Upper Kennebec Valley High School - Boreas Yearbook (Bingham, ME)

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THE BOREAS 5 One day in August one of the large statues toppled over on to a servant who was cleaning its silver name plate. The injury to the servant was so severe that he died a few days later. Death continued to take its toll: many of the servants died after suffering for a few days with an un- known disease which baffled spe- cialists. Mr. Holden, the owner of the Castle, decided to conduct an in- vestigation to find the source of the mysterious disease. While in the midst of this search another series of events took place. Mr. Holden's daughter and her hus- band came to spend the remainder of the summer at the Castle. They were not informed of the superstitions connected with it 5 nor were they told about the death of the servants. They looked forward to a delightful and restful vacation. They spent most of their time strolling about the grounds or mountain climbing. It became a custom for them to spend the twilight hours inthe gardeng then, as the shadows deepened, they usually re- ti 'ed to the drawing room to read. One evening they were so busily engaged in reading that they were unaware of a peculiar odor which gradually filled the room. Their heads droopedg and they were found the next morning-dead! This last incident caused further investigation, especially in the draw- ing room where the young people had died. Mr. Holden secured the services of a skilled detective, Bertreau, who had an unusual reputation for cases of this type. He found that he was confronted with the most extraordi- nary case in his lifetime. He could find no indication of violence on the bodies of the dead, he failed to find any traces of poison. The former trouble among the servants could be explainedg but this last trouble cer- tainly baffled Bertreau. One day, while a group of laborers were working under the supervision of Bertreau, one Workman discovered a separate chamber in the fireplace. He found in it a metal container, which contained a residue of powder. After analyzing the residue the last mysterious accident was explained: the powder was capable of giving of a deadly, odorless gas under proper heating. The fire in the fireplace had gradually heated this, and it had found its way into the room where it had done its deadly work. Mr. Holden was willing to sell the Castle after so many misfortunesg but various stories about it prohibited its sale. Again it was abandoned, and it is still unoccupied. O. A., '28. FOUND: COURAGE Raye Fraser was the son of a fa- mous and excellent football player, who had saved many games for his Alma Mater. He had upheld the reputation of his college at several instances when it appeared that the game belonged to the opposing team. He had won these games by courage alone, when it seemed that he could not move his bruised and weary body. His disgust and contempt for a cow- ard and quitter was unbearable. Thus he had drilled his son in the game

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4 THE BoREAs Iiehhhhhhhhfahhhhkahhhhaoaahhh 'B' QMhhhkhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhlm LITERARY Wfahhhhhhhcahhhhhhfakahhhkhhh khhbhengahhkhhhfkahhh'-hhhhHhhQ6 I THE MYSTERY HOUSE The Reign of Terror during the French Revolution left within its Wake a multitude of disastrous re- sults. Its cruelty, horror, and blood- shed have left a disagreeable chapter in French history. Time, which is instrumental in the erasure of events, has met with defeat in this instance. Situated in the suburbs of Paris was the mansion of the Champaignes. It was built in the latter part of the fifteenth century by the earliest mem- ber of the family. Successive gen- erations were careful to preserve its priceless treasures of art. During the French Revolution it played an important part as the headquarters of the military staff of Louis XVI. Many castles were destroyed during the Revolution, but Champaignes Castle was spared. At one time the villagers used it as a gathering place. The Castle was a picturesque struc- ture of massive stone. It had mys- terious rooms, paneled walls, and dark dungeons. There were many places in which jewels and documents were hidden. As year after year passed, the common people considered the Castle a haunted mansion. The surround- ing grounds were not properly cared for, trees, shrubbery, and grass never received help in their straggling growth. One neighbor spent two nights there to find the causes of re- ported noises. He claimed that he was haunted by ghosts of many for- mer victims of the Castle. Some of the apparitions were headlessg some were dragging heavy chains, and some uttered curses and oaths at him. Fires of a few minutes' duration broke in the Castleg and then they disappeared as quickly as they had come. In spte of its traditions, its owners succeeded in selling the Castle to a wealthy American steel manu- facturer. After the necessary repairs were made, he and his family settled themselves there for the rest of the summer. All went well during the first part of the summer. The inmates of the Castle were amused over the Weird tales which their neighbors told them.

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6 THE BQRIQAS from babyhood. It was his desire that some day Raye would win glory for his college and himself. Ben Fraser sent his boy to Har- vard and his parting words were, Remember, son, courage and loyalty count above all else. It was Raye Fraser's third year in college. He had been chosen for the varsity team. Yet he did not accept the position with eager joy for he knew that he was a coward. Raye feared the rough and tumble fights. He had tried to overcome his fear for the sake of his Alma Mater and his father, but he could not. He knew he was afraid, but overshadowing that was the fear that he should break his father's heart. He was a coward. Raye lost his usual appearance and cheerfulness and on the day of the final and famous game with Yale he was haggard and worn. The bleachers and grandstand were full to overflowing. Harvard's crim- son banners streamed in the cool air while opposite them were the blue and white symbols of the rival. Suddenly the door of the training house opened and the teams ran onto the field. Roar upon roar, cheer after cheer filled the air. Every fan seemed to go wild with the appearance of his favorite. High above the others rose, Raye, Raye Fraser. Ben Fraser and his classmates were there. The heart of Raye swelled until he felt it would burst, it swelled not with pride, but with shame and fear. The game began, but Raye saw little of it. He sat upon the bench. His body was bathed in a cold sweat, his face was white, beads of clammy perspiration stood on his pale brow. He had failed. He was a coward. The coach had not allowed him to play. A touch roused him. He looked into the anxious face of Coach Carl. The coach's voice was kind, Raye, my boy, I am going to send you in. It all depends upon you. I know how you feel, but, remember the game stands zero to zero and our only hope is that you find your courage. Do your best, lad. Raye rose and lurched his stagger- ing way toward the field. He was unconscious of all about him until after what seemed an eternity. He saw the ball coming toward him. He leaped to meet it. Hugging it to him, he ran. Out of empty space sprang a mountain of flesh. His cour- age was failing, but just in time rang the clear, strong voice of his father, On, lad, down him Raye. Like an electric shock that voice pierced his blurred brain, and with stiffened arm he warded the attack. His mind cleared, and with a speed unknown to him, he bounded toward the goal. Crash! Had he run into a land- slide? He disengaged himself from a whirlpool of arms and legs. There lay the ball. He snatched it up, and sprang away. Like a deer he sped over the ground. Bang, smash! He came up against another avalanche of human bodies. The sound of the whistle was drowned by the happy cry of the fans. Slowly the players disentangled themselves. There lay Raye Fraser, protecting the ball with his body, a foot over the line. The fans went crazy, wild. Raye