Taunton High School - Journal Yearbook (Taunton, MA)

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THE JOURNAL Emmie Grant snuggled down contentedly in the big morris chair, with a little sigh of relief. Oh, dad's all right. It's Mandy, the cook, that's all to blame. She's so fond of Dad that if he winks an eyelash she's afraid for his life. It was just an attack of indigestion, but she sent me a telegram in the middle of the night, and got me all worked up. And if Mr. Atkins hadn't come home from the dance just in time to drive me to the station, I'd have surely lost the train. You ,say he's better? Hortense Yelle demanded. - Much better, but I'm going to Peacedale soon and look after him. Besides, Emmie blushed divinely, I'm to be married in June. Mrs. Burrs raised her eye-brows, smiling triumph in her eyes. Some one around here? she cooed sweetly. Oh, no, to a boy down home-and I'll live in a much better neighbor- hood then. 1 So will wel Mrs. Burrs muttered tartly, finding three pairs of accus- ing eyes again fixed on hers-- Well, I swan, the gossip declared later, ain't it funny how things turn out?-But hev you heard about that Lane affair? Ova Dunn bent visibly nearer in mute appeal. Miss D. S. M. Van- Percy cocked her head, birdlike, on one side, and offered a peppermint to Eliza Primm. Hortense Yelle sewed calmly on! 65 rr

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THE JO URNAL Well, the gossip conceded at length, it was this way. You know that young Atkins fellow wot lives down Mrs. Maker's boarding house? Right across the street from me? Well, he's gone an' went ter work- Mrs. Burrs paused as if that capped the climax. Ova Dunn, for the first time that day, stopped chewing her basting thread. Miss D. S. M. Van Percy lifted one eyebrow disdainfully. and eloped with Emmie Grant, Mrs. Burrs finished triumphantly. Miss Van Percy raised her other eyebrow. Ova Dunn began chewing again. The idea! Eliza Primm drawled, her mouth full of pins. Mrs. Burrs was already off again on her story. I ben expectin' it right along, she declared, nodding her head sagely. Why just t' other day I run in ter see Emmie, an' she was hiding away a lot 0' white goods. And I'll stake my good name that I see a weddin' veil ahangin' up in her closet an' I set to wond'rin' right then an' there as ter who'd be a likely chap. Then I 'membered seein' her come up in the car t'other day with thet Atkins chap, and he seemed uncommon friendly, too, carryin' her bundles an' all, an' I spoke to Mrs. Maker 'bout her makin' them weddin' clo'es an' she said she 'lowed she dunno but she might he, but she couldn't say nothin' as to the man. But then, yer know, Mrs. Maker never did get the whole story, an' what she can't say, I can . V Ya see, I wcke up night 'fore last 'bout one o'clock. I'd left the win- dow up all night by mistake, an' it was cold enough in that room to freeze the horns off a brass monkey. An' I never could sleep in a cold room. Well, I pulled up the shade and looked out just in time ter see Bill Atkins steer Emmie Grant an' a suit-case inter his car. They was mighty careful not ter make a mite o' noise an' ef I hadn't see 'em under the street light, I'd o' plumb swore they was burglars. Then it come ter me right off 'at they was elopin' ! The idea! drawled Eliza Primm. Just what I expected! Miss Van Percy proclaimed with conviction. I ain't a mite surprised, Ova Dunn declared substituting her basting thread with another peppermint. Hortense Yelle sewed calmly on! Mrs. Burrs was just opening her mouth to make further remarks, when the door opened and in walked Emmie Grant. On her hand there tlasked a sparkling diamond, but no wedding ring, and everyone turned accusing eyes on Mrs. Burrs-that is, everyone but Hortense Yelle, who beamed on the new-comer and began in a high-pitched little shriek, How's yer father, Emmie? 64

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'una . 1 1. 'Q Eifsw Class Play 1921