Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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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

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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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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 15 for to-day, and tell Lane to come here for a minute.” $ This was the great day in Hanover, for Ran- dolph and Hanover were to battle for the cham- pionship of the state. For two weeks practice had been extra heavy, and the Hanover eleven had awakened and won every remaining game on the schedule so far. Judkins, at fullback, was the whole backfield. He had put new life into the eleven, and victory seemed a possibility at the least. At one o’clock the stands were filling, and at two they were a dense mass of dark color,—on one side the blue and gold of Hanover, on the other the crimson and gray of Randolph. As the teams streamed onto the field for prac- tice the cheers echoed along the stands. At 2.10 the officials drew aside the captains, and at 2.15 the ball was set in position in the centre of the field. Randolph was to kick off. and Hanover lined up to receive the kick. Immediately following the whistle the ball rose into the air and settled into the quarterback’s hands. He started swiftly up the field, but was thrown and downed before lie had gained much. Even at this early period Hanover realized that the game would be a fight to the finish. O11 the first attempt no ground was gained, but the second play was an end run, and netted fifteen yards. The next play was smothered, and a punt followed. I ut Randolph fared no better, and the period ended with the ball in the centre of the field. In the second period Randolph came to life, and on the first play her backs crashed through centre for ten. eight, six, seven yards, till, on the twenty- yard line. Hanover held like a stone wall. Ran- dolph tried a drop kick, and the ball sailed squarely between the two posts, and a huge three was chalked up for Randolph. Randolph kicked off again. Judkins got the ball, and carried it to the middle of the field by a mighty effort. Next a forward pass was tried, but it netted no gain. Judkins plunged into the line with the ball, and in a moment he appeared at the other side of a pile of players, and dashed down the field for twenty yards. Jackson and Jones, the two coaches, chuckled to sec what they expressed as “their find” crashing through centre. But here Randolph held like a stone wall for two downs. In the third down the team formed for a punt, but the ball shot sideways into the quarter’s hands, and he swiftly relayed it to the left end, who dashed oyer a broken field for a touchdown just as the whistle blew. As the third period opened, a dull look seemed to cover the players. Randolph had put in a new man. while Hanover’s line remained unchanged. On the kickotf Randolph was downed, and failed to gain. A punt followed, but neither team seemed snappy, and a series of punts were ex- changed. Then Hanover braced up. and Jud- kins squirmed and plunged through centre for thirty yards, landing on the eighteen-yard line. The stands rose as one man, and the cheering drowned the hoarse voice of the quarterback. “Judkins! Judkins! Judkins!!!” This cheer rose above a confused yelling, and echoed in a thunder- ing vollv across the field. Judkins tried again, but he could not gain, and the quarter walked back for a drop kick. The signals were repeated, and the ball shot back. The quarter caught it and let it fall: at the same moment it touched the earth he kicked. The ball started up toward the posts when----- Smack! The ball smote a Randolph man full on the up- stretched hands. The strong Hanover line had failed to hold, and a husky guard had smothered the kick. It struck the earth and bounced back- wards. The Randolph halfback sprang through the line, scooped the ball up. and plunged down the field. The stands drew one long breath, and stopped. There was 110 one between him and the goal line, and he was the fastest man on the team. As the men saw the ball being taken down the field, they sped after. But frojn among them one form was prominent. It was Judkins! And Judkins was the fastest man on Hanover. It would be a fight to the finish. The men were already at the middle of the field, and Judkins had gained five yards. He was sprinting hard, and his legs seemed to move automatically. At the forty-yard line Judkins was five yards behind, and he did not seem to be gaining an inch. Suddenly his jaw tightened, he clenched his fist, gave a last sprint, and dove into the air at the fleeing runner’s feet. He caught one foot in his nerveless fingers, twisted it viciously, and was conscious of a’heavy thud, and then another, after which all was blank. It was several weeks before Judkins was him- self again, and when he was. he opened his eyes to see cots all around him. He gasped in agony, for his left shoulder seemed like a burning tire. He heard a familiar voice beside him. and his first thought was how the game came out, and he