Soldan High School - Scrip Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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YL , f -4. - . - .-. gf f---. I .-dar.-ik f 9 he had spoken before and received no answer-awakened me once more to consciousness of those about me. I am happy to see you this evening, David, he greeted me. But then, you are not one to miss the New Year Celebration. This, he went on, is my daughter, June. Then, turning to the girl: june, I do not believe you and David have ever met, but you surely remember his uncle, my friend Henry Inglis? I know now that, at the moment, all of my self-possession was gone. I stammered something about his charming daughterg but, while the sound of my voice recalled me from my waking dreams of the ideal, still it had not restored full consciousness to me because, try as I will, I cannot remember my exact reply. So enraptured was I by her pres- ence that I am not, even now, mindful of any occurrence of the time except that I danced almost the entire evening with her, to the apparent annoyance of the other young men. Later I accompanied her and her father to their home, where before bidding me a good night, Mr. Allyn placed his hand upon my shoulder. David, he smiled, I want you to visit us more often. You know you have been rather neglecting us. I am having a few friends to dinner Wednesday evening. I shall be expecting you and your brother. Thank you, Mr. Allyn, I replied, I'm sure you can depend upon us. Good night, sir. Good night, Miss Allyn. On thelnext Wednesday night, Wilbur was dining with a few of his own friends. Consequently he was forced to send his apologies for not appearing, but I made quite sure that nothing would interfere with my engagement. Upon my arrival at the Allyn home, I was welcomed warmly by both Mr. Allyn and his daughter, who, indeed, seemed unusually cordial. After greetings had been exchanged, I was presented to the other guests. These were for the most part elderly people, friends of Mr. Allyn. I was, therefore, able to see more of june during the course of the evening than I would had there been many of the younger clique present. After dinner the men gathered for a little chat, during which I discovered in our host a most intense interest in the activities of the saddle. He was very pleasant and gave me to understand that he looked forward to a renewed acquaintance between the two families. On the morrow, he said, he would take a turn on horseback about the grounds of the club. His purpose was, primarily to introduce his daughter into the membership of the Haarstick Riding. I was profoundly delighted then, when he mentioned the fact that it would be well for me to meet them there. 1

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Ma dn ess Igigfggq-1 Y friends have, for a year, wondered at the obvious breech TI 'I between my brother and me. For some months they have xi been droppino from me. But even that concerns me but tgp., little My chief desire now is to review, if only to myself, E the events leading up to my estrangement from the only 9 V . s , l I 1 l b other living member of my family. My brother, Wilbur Inglis, was without a doubt, at one time the finest horseman in America. His name has gone down in the records of the Haarstick Riding as its most celebrated rider, and in the memo- ries of other devotees of the saddle as the truest of sportsmen. Even I am forced, not now by any fraternal affection surely, to acknowledge that in his prime, thirteen years ago, he was the most perfect figure of a man I had ever known. I might add that I myself was by no means a poor horseman, and, owing to this, was quite a favorite with the younger members of the club-these composing the bulk of the society in which Wilbur and I lived. But I must not enter upon any long description of myself. The story begins at the New Year Ball which all of the gentlefolk of the region were wont to attend. Here, for the first time, I met her of whom I had dreamed since youth. I was little more than a youth at the time of which I write, but by the sight of her under that blaze of lights in the ballroom of the old club, I was so blinded to all else about me that, at first, I failed to notice her escort, Mr, Allyn. He owned the estate just north of the Haarstick territory and although he had been a friend of my family, I had seen little of him for several years after the death of my uncle with whom I was living. The few glimpses I had of him were either on the riding circle at the club or at some such function as this. I was especially surprised as I compared him with his companion. For he was a man, who, in spite of his vigorous exercise, chiefly on horseback, had begun to bend under the weight of his years. This especially so since his daughter-I had never seen her-had left for school in Europe some years before. The girl, on the other hand, appeared little more than a childg perhaps in her late 'teens. But With- out a doubt she was the girl whom I had previously visualized in my youthful dreams. Some idea might be obtained of my rapture in the fact that I was so intent on the beautiful image she presented as they approached, that I was unconscious of all else until Mr. Allyn's voice-it sounded as if 121

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1 Y ' A A - - - A -:-. - f 'Df ff nz- of I--f -W L f- JCX- Soon the ladies joined us again and the assembly became more gen- eral. june was among them, but no opportunity presented itself of talking quietly to her, and I prepared to leave rather early. After I took my leave of her father, he turned away, and June herself addressed me as I was departing. Aren't you going to bid me good night, Mr. Inglis? she asked. 'Why-'uh-of course, Miss Allyn, I replied. I sought for you butwas unable to disengage you for even a moment. Father tells me you are to meet us at the Club tomorrow. Yes. It was kind of him to invite me to join you. Do you ride much? At every opportunity. Won't you come again soon? In spite of the cold, we could ride almost anywhere. I am most eager to explore the estate again now that I am home. Well, I am even more eager to become acquainted with the place now. May I come any time? ss Of course. You won't forget about tomorrow? I couldn't. Good night then-David. to I'll see you tomorrow-June. I drove homeward as though in a dream. She had called me David! And I had called her June. Surely she loved me. For the expression I had surprised in her eyes on leaving told that. And she must have seen my devotion. Even so, I would have to let her know deiinitelyg show her my feelings. But for this night, I was happy enough. It- the other could wait. On the morrow, and on many of the days following, I rode about the country with June. Sometimes we were joined by her father or by Wilbur, in whom I soon recognized a rival. He became, after the First few meetings, almost childlike, a more daring horseman than ever, in hope of attracting her attention by his very recklessness. And I feared him. I feared his gayety and desire to show off . I feared his power over all with whom he came in contact. I But I soon grew to believe that my jealousy was not so well founded for, in spite of my handsome brother, june continued as she had been when we first met. And by the time spring arrived, in a desire to thrust aside all danger of Wilbur's growing regard for her, I mustered courage, on one of our rides together, to turn my mount directly before hers and to declare, simply and almost abruptly: I love you, june. No doubt you've seen it in all my actions since I First met you. You care for me toog don't you? 123