Waltham High School - Mirror Yearbook (Waltham, MA)

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PROP H ECY , backed away several feet when he saw me approaching and moved over toward Louise, as if for protection. Accepting this move as a broad hint for me to vacate the land- scape, I moved down the walk as far away as possible. VVhile I was waiting for Louise to break away, I looked about me. In the next vacant lot I saw a woman seated upon a stump of an old tree with a man kneeling beside her. They seemed to be drawing something and were intensely interested in the work o-f five or six other men who were diggging about them. Oh, they, said Louise, when she had caught up with me and I had questioned her, Thats Mildred Clifton and George. They've been planning that house for seven years, but I've heard that they positively expect to complete it be- fore Christmas. Our conversation was suddenly cut short by the approach of a tall woman. followed by a small man pushing a red cart contain- ing a sleeping child. The woman met us enthusiastically. exclaiming, Oh, I heard you were here. Come up and see us. Ramon would be delighted, wouldn't you Ramon ? and she grabbed the cart-handle from his hands and swung it with a jerk into a graveled walk, calling at the same time to her husband, Come and set the table. Helenilfichitson is going 'to lunch with us today and you promised to ta-ke the baby while we eat. Helen has an important secret to disclose to me. Something to do with her last paper on 'Successful riagesf Elizabeth was still talking when we left them, but Ramon, with his mouth in a strained, immovable position, followed Mar- obediently. That noon we had our lunch at Helen Lang's tea room, but the tea and hollow cakes failed to satisfy our hunger. so we hurried out. leaving Helen reading a novel and eating peanuts in the window seat. As we opened the outer door a dark-haired woman with a basket loaded with pro- visions on each arm entered and Helen lYilson, with care and anxiety written on her sunburned face, welcomed me. She, likewise, had heard of my presence in the town, for Yeronica McDermott. the village school marm, had heard it on the way home from school from the minister's wife and before twilight the majority of Arden Vil- lagers had been informed of the fact. The afternoon was spent in a tour of the aristocratic part of the town with a stern regard for the few public facilities. It was a very noticeable fact that on the other side of Apple Street there were five telephone poles and three hydrants, while a small low building was serving as a public library. It was obvious from the appearance of the white paved street that a street cleaner had been employed and my evidences were veri- fied when we turned into a shady road, for here I saw Horace Stearns diligently apply- ing a long-handled brush to a hlthy gutter. We carefully avoided a recognition and moved on. only to run into another crudely clad acquaintance, pushing a green wheel- barrow in which two plump youngsters were directing Herbert along the highway. At a graveled walk he stopped and carried the children to the side porch where a slim woman sat sewing. A nearer view might have correctly identified her, but the brown Huffy hair was quite enough. The scene here brought to mind another old friend and turning to my companion, I inquired for Ella. You won't see her, I'm thinking. IVhy. Ella got entirely too big for Arden. She went out IVest in pursuit of something or somebody. I'Ve always been almost sure that it was the latterf, SAD ENDING FOR ONE YOUNG MAN. Some distance further on we came to a fountain set in the center of a plot of green grass, with seats arranged here and there about the pool of sparkling water. Far too weary to withstand the temptations of rest

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PROPH ECY IN PERILOUS PQSITION ON TREE. Our talking evidently aroused the two, for Arline suddenly ceased declaiming and moved slowly toward the ground. As she reached the last fork of the tree, she caught the hem of her skirt in a branch and hung in a perilous position until we unloosened her dress and helped to restore her balance. Her weight, however, was too much for us and after tottering for a few seconds. she fell heavily to the ground. Quite uncon- cerned she arose to her feet, exclaiming, 'Ilhat's the trouble with that old apple tree, so many branches. I could see, neverthe- less, that she clung to her side and gritted her teeth in an unusual way. I spent that night with them, and the next morning Louise escorted me to the village where, in front of a butcher shop, a scissors grinder stood diligently sharpening a meat saw. I surely knew that hair, those eyes, the smile, the figure! Yes, it was Einer Swanson, as bright and beaming as ever. Seeing the pile of utensils that still remained for him to repair, we left him at his work, afraid of breaking the spell of ambition. At a corner, a few blocks farther on, we came to a tiny fruit stand temptingly. ar- rayed with stock. The place appeared to be entirely empty, but finally a head popped up from behind the counter and a voice piped out, VVant any fruit today? So good! Little Romanie, as short as ever, could just be seen above the bench, landing the perfection of her wares. Loaded with bananas, and oranges we soon returned to the street, and as we moved up the sidewalk a tall street vender in an immaculate white suit threw samples to the crowds. He looked very much as though he were walk- ing on stilts, but a second glance showed us that it was only Carl Fleming, stern of coun- tenance and stately of manner. Fearing that our curious attention might cause an outburst, I hurried into the nearest store, and turning about to see if my companion was following, I carelessly backed into a neatly laid tea table presided over by Lois Stearns. The cups rocked, the sugar bowl tipped, causing the lumps to fall in every direction and the lady in charge spilled a whole cup of the precious tea, to my dismay and her disgust. At any ratef it was only an accident, so, ignoring her angry looks and threats, I walked away with Louise. At the next corner I felt a light tap on the shoulder. Madam, I must ask you to hand me that bundle of lace which you have so deftly picked up from that counter and follow me. I stupidly glanced down at my coat where, from a hook, a roll of line lace was suspended. Then I fo-und Harold Homer leading me to my reckoning. Need- less to say. I was absolutely overwhelmed with humiliation, for here I was a perfect stranger. But,'l I thought, if only I could prove my identity! Gaining courage, I caught up with my captor and endeavored to explain the affair. A prolonged con- troversy ensued, which ended in Harold's reluctant admission that he recognized me fully, but, sad to say, he had lost a sure- enough shop-lifting case. It did not take me long to make my exit and it rather encouraged me to feel the rush of fresh air as we left the store. About a quarter o-f a mile from the last scene, we came to a large wooden mansion with a long piazza in front, at one end of which a stooped figure was bent over some bright colored material. Louise clasped my arm and said, in a deep whisper, Come-that is Fairchilds. I-Ie's as poor as a church mouse now: everyone has thrown him down, but he still lives for nothing but style. See how he sits there mending that old brown over- coat. Xlfhy, he borrowed that way back in his teens, it, was some coat then and some- how lie sticks to that old thing like glue. lIe's mending the darns now. Let's go up and speak. VVell knowing the cool recep- tion I should receive, I consented to I.ouise's suggestion. 'just as I expected, he

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PROPHECY we seated ourselves on a bench which faced the street. A heavy sigh from behind the fountain rose into the still air, and walking around to the other side we let our eyes rest upon the thin and shrunken form of Worcester, sunk in the depths of sleep. His clothes told the secret of his wasted life and his eyes, dark above the lids, showed that he had stared dissipation full in the face. Such a sad ending for one so young! An exclamation from Louise who stood back of me attracted my attention from the exhausted slumberer, and looking up the street, I saw a stout policeman tot- tering down the sidewalk in pursuit of a racing pedestrian. There goes Ernest Hoelscher. He's got another man. Peculiar thing, but every time he sees a stranger in this vicinity he lights after him with full force. Quite sure that Ernest's criminal was harmless,we sat down again,but were hardly comfortably settled before we heard another clattering of feet. Marion Spencer came toward us wringing her hands, sobbing and crying, Is he killed? VVhat happened to him? The poor dear. And then she fainted beside the fountain. We had worked over her nearly half an hour before help came to us, then Eula ap- peared, speeding along the street in a Ford with a sign hitched to it which read, john- son's Combustoes and Auto Supplies. Tele- phone Connectionf' The significance of it struck me even in this strange situation, but I promptly sobered myself when Eula hurried up with a brief How de do ? and helped us to carry our burden to the car. By the time our strength was worn out, Marion had recovered and as we rode along the street, she sat gazing with wild eyes along the sidewalk. Suddenly with a shriek she brust through the door toward the next corner, and the last we saw of her, she was clasped in the arms of the beaming officer. After we had taken Louise home and I had promised to stay with Eula, as she was to be alone for several nights, we returned by the road which led by the public square. A sign in the center beside the band stand announced a concert to be given that even- ing, so after a hearty supper we walked to the park and sat down for an evening's en- joyment. Twenty or thirty minutes elapsed, but no band came to fill the program. A crowd had assembled, but everyone was be- coming exceedingly uneasy and a number had left for home. Finally, a stout man dressed in a blue uniform strolled across the park, carrying a shining trombone and smiling broadly. VVith leisurely attitude he mounted the grand stand and spoke to the waiting throng. I-Ie announced that seven musicians were absent, thus making it im- possible for the concert to be given. Then Elmer descended from the platform and picked his way through the dispersing crowd. A moving-picture house across the street satisfied our desire for amusement and after buying tickets, we were shown seats beside a young lady. She was conversing rapidly with her companion who. with highly ac- cented ejaculations. confirmed her speeches and affectionately leaned toward her to catch each word. The conversation was centered upon everything but the subject of the picture, but occasionally a remark was made in behalf of some overdressed char- acter then being portrayed. We had been there only ten minutes when we heard a shuliiing and giggling be- hind us and then a low voice called, Rise, please. We arose and seven young ladies wriggled past us, stamping on our feet and greeting the couple beside us. As I sat down once more, I was able to lean forward enough to see the gentleman. Yes, it was so like him. I was positive and yet his new companions were so young. Carlton john- son could never give up his fascinating oc- cupation and he left the theatre still the cen- ter of a group of infantile girls, wholly oblivious of other surroundings.