Waltham High School - Mirror Yearbook (Waltham, MA)

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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.

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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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PROPI-I ECY Half the evening had gone and the pic- tures had not interested us a particle. How- ever, we were determined to see the show if we were obliged to remain until the finish and we had just moved down two seats when I heard a stifled laugh behind me. Casually glancing back over my shoulder as if to take in the rear audience, I slyly let my eyes rest upon a woman. It was Dor- othy Hill, her plump hand resting lightly in a much stronger one. Surely these two hands were not mates, but I didn't dare to look again: so with a faint picture in my mind of Dorothy, Hammond 'Hill and Pros- pect Street llridge at night, I patched to- gether a solution for the scene behind me. --Xt the beginning of the second perform- ance, two very tall women took seats directly in front of me and commenced a steady flow of conversation. No, Alice, I think pink would go better with my complexion and you know, dear. that I look far more stylish in something that sets off my lines. Real blonds are so rare nowadays, that is why I must take ad- vantage of my wonderful gift. Yes, I know, but, Ethel, don't you think that pink is my color? I should much rather have- You're not going to. though, Alice Ben- nett, the other interrupted. Deep laven- der is what you should have. Now see that gown on that girl in that picture. XVhat wretched style: I'd look well in that because I've the height. Here the argument was suddenly brought to a close by the entrance of a man upon the platform. In a sickening voice he began a voluble rendition of a song. I-Iisses im- mediately arose from the gallery and con- tinued throughout the performance, which came to a close after a succession of croaks from the vocalist. I couldn't see that Le- land's voice had improved in any way, but it may have been because of my lack of proper appreciation. On the whole the show, with the enter- taining features of the several volunteer speakers, had been a most interesting one and I went to sleep that night happily con- scious of having spent a very profitable day. The next morning. while I was still up- stairs, a rap sounded at the door. Presently voices were heard in the hall and I was summoned below to find Marion Smith and .Xlice Armstrong sitting with the needles clicking sharply in the grim silence. A solemn greeting was exchanged and then the visitors drew their chairs closer, while Alice began with a bountiful supply of news. The worst thing happened last night! Clarence French sleeps out in the tent, you know. and during the storm last night the wind ripped it down and the folding bed, which he 'sleeps in, closed up and he was caged until morning. When they took him out. they say he was still smiling, but a short time after, while I was taking the curl paper off my front hair, the ambulance drew up to the door. Marion confirmed this prolonged speech, while we politely exclaimed over the acci- dent, and the speaker continued: Yesterday morning we saw a barrel of flour being carried into the Stearns house, and later Mrs. Stearns came running out crying that Frances had fallen head first into it. She didn't seem to know what Frances had been looking for, but it was surely something. No doubt I could have told the'ladies all about it, but it would have broken Frances' heart had I disclosed her secret. A fter this rare bit of information, Marion took up the strain. Probably you have heard about it but it isn't supposed to be out yet. You see, Esther Bird has always been a high aimerg in fact, you might say she had built her entire future on a Cliff. W'ell, the whole trouble is this: Aurelia llates has come back to Arden, settled down for good, surrounded Ifsther'si Cliff and