Strong High School - Mussul Unsquit Yearbook (Strong, ME)

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18 THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT that 's been waiting for some time. I'll see you at eight then. Good-bye. Good-bye. The Tourists had to do without the serv- ices of their star cornet player that night. The important question was answered to the satisfaction of all concerned, and after a successful season the Tourists' Orchestra played for a wedding reception for their vanquished leader. George Fletcher, '24. THE Losi' TREASURE O come, Gladys, it will do you a world of good, so said five young girls. It was agreed they should call for her at four o'clock the next morning. Four o'clock found six young girls leav- ing Pleasantdale for the week-end. They were to go to the top of Stanley Hill to enjoy the view by sunrise. The car sped on and on through the still, dark roads, the trees casting weird shadows all around them. Once out in the open road with no cottages near they started to sing and glory in being young and living. Gladys joined in the merry-making and class day songs. As the girls started Gladys' heart grew sad, but she would not let the girls know it. She put on a bold front and joined in too. At last they came to the foot of Stanley Hill and they all got out of the car, for the hill was too steep, and the girls would have to walk to the top. They carried their breakfast with them to be eaten at sunrise. Up they went through winding paths, in and out amongst the trees, and around the birds were beginning to Hit to and fro chirping with the dawn. The grass was wet with dew, the brooks went merrily on their way splashing along over the little pebbles. They would just get to the top in time to see the sunrise. just ahead of them could be seen a clearing, a few more steps and out came the six girls to see the sur- rounding towns before they were all astir with humanity. It was well worth the long climb, for the girls had never seen any- thing so lovely. It grew lighter and lighter and what a changeg in the east of the heavens slowly rose the sun, a great ball of fire, which as it came higher and higher changed slowly to a lovely gold ball. The girls all stood there spell-boundg they could not say what they felt, for they could find no words. All around everything came to life, all the birds, squirrels and rabbits hur- rying to and fro. After a while the girls all sat down in silence to eat their breakfast for they de- cided to walk around the woods and see what each girl could find real pretty in flowers or anything. They all went in different directions, each girl her own way. Gladys was glad to be left alone for a while for it seemed as though her heart would break. She wandered around and finding a nice shade tree sat down to rest and think. Two years ago she was so happy gradu- ating from college with honors, but mostly because her engagement to jack Spaulding, also a graduate, was to be announced the following week. Gladys Johnson was a girl to be loved by all who saw her, sweet and pure, with hair like gold and eyes of blue, she was always happy even though she was sad as now, there was always a sweet smile for everybody. Jack was a noble boy, a son of very re- fined, well-to-do parents. Gladys and Jack began their friendship at the first year in college which gradually ripened into something deeper than that. The last few weeks of school were indeed busy ones, everybody with his or her part in the class day exercises. Gladys had gone to the mountain to rest and was unaware that anyone was near her, when she heard a voice say, You know I love you dearly, but I am by honor bound to another though it will break my heart. Not wishing to hear what was not meant for her ears, she arose and glancing in the direction from where the voice came, she sank back silently to the ground for there was Jack talking thus so earnestly to

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THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT 17 leave out Milton on his schedule, as they generally had a fast team there. Frank had not heard a word from Eve- lyn for six years. It seemed an eternity to him. The tour was proving very successful and at last they arrived in Milton. The town had not changed very much as Frank could see, and as he saw the familiar scenes of his happy prep. school days he had hard work to keep from shouting with joy. Milton had a strong team that year. Henry Walton had secured a bunch of col- lege stars, and Frank could see as they tossed the ball around in practice, that it would be a battle royal. The crowd clidn't seem to recognize Frank until the game had begun, and Frank crouched behind the plate and made one of his quick snap throws to second. It went up and down the bleachers, who was catch- ing for the opposing team, and he received a great ovation. The game proved to be a pitcher's battle between the Tourists', as they called them- selves, pitching ace, Allen a southpaw, and Milton's star pitcher, Dalton, a former Yale star. The first half of the ninth inning opened with the score nothing all around. The first two men for the Tourists could do nothing with Dalton's slants. Frank was up next. He was rather dis- gusted with l1is team, as they could not seem to hit Dalton, while he had made two two-baggers on his two previous trips to the plate, only to die there. There was blood in Frank's eyes as he stepped to the plate this time. A college coached ball player generally lets the first ball go by when batting to look it over as they say that a batter is too anxious and would probably only foul it. Frank had not been an exception to the rule the first two times, and he noticed that Dalton generally put the first one right over, to everyone. Dal- to11 unsuspectingly put the first one right in the groove, for Frank. Frank stepped right into it and it sailed over the fence for a homer. Milton gave the Tourists a scare in their half of the ninth, The first man up doubled and the next one drove a liner toward third. Frank thought that it was labeled for three sacks, but the Tourists' third baseman, who was playing deep, made a wonderful stab, and caught it in one hand, threw it to sec- ond, completing a double play. Walton re- ceived a free walk. Frank knew that he would try to steal second, and although he might have let him go, as a weak hitter was up, he decided to show him once and for all how easy it was to catch him stealing. Frank signalled for an out pitch. Allen was on, and the ball came like a streak. Frank never moved in his tracks, but snapped the ball to second. The second baseman had the ball waiting for Walton, who looked pretty sheepish as he walked back to the bench. The game was over and won. As Frank was leaving the field he almost bumped into Evelyn Brown. Why, Evelyn, he said, I thought I was never going to see you again. Well, I didn't suppose it would make much difference to you if you didn't. You certainly played a wonderful game this afternoon, Frank. Hang the game. Say, Evelyn, why didn't you answer that letter I wrote to you the day after graduation P I didn't receive any letter. 4' That 's funny, said Frank, I certainly mailed it. Oh! by the way, are you going to the dance tonight? We certainly have got some swell orchestra, but I think they could do without nie if you say so. Probably that little friend of yours you had to the graduation would have some- thing to say about that. NrVhy, Evelyn, that was my sister and I wanted so much to introduce her to you. VVas it! I think I will go to the dance. That 's fine. I'll call and get you at eight, and we will take a little Spill before the dance. I've got an important question

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THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT 19 another. Gladys remained in the same spot long after the others had gone, wishing she could die, right then, her heart was broken. She returned to the dormitory a changed girl resolving not to say anything to ,Tack but to avoid meeting or talking with him. The girls all noticed it but none of them said anything to herg she no longer joined the girls in fun. Immediately after graduation she left for home. Three days later with her parents she went abroad to see different places of interest but really hoping she would forget her love for one who proved so false. Here she was sitting under the same tree that must also heard those words that caused so much heartache. Jack noticed that Gladys avoided meeting him, but he was so busy with rehearsals that he could not manage to speak to her and learn what had happened. As soon as he could after the exercises he hurried to Gladys but she was gone. Didn't she leave me some sort of message F' he asked the girls. But there was no message for him. Jack was terribly hurt by this action of l1is darling's. He determined to go to her as soon as he got home. He wrote to her, telling he was coming to see l1er, but his letter came back. Imagine his surprise when on going to her home he was told that Gladys with her parents had sailed abroad two days before. He resolved to find her and learn what had happened to cause her to act so towards hi1n. His heart was broken. He sailed on the very next steamer, hoping to see her somewhere. He looked everywhere but all in vain. After spending a year abroad he took up his practice of law. His parents were sur- prised to think the girl they were to call daughter should go without leaving one word to the boy they idolized. During the following year he made a great success at law and would some day be one of the best lawyers. But he was not happy, for he could find no trace of his loved one. Meanwhile Gladys had traveled every- where trying to interest herself in all the sights and forget. But day by day she grew thinner and paler and very seldom did she join in social gayeties. They remained abroad for a year and a half and then re- turned home. Her parents wanted to call jack to account for his supposed falseness but Gladys would not hear of it. She re- mained quietly at home, drooping visibly day by day. Her classmates tried their best to get her to join them on many of their trips but in vain. It was a surprise to them when Gladys accepted this invitation. The same day Jack with a few of his classmates started on a trip and came once more to visit the place they all enjoyed when attending the college. jack said he was going to climb to the top of the hill and see if he could find any lost treasure amongst the trees and rocks, or perhaps he might find some gold. They all laughingly wished him luck and Jack started. Many times he had walked up this same hill with Gladys by his side, planning so much for the future, but what did the future hold for him now? He could see nothing to bright- en his life, without his beloved. And so he walked with thoughts of Gladys and mem- ories of the different places where they used to sit and plan. He was tired before he reached the top and thought he would sit beneath the big tree yonder and rest. He was lost in thought and so did not see any- one there until he came to the tree and saw the one he had looked for so long. Gladys ! Jack ! They were in each other's arms, all thoughts of the past forgotten in that one moment of joy. Then Jack said, Gladys, tell me what happened. Why have you hidden yourself from me all this time? Then came the explanations of all she heard and how she felt about the words she heard him say to another. jack explained to her the meaning of those words she over- heard, and told her how he had followed her everywhere in hopes of finding her, but all in vain.