Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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IN SOM HR VILLE IIIGII SCHOOL RADIATOR 18 THE EYE OF THE LAW. By Martha E. Wingersky, E., '04. OR God's sake, let me die! For God's sake! I can't live! You won't take me, not if I can help it! Let me be! It would kill her! Don't touch me! Let me alone! I can’t go, I tell you, I can’t! It was for her sake I did it; don’t let me disgrace her. Oh. let me die!” As Henry Badger uttered these words, he was vainly attempting to free himself from the grasp of two burly policemen, and trying to empty the bottle of laudanum he held in his hand. But lie was overpowered by the officers, and in a few moments was in the hospital and under the doctor's care. He was a young fellow, at most twenty-five, and looking not over twenty. Xot cxactlv handsome, there was something attractive in the dark-com- plexioned man, with his large eyes and curly hair. He did not seem intended for the part he was playing. It was the old. old story of Temptation placing herself in the way, and beguilingly leading her vic- tim on. It really wasn't very serious, just a matter of forty or fifty dollars, but it had seemed a great deal to him. He was a teamster, and had been married about a year and a half. At first his salary, nine dollars a week, had sufficed, but now. since the babv had come and everything was so expensive, it was hard to manage on so small a sum. Just that day the doctor had said the little wife must have medicine or----and out of nine dollars there wasn’t much to spend for medicine. So, when he delivered the case of goods, it really did not seem so bad to keep the money. He would pay it some time pretty soon, but just now he must have it. God knows. Minnie was looking miserably now, and the doctor had said----. He could not think of it. He must have money, he must! There was no way out of it. And then the blow had come, about a week later, and he had been arrested. What would she say. Minnie? And at the thought he decided not to disgrace her. Poor man! he did not think that adding suicide to robbery would make it worse. So he had tried to take his life; but the officers had come just in time to interrupt and prevent him, and now, a few hours later, he was pronounced out of danger. When lie heard the words, his heart sank. Poor Minnie! how would she take it? And his child; would people point at them, and say, That is the robber’s wife and his little boy”? And would the child grow up to hate his father; and how would the little woman stand the blow? And would she come to comfort him and tell him she loved him still? Or would she despise him and hate him as the cause of her misery? These thoughts, rushing to his mind, enfeebled as it was from the laudanum, completely overcame Badger, and he fell into a troubled sleep, fn which he saw himself hanged and his wife dying in the streets. '♦ He was to be tried the next day at ten o'clock, and when he was led into the courtroom, he had not received any word from Minnie. She had for- saken him ; and lie felt the utter despair of one who is cast off from all love. It was not much of a trial; all Henry could do was plead guilty. The jury was out but five min- utes. and then the judge read the sentence:— Three months in the House of Correction,” and on the death-like stillness of the room there rose one heart-rending scream, and then a dull thud as a woman fell to the floor. Before, the prisoner had stood like a statue, but now he dropped on his knees, and. burying his face in his hands, he cried aloud, Oh, forgive me, Minnie, forgive me! I knew not what I did.” While Henry Badger was serving his term, his wife died. His repeated inquiries as to his child brought no answer, and when he was released, he searched for the boy everywhere, but in vain. He never found him or learned anything of him. Then he sought work, but who, indeed, will em- ploy a man with the prison taint fresh upon him? So he sank lower and lower. Two years later, a man identified by his comrades as Henry Badger was killed while, with two others, he was attempting to hold up a train. B. C S. Club. 1 he B. C. S. has entered upon a very prosperous season and if all plans are carried out, it will rank among the foremost clubs of the school. L. E. D. Club. The first meeting of the L. E. D. Club was held at the home of Miss Mary E. Dolbear, 198 Profes- sors Row1, September 22. Plans for an enjoyable winter were made.

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SOMERYTLLL HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR '7 woman. She had the tactful speech, the grace, and the courteous attention of an experienced hostess. At the close of the reception, the Duke stepped to the side of Ladv Ashmead. It was extremely kind of you. Lady Ashmead, to arrange for my presence in this delightful company.” “We considered it an honor. Your Highness, to be so fortunate in obtaining your company this evening. Believe me. it was a pleasure most as- suredly ours,” she replied. Lady Dunmorden watched her alleged nephew with a critical eye. He was carrying himself above all her expectations. He danced gracefully; his compliments were charming. To her surprise, she overheard him speaking comprehensively upon the vital topics of the day. and noted with a keen sense of delight that the Duke and Lady Ashmead had taken a mutual fancy to each other. Upon all sides Lady Dunmorden s nephew had created the desired effect. The morning after the ball at Lady Ashmead's, the elderly I ady called her nephew to her apart- ments, and remarked upon his clever bearing of the night previous, lie asked no questions relative to the practical joke, and she ventured no light upon the climax. The stop of the Duke was indefinitely prolonged at Dunmorden Castle. Every one averred that a great friendship had sprung up between Lady Evelyn and the titled visitor. They were together almost all the time. Lady Dunmorden was all beams and smiles. Nevertheless, for some reason or other, a state of impatience soon developed. She would play her final card. Announcements were forthcoming that Ladv Dunmorden would give a ball in honor of her nephew, who would soon make his departure. The Duke, universally liked, was honored by a large gathering. He scarcely left the side of Lady Evelyn that evening. Lady Dunmorden deftly contrived so that Lady Evelyn and the Duke were in the conservatory among the fragrant flowers al- most all the evening. Shortly before the company entered the banquet hall, the Duke sought the side of Lady Dunmorden There was a happy, yet malicious, twinkle in his eye. “Lady Evelyn has promised to become mv wife.” he whispered. The elder Lady started noticeably. Really.” she ventured, “very good 1” He did not wait for further congratulations, but again sought the woman in the conservatory. It was an hour before they both returned. All were in the banquet hall, and the hostess called for wine. The Countess of Warwick offered a toast to the departing Duke. The Duke gracefully re- plied. “My distinguished friends, you have been most flattering in your attentions toward me during my visit with my dear aunt. I shall treasure the memory of the kindnesses I have received, and now it may not be out of place to ask you to toast the fairest of women. Lady Evelyn Ashmead—the one who,” he paused, the color deepened in his face, the one who has promised to become my wife. Unanimous was the acclamation of approval. Lady Dunmorden’s chance had come. She must now recognize her butler. As the ripple of pleasant excitement subsided, she arose, flushed and agitated. That man is my servant—my butler. You have been tricked— duped—deceived: and he has proposed to Lady Evelyn. Ha-ha! —she laughed hysterically— and she could not see it. She fall in love with a butler, ha. ha. a pitiable farce! “Stop!” cried the Duke, his face paie with anger. Enough! Say not another word!” Every one drew back. Lady Evelyn alone re- mained at his side. Swords were drawn. Several gentlemen rushed upon him. Lady Evelyn stepped between them and the Duke, with a proud look of defiance on her radiantly beautiful face. The Duke became calm. “Gentlemen, give me your attention and restrain yourselves. Not long ago I. my Lady’s butler, was called into the pres- ence of this honored Lady.” he said, pointing toward Lady Dunmorden. late one afternoon. She said. 'I have a practical joke I should like to play: you are to take the principal part.' Just what the principal part was. I did not then know. I. however, was to appear as you have seen me. Not long after I saw the extent of that cruel joke, which was a mixture of malice and revenge against Lady Evelyn—but I had a part to play apart from that of my mistress. Here are legal papers, which I obtained when in London preparing for this fine joke. These prove I am the son of the late Duke of York, whose infant son was lost in a shipwreck off the coast of Scotland. I was picked up and reared by a peasant. It is unnecessary to go into details. I have arranged within a month to take up my position in the dukedom. T should never have followed up the suit of this fair lady, after I had learned the cruelty of the plan, had I not deemed myself in a position to do so. Lady Evelyn has been aware of my position for some time. Gentlemen. I leave you to pass judgment upon this hypocritical woman—and I pardon vour hastiness in drawing swords.” Hard Luck. Did you have a good time at Raspberry Park, dear?” Guest— I should say not. Every man there was either leading a new life, or pushing it in its go-cart.”—Life. Thomas Dixon. Jr., is the author of “The Only Woman.” a book from which the following quota- tion is taken: Across the huge oak mantel he had carved the sentence: T am an old man now: I've had lots of trouble, and most of it never hap- pened.’”—Saturday Evening Herald.

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 19 THE NEW TEACHERS. MISS MABEL G. CURTIS. M'SS NINA A. CUMMINGS. MISS EDITH M. WALKER. M iss Mabel Gair Curtis was born in East Boston. Her early life was spent in Newton. She graduated from the Girls’ Latin School. Boston, in June. IS81». The following fall she entered Wellesley College, and graduated in 1890 with honors and degree of Bachelor of Arts. Since then her time has been spent in teaching. At the close of her college education, she taught in the West boro High School, and later at Dedham. Miss Curtis enters the Latin School as an instruc- tor in Latin, geometry. English, and history. Nina Adele Cummings was graduated from the English High School in 1890. The following four years were devoted to the study of modern languages, courses being pursued in Tours and Paris. France, at the University of Munich, Germany, and at the University of Lau- sanne, Switzerland, where special attention was given to Professor Andre’s method of teaching the French language. Since September, 1900, Miss Cummings has been teaching in the Robinson Female Seminary. Exeter. N. IT., and in the Haverhill High School, where she was engaged when elected to teach in Somerville. Miss Edith M. Walker is a native of Somerville, and was educated in our schools. She graduated from the Luther V. Bell Grammar School in 188(5, and was the valedictorian in the class of 1890 of the Somerville High School, going to Radcliffe in Sep- tember of that year. Miss Walker studied at Cam- bridge three years, meanwhile doing her first teach- ing as a substitute in Mrs. Robert Bickford's private school in Boston and in the High School in Somer- ville. In 1895 she accepted a position in the Concord (X. H.) High School, where she taught six years in classical, English, and mathematical courses, but especially in the history department. This depart- ment Miss Walker managed entirely last year, to the exclusion of other work. During the past few years she has done special work in history and in philology for two successive summers at Dartmouth, and in French history dur- ing a short trip to Europe in the summer of 1900. Miss Walker has taken the jiosition of Miss Frances Kaan as head of the history department. She also instructs in English and algebra. In Memoriam. We, the members of the U. S. Club, deeply mourn the loss of our beloved member and class- mate, Ina Gertrude Harding. She was ill but a short time, and her death, in the early part of the summer, came as a shock to her many friends. We wish to express our heartfelt sorrow in our loss, and to extend our sincere sympathy to her bereaved parents. FREDA M. HASKELL, President. RUTH W. HILLS, Secretary. Resolutions, L., '04. Whereas, by the divine will of God. our class- mate, Helen A. Reach, has been bereaved of her father; and Whereas, we, the class of 1904, have learned with great grief of her affliction; be it therefore Resolved, that we tender her our heartfelt sym- pathies in her great sorrow: and be it further Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be sent to Helen Reach, and also published in the Radiator. PERCY A. HARRISON, President. HELEN BRADSHAW, Secretary.