Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 3 was that the boat, which under the influence of the breeze had swung its bow toward the shore, had gently grounded on a low sand bar under the momentary impulse of the engine, and remained there. Here it became more firmly fixed every minute, as the tide was running out. It was the Exalted Personage, who, gazing around with calm dignity, finally perceived their plight. Oh. Mr. Brown. I do believe we are aground! Do hurry and get us off, or we may not get back in time for tea.'' George glanced hastily over the side, seized an oar. and attempted to push off. but in vain. The boat was hard and fast, with the tide still running out. George sat down athwart and gazed helplessly at his wife. Guess the best thing vou can do is sit down and wait for the tide, mate. drawled a voice. '‘There ought to be enough water for you to get off by eleven o’clock to-night,—half past ten, mebbe.” The attention of the party was drawn to a tali, lank individual, calmly surveying them from the beach, and engaged in chewing an enormous quid of tobacco. Is there no way by which we can get off? de- manded Mrs. Brown. If you arc a fisherman, you must have a motor boat, and you can easily tow us out. You will be well paid for your trouble. Sorry, ma’am, but my son has taken the boat to town after provisions, and even if I had her I couldn't get in there now. The tide runs off of that bar so fast that I’d be ashore in a minute. The only way you can get ashore is to wait until dead low tide, and walk. With this, the native became disinterested, and gazed meditatively at the sky, rolling his quid from one side to the other. The Exalted Personage now sat up still more stiffly in her scat. I shall certainly not demean myself by walking ashore over those awful flats, neither do I intend to remain here until midnight. You must provide some way. Mr. Brown, to get us off. Having issued this fiat, she relapsed into stern and dignified silence. Most certainly. echoed Mrs. Brown. When the water is low enough. George, you can carry us ashore, and we can walk to the nearest car line. Dubiously and with a smothered anathema. George surveyed the distance to dry land and the figures of his estimable spouse and her guest. None of your slender young things, these. They were substantial and robust with the weight of their dignity and responsibilities. But his was the lot to obey, not to command—and so, the water having now receded to a depth of a few inches, after due preparations he stepped over the side and prepared to receive the queenly Juno in his arms, spurred on by the exhortations and cau- tions of his wife. It was no small task which con- fronted him, but George shouldered his responsi- bility like a Hercules, and all would have gone well if the lady had not dropped her hand bag and made a frantic clutch to recover it just as his toe came into violent contact with a small stone. I hen. alas! with a gasp echoed by a shriek from the lady in the boat, and a chuckle from the gen- tleman on shore, the Exalted Personage, state re- gent of the D. A. R., was enthroned somewhat un- ceremoniously in six inches of water. Like a flash, two things occurred: Mrs. Brown saw her social aspirations in a wreck around her, and George’s shackles fell from him like a miracle —for human patience could endure no longer. W ith a wrathful jerk, he helped the incensed lady to her feet and to the shore, and strode splashing back to the boat. When he reached the side his wife was ready for him. ‘ W ell. George Brown. I must say---- You get out and walk.” Well, of all things--- Get out and walk! George was growing dangerous: then the unexpected happened. The fire died out in the worthy lady’s eye, and with a smifllc she meekly obeyed, clinging to his arm as he strode across the flats to the shore. Leaving the two women standing on the beach. George made arrangements with the fisherman to take care of the boat and run it back in the morning, and received directions as to the nearest line of cars, which was about a mile and a half distant. It was a queer looking party that wended its way slowly along the deserted country road through the gathering twilight. George strode ahead, a dark frown on his face, with Mrs. Briggs a close second, her head scornfully erect, while his wife, suffering in silence, brought up the rear. I.’pon arriving at the cottage, the Exalted Per- sonage coldly informed her hostess that she would leave on the early train in the morning, since un- der the circumstances she did not feel inclined to remain longer. Immediately all of Mrs. Brown’s lost dignity returned to her. and clinging to her husband's arm. she composedly expressed her re- grets at her guest's decision, though entirely agreeing with her that, under the circumstances, it was doubtless for the better. Thus the party broke up for the night.

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12 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR restored to perfect health, the color of the roses blooming in her checks. Donovan, still standing thoughtfully in the locker-room, came to himself with a start. “Gee!” he muttered ruefully. “There’s an aw- ful hole in my hank account just at present.” Then— Hang it! I wish I knew whether or not lie played me for a sucker.” XEbe (Turning of tbe By? iRobert C. Bourne, ’12 Worm THINK it was so lovely of Mr. Brown to offer to take us out in the boat, ' exclaimed the matron perched in the stern, the motion is so exhilarating, don’t you think? I hear you arc quite an enthusiast, Mr. Brown. Doesn’t the motor ever get out of order? My husband has always said that he wouldn’t own one for a farm, you know. But then I think such a nice, comfortable boat as this one—and Speedwell is such an appropriate name, too.” Yes. I fell in love with this boat the moment 1 laid eyes on her, ’ rejoined the other matron. “The agent wanted to show us another, but 1 told George that it couldn’t possibly be better than this one. and George thought the same as 1 did, so we bought it. Did you till the oil cups. George, be- fore you started? I — 1 think so,” answered George, I'll look and see. and relapsed into silence while puttering about the engine. The foregoing conversation was held in the stern of a small motor dory, chugging down the bay. Mrs. George Brown, regent of the Ezekiel Stockman Chapter. I). A. K.. was entertaining the state regent. Mrs. James, Briggs, for the week end at her summer home at the seashore. As may be inferred. Mr. George Brown had been called into requisition to furnish the entertainment for the guest. Mrs. Brown was a woman of brilliant talents, high ambitions, and somewhat decided opinions. I’nder her administration the Ezekiel Stockman Chapter had developed from a comparatively in- significant body to one of the largest and most in- fluential chapters in the state. ()f this she was justly proud, and aspired to become state regent. With this once obtained, who knew but that she might some day attain the president-generalship? Mrs. Brown hardly dared hope for this, but she had set her heart on the former office. With this end in view, she was entertaining the present in- cumbent of that position, about to retire, with the hope of getting her favor and support. From the height of her social aspirations, she looked upon George as merely an accessory to obtain the de- sired object. She therefore devoted her time and energy to arousing the interest and friendship of the Exalted Personage, and almost forgot to di- rect George in the running of the engine. Of George little need be said. He had been Mrs. Brown’s husband for so long that he had no recollection of ever being otherwise, and it was only on extremely rare occasions that lie ventured to protest mildly against her imperious decrees. On this day. however, he was filled with a vague resentment against he knew not exactly what. and. while outwardly as meek as ever, scowled darkly ahead, and turned the small steering wheel in the bow with vicious little jerks. The boat had been skirting close to the shore, owing to the beauty of the scenery and the height of the tide, and George now started to slip in be- tween a small sandy island and the beach. He had just reached the centre of the narrow channel which separated the island from the shore, when with a gasping cough the engine stopped. The boat at once lost its momentum and drifted slowly with the light breeze toward the shore. George glared impatiently at the engine, and Mrs. Brown gazed inquiringly at George. He walked aft, gave the wheel a petulant twitch, the boat shot ahead a few vards. and stopped again. George thought he noticed something wrong with the car- buretor. and bent down to examine it, amid the vociferous advice of his wife and the inane re- marks of the guest. A circumstance that none in the party noticed

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14 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR The next morning George’s exasperation had given way to an inner exultation. VY’hy hadn’t he tried this tack with her before? billed with a new buoyancy and independence, he parted smil- ingly from his guest at the train, undismayed by her stony silence, and passed on his way down town, with eager step and shoulders squared. On his way he passed a store window where were displayed fancy pillow covers ready for embroider- ing. He paused, hesitated, and entered the store. Approaching one of the salesgirls, he beckoned her airily with his finger, and pointed out one which caught his fancy. “Give me that green one, there,” he said. ‘T think I’ll send it home to my wife. Zhc tfint JS Clinton 011. Carvell, ’14 HE two football coaches of the Han- over College team were walking down the road leading to the foot- ball field. Tni sorry we’re late,” said the older man. an old Dartmouth star, “but 1 told Lane to start up a scrimmage between the ‘varsity and the second team as soon as possi- ble. It’s about time the ’varsity held the second team. I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s just as the papers print repeatedly; every other day there's something about the weakness of the backficld or the lack of training, but surely they’ve had enough training, and, coming to a conclusion, it is our system that is no good.” “No, Jackson!” emphatically replied the other. “It is our backficld that’s weak. The line’s the strongest around. Even Amherst couldn’t get through it. If we only had another man of Lane’s calibre in the backficld there is no doubt that we’d show Randolph a thing or two week after next; but, as it is, all we can do is hope for the best. Yes.” murmured the other, and—well, here’s the field. 1 guess I’ll watch a while from the sidelines.’’ Roth coaches stepped to the sidelines, and stood watching while the ’varsity prepared to kick off after a touchdown. The quarter drew back, got the signal, and in a moment the ball was rising into the air. “That’s a good kickoff,” murmured Jackson, but the ball is going to Latimer. He’ll never get it. and. if he does, the ends will be down under him before he can get started.” But even coaches are not always right. To the surprise of all, Latimer caught the ball and straight-armed two men, advancing rapidly to al- most the centre of the field. What!” exclaimed Jones, the other coach, “Latimer taking forty yards on the kickoff, and now the second’s quarter driving Lambert through centre twice for no gain, third down, and the seconds lined up for a punt!” That’s what!” replied Jackson, and Latimer’s going to do the punting, too.” The ball shot back, and in a second was sailing high into the air. It was a beautiful spiral, and covered ten white lines before it dropped into the arms of a ’varsity man. He started iorward, but was thrown heavily to the ground, and the ball rolled out from under him. Three forms lunged at it. and captured it for the second team. “The second’s playing up to form to-day all right,” said Jackson, and there goes Latimer through guard for ten yards, and the jersey is ripped off his back, and-----’’ One moment, Jackson.” said Jones, that man’s not Latimer. Call the quarterback here.” In a moment the second’s quarter faced them. “Who’s playing left-half?” asked Jackson. Judkins,” was the reply. Latimer had to go away, so he sent him down. He had a lot of back work to make up, but he’s a dandy. Goes through Erlin every time, and plays rings all round the ’varsity.” Judkins, eh!” said Jones. “Well, tell him to come around to the gym to-night, and I’ll have a new jersey for him. That’s enough practice