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

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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

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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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And I shall never forget, not even after what has happened since, the look that was in her eyes as she met my gaze. My heart fairly pounded as I waited for her to speak. 'KI-I know, David. I'm so-so happy and-and proud. Then she burst into tears as I drew up and reached over for the bridle of her horse. A secret engagement undoubtedly seemed more romantic. There- fore we jealously guarded the news and, in the preparations for mar- riage, june and I paid little attention to the rumor that my brother had accepted a wager concerning a new stallion recently purchased by a certain Henry Collier, one of the members of the Haarstick Riding. It was a vicious beast, by some declared unconquerable. But, because of Wilbur's reputation as a rider, no one of his immediate friends doubted, in any way, his ability to curb the spirit of any animal he might mount. But shortly before the day set for the event, Wilbur returned from a call upon the Allyns in visibly low spirits. What have you been doing? I ask jestingly. Did the fair Lady june turn you down? Yes. That's just what did happen. You know, old fellow, I thought a lot of her. Fact is, one might say I'm crazy about her. Yes? For just a moment I felt a shiver of anxiety. Yes, he replied, I told her, but she said no. Seemed almost apologetic, but refused to give me any actual reason. Simply said nofl But even such an incident as that had little effect upon Wilbur. By the next morning he was his old selfg and by the day chosen for the ride, he was fairly bubbling over with vitality. Well, Dave, he called in greeting to me that morning, we'll show 'em today how to handle horses and women. ' You may handle the horse, brother o'mine, I returned, but you'll find the women a bit different, I'm thinking. Don't know about that. If I manage this stallion for old Collier, she ought to pay a little more attention to me. I've seen her a few times since she turned me down, you know. No, I didn't know it. Well I have. She was quite agreeable. I swear she almost hinted that she might take more notice of me after I win that bet today. I have to go now, Dave. You'll be at the Club to see me ride, wonlt you? With that he left me. Disloyalt' as I knew it was to her, I was unable to dismiss from my mind Wilbur's Words spoken so carelessly and with such assurance. But that was like him. He would never believe, not for an instant, that anyone could refuse him anything he wanted. IM