in due time, though it seemed to Bill that he had waited for years. He and his mother had argued and discussed every detail. Although for the n1ost part Mrs. Dailey had convinced him of his ignor- ance in regard to social procedure, Bill had ventured one suggestion that met with her approval. He wished to have ice-cream molded into heart shapes. He had wanted them red, but his mother had forbidden that absolutely and had diplo- matically suggested a dark pink. Many times he had rehearsed the scene in which he should present the beautiful Lana with a blushing heart-his heart, he passion- ately told himself. Almost daily he had gone to the drug store to tell the clerk to be sure and have it an awful dark pink and not to forget to order the heartshaped mold. His pleas must have had some effect, for promptly at seven-thirty the ice- cream with the mold arrived and was placed in state on the back porch. He went early to call for Lana, and with her at his side, he received his guests! I-Ie felt very important and was enjoying himself thoroughly. After a little awkward pause in which a supreme effort at dignified conversation was made, the dancing began. Bill passed the next two hours in an excited daze terminated at last by the appearance of his mother at the dining-room door. She beckoned, and he went to her impatiently. He hoped she wasn't going to ask him to help serve! O lVilliam, she cried, someone has taken the ice-cream! What the-. Who could have done that ? VVell, there are others in this town who would like to know that beside you, observed Mrs. Dailey tartly. Many thoughts were running through Bill's nonplussed head. They ran strangely to jello, cider and the minis- ter's apples, Gee whiz, it's kind o' fierce --. I didn't know-. VVell, VVilliam, don't stand there like a calf. Hurry up and run over to the minister's house and telephone for some more ice-cream. You may not be able to get it all one kind, but for goodness sake get something! At the door he turned, Mom, he cried pathetically, did they take the mold t00 ? at x ir ir ir -r is at The Rev. Mr. Sloat was speaking very earnestly to his wife, You know, jerry, I wasn't sure that it was the boys till I found the deacon's cider keg in the church basement along with that queer old cup of Mrs. Dailcy's. I've known the meanness to come out of boys Bill's age in some mighty queer ways. It's funny I didn't think of them before- Then after I did get an inkling, Bill came over to ask for the Victrola and told about the ice-cream he was going to have. The idea came to me then and I couldn't resist-Poor VVilliaml He did look so unhappy when he came over to telephone. I hated to make him take all the punishment, but I more than half think this business will stop now-And I guess Bill will remember this better than any sermon. XVilma L. Mentzer. . . ll Q --F' lfslfr-Q ., li,, , 7,

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THE FORUM N ine Having given him a quick glance which showed me that he was no country fel- low, I replied that I wouldn't he in the least surprised if he could be. He said that his mother, who was in a small road- ster that I could see from where I stood, had seen that I was in some predicament, and had told him to get me. Well, un- usual situations call for unusual actions. I followed him. The little old lady, whom he presented as his mother, struck a soft spot in my heart, and I decided inwardly that what- ever she told me to do must be all right, and I'd do it, After I had explained my plight, she said that if her son would take her home, he could then take me in the machine to the Junction where I could make proper connections. I decided after I was on the road with the young man that he needed talking to. He didn't respond to my efforts very quickly. In fact I got so tired of answer- ing my own questions that I started on another track. I told him all about Midge's brother-in-law, how perfect he was, and what a model for all brother- in-laws. I-Ie became interested, and told n1e that perhaps my opinion, formed through the medium of Phyl's letters, would change when I met the young man. From then on, until we came to tl1e junction, we really enjoyed our- selves. Strange to say, with all my trouble, I arrived at Phyl's house on two o'clock of the appointed day. About two hours later, after I had made myself quite at home, and also presentable, and when I was coming down the stairs to tell all about my haps and mishaps, I heard Midge talking to a man on the porch. I heard her calling him Dade, and saying that she hadn't expected him so soon. Here at last then, was the wonder of wonders. I'hyl's brother-in-law! Phyl called me to meet Lawrie, As I came down the last steps I recognized the voice. I almost fell over my own feet! But I had to come down, voice or no voice! I stumbled on until tin- ally Midge had me by the hand and was saying: I want you to meet my 'brother,' Lawrence Carruthers. Lawrie, this is Impie, my old 'roomie.' After one agonized glance, which showed the real- ization of my worst fears, I burst out into uncontrollable laughter in which Lawrie joined. Midge, in a very injured tone, complained because she was let out of the joke. Do I have to tell you that my opinion of Lawrie has changed just as he fthe young man of the machinej said, that I had such a wonderful time at Midge's that I hated to leave? If your imagin- ation ftoo vivid at timeslj doesn't tell you this, I'll help you out with some in- teresting details when I Seventh Heaven. Molly dear, d0esn't a this, demand a sequel as reply? You know I can receive as many letters as you write-so do your duty! Heaps of love, From your own, Impie. get back to volume like an immediate P. S. You will soon have a chance to meet the marvel ffor he is all of that, though in a diderent way than I expect- edj for I've asked him up for the Hop. Myrtle Lorch. i EE . .5 rf' .-I-., 1 ui' .. ., ,R . , -1 l l 1 if :ff