Valley Stream Central High School - Cadet Yearbook (Valley Stream, NY)

Page 30 text:

THE. CENTRAL FLASH At these words Lady Radcliffe went pale, and Lord Radcliffe jumped up. If that is true, he shall never have my consent, he roared. That a Radcliffe should marry a common dancer of the streets is more than I can under- stand. It must not be. He turned to a servant. Pen, ink, and some parch- ment. Quickly. I must answer the message. . What are you going to say? asked Lady Radcliffe in a low voice. Maybe this Tailouanna is all right, even if she is a dancer. What! You think he should marry her? said Lord Radcliffe. Noi I shall make it clear to him that if he marries that street dancer, he will never be welcome in my house again. - The parchment was given to the messenger who started at once for Palestine. Several weeks later Roland arrived home. One could tell by the appearance of his horse and himself that he had come a long way, and that no time had been wasted on the journey. Roland went straight to his father to eX- plain matters. When Lady Radcliffe arrived on the scene, Roland had just about convinced his father that Tailouanna was worthy enough to enter the Radcliffe family. Why, Roland, she cried. ' 'fOh, Mother, said Roland, f'I've just been telling Father of Tailouanna. She isn't a street-dancer. It is true, she is famous for her dancing, but she does it because the Arabians make her. When she was a child, she was stolen by some Turks, and she lived up in the mountains with an old Turkish farmer and his wife. Cine night they drugged her, and the Arabs took her to- Palestine. She was under their rule, completely. You understand, Mother. Don't you? f'Yes, I understand. But where is she now? 4 I left her with an old Spanish woman in the mountains in Spain. She is waiting for me. f'Yes, son, said Lord Radcliffe in a tone much softer than he usually used, bring her home. She will be welcome in your father's house. 'I' -If 'X' -76 'X' if -ll' if' -H' 'I' as Roland came around the last curve of the rough, mountain-path, he saw the little house. He cried, Tailouanna! He waited a moment. Then he called again. There was no answe ing the house. Where is Tailouanna? he demanded. The woman seemed uneasy but said after a mfinute: She run away .... She have wish to make dance again ..... I no could stop her, senorf' Roland was astounded. He could say nothing. Instead, he ran into the small cottage and searched every corner, calling her name incessantly. Finally, he was able to control himself. Didn't she leave any message? he demanded. No, Senor. Where did she go? r. He saw the old S-panish wo-man approach- I do not know, she go at night.', 'fVVhere is the nearest village. I must find lodgings for the night. That way, she replied pointing. It is near. Roland rode Off, thinking. He was brokenhearted to think that she -had 28

Page 29 text:

THE CENTRAL FLASH groan to stare in amazement at the doorway. There stood the girl. She was wrapped in an Arabian blanket and was talking to the officers, , ff ..... then I awoke and found myself lying on some blankets in the Arabian's tent. They would not tell me how I got there. But they do tell me that I am English. Tailouanna is the only name I know for myself. But I am English, and you are English, so you will help me, yes? The girl spoke in a soft voice with just a few irregularities in her speech and a slight accent. Roland heard it clearly enough, but a drowsiness overtook him, and he sank into a heavy stupor. When he awoke, Tailouanna was beside him, bath- ing his forehead with cool water. They looked at each other for a few minutes without speaking. Then Roland said. 1 A 'fYour name is Tailouanna? .- That is what I am called, she replied, slowly, hesitantly. I do not know my true name. 4I saw you dance yesterday, said Roland. And I saw you, she replied. ' But how could you? You didn't look at anyone. I Ah, yes, I saw you, and I was glad., I was glad to see 'one of my country- men. You liked my dance? 4 A f'Yes, very much, replied Ro-land. Then, after a moment. You'are very beautiful. - Oh! cried the girl, surprised, why ..... I' The-n she smiled. I have heard others tell me that, but I thought it was because I was different from the Arabian girl. An Englishman has never said that to me before , And so they talked, for a long, long time. ' I it ii- 9? 66 96 99 9? it 4+ 'X '. Lord Radcliffe, Lady Radcliffe, and another nobleman were-seated at the long table in the great hall of the Radcliffe Castle. The nobleman had just returned from Palestine and was telling his host and hostess about the latest doings there. A messenger entered and handed a piece of tightly-rolled parch- ment to Lord Radcliffe. Lord Radcliffe unrolled it and read it. He wassilent for a minute. I ' ' What is it? asked Lady Radcliffe. Down in Palestine, our son has met a very .beautiful English girl, whom he wishes to bring h-ome as his wife. His wife gasped,.but Lord. Radcliffe continued in a very queer voice, It is strange. He said she was English, yet her name is Tailouanna. I-Ie wants our consent. I I am glad, Iam glad, said Lady RadcliHe. What matters her name? I'm 'sure she is good if our son has chosen her, and now he'll be home, for good. Yes, I am glad, too, said Lord Radcliffe. t Did you say her name was Tailouanna? demanded their guest. Yes. It is strange. Is it not? said, Lord Radcliffe. . - . Stranger than you think. Tailouanna may be English. Yes, but she is dances an the streets of Palestine with some Arabians. She is a dancer who , but she is not the kinda son of a famous for her beauty and her dancing, o U 7 ' . nobleman would choose for his WIIG., 27

Page 31 text:

THE CENTRAL FLASH run away back to Palestine, perhaps, to dance -on the streets. He came to the small mountain inn and engaged a night's lodging. After he had his horse cared for, he went to his room. There, he kept thinking of Tailouanna. At about midnight he heard a knock on his door. It was a young boy who said, Senor, queek! The old woman, she must- see you! Her heart go bad, but she must see you before she die. Roland hurried to the cottage of the old woman. 'fWhat is it you wish to tell me? he asked her. Ah, seior, ..... I must tell you ..... the girl ..... she no runaway .... the Arabs, .... they come at night, and take her . . . , gasped the woman. V Why didn't you tell me t-hat before? he demanded. 'fBecause, seiior .... Ah, Mon Dios! . . ,. . . I have fraid . . you tell me to watch her .... and they take her .... the Arabs . . I . . I have fraid .... The old woman sighed and said no more. Roland's thoughts were confused, but he knew one thing. He must find her. But where? Palestine? No, that was too far. Which way should he go? He hadn't the slightest idea. However, he mounted his horse and rode down the mountain path the way he had come the previous day. He rode for the re- mainder of the night. At dawn he had almost reached the valley. By the first rays of the sun, he was astounded to see a horse and rider coming toward him. He saw it was an Arab, and he prepared himself for battle. With his shield held in front- of him, and his lance ready, he galloped toward his foe. A shriek from the rider made him sto-p a moment, and he saw with joy that the rider was Tailouanna, disguised as an Arab. He took her in his arms and held her close. ' It's all right now, he told her. You're coming home with me, and you'll never go back to Palestine. And the two rode away, facing the sunrise and happiness. A I Ruth H ynd. SUNG AT WAR WITH SENSE It surely takes ability To rhyme Words with facility, To keep them flowing easily, The couplets going breezily. I I haven't quite the knack of it 3 I simply can't keep track of itg The words don't want to stay with me? My pencil scribbles wearilyg The words keep coming Ch6'Cfi1V- The words cavort and caper so, And crowd upon the paper SO, They leave me panting, breathless, damp, And suffering from writers' CFHIUP' L C 29