Waltham High School - Mirror Yearbook (Waltham, MA)

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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

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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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PROPHECY taken full possession. Anyway, our whole section is in a general uproar. The story then returned to Alice, who Hoated into another choice item. You re- member little Mabel Erwin, don't you. lVell, if you don't, you will when you see her, for she's coming back to take Yer- onica's place. Yeronica's got something up her sleeve, but only Mabel knows, so we are all waiting for the new school teacher to arrive. They say that she has a new system of instruction to make quite a sensation here, but, for my part, I object to these new fangled ideas. And thus theconversation went on, but l couldn't help thinking that our visitors' taste for rapid talk had in- creased greatly since our last meeting. ARRESTED FOR SLTFFRAGE STUNTS. Qui' plans for that day's rest in order to be in good condition to complete our con- quest of the town -were still further pre- vented, for in the afternoon. having com- fortably seated ourselves for a quiet talk, we heard cries of a mob outside and rushed to the door just in time to -see three well dressed women being led down the middle of the road. Their stiff white collars were torn from was flying wildly. At the corner below. roughly forced into the patrol their fastenings and their hair they were and driven away. Shortly afterwards the ambulance passed byand the excited crowd informed us -that Jennie Angus, Althea Moore and Marion XVhitmore had been try- ing a few English suffragette stunts on a deserter of their ranks, who was in such a mangled state that it had been necessary to remove her. NVho would have thought that Louisa. knowing the danger in which she stood, would have left a body of such cold- blooded creatures! For self-protection it would have been wiser for her to have re- mained loyal. K The crowd was dispersed by this time and out of the dust and excitement of the disappearing mob came the harsh notes of a brass band. Unknown to us, a circus had landed at Arden in the night, pitched its tents and made preparations for a raid on the town pocket-books, and being animated by the past experience, we fell for the chance of an hour's amusement. The wooden seats were exceedingly uncomfort- able and the climb to available vacancies caused us to puff with fatigue. Finally seated, we scanned the middle section of the tent, which was marked off in sections for the different parts of the wonderful per- formance. .lust at the stroke of two, a man came into the ring and explained, stammer- ing, that, for the benefit of. the Ardenites only, he had succeeded in procuring one of the world's most famous acrobats, and with a snap of a slender whip, Harold Page, the manager of the whole affair, summoned a slim figure into the circle. The man, clad in bright pink satin tights, motioned for a narrow trapese to be lowered from the top of the tent and then as he clambered into the seat, two pages bearing a card an- nouncer, came before the audience. Wie were. however, hardly able to withstand the shock of the words for the man high above us, limber and graceful, was Roland. How he squirmed about on his perch and swung through the ropes about himl He was still performing when a young lady unan- nounced came in, balancing upon a white horse. he went through her act without a tremor, and, as her fluffy uniform disap- peared behind the tent flaps, the manager came forth and said in proud tones. Ullacleinoiselle Dauncey. foremost lady rider on either continent! lYas it not mar- velous ? Helens ability had certainly translixed the crowd, for they sat open- mouthed, staring at the exit opening. Evi- dently there was to be a sort of intermis- sion for all but the Hying acrobat at the top of the tent. Then from somewhere came a roly poly clown. lle was short and fat. dressed in a yellow and red full costume,