Warren High School - Hilltop Yearbook (Warren, MA)

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12 THE HILLTOP As Theodore gazed at the blonde 'young man in the mirror, he was thinking of how Lucky the town was to have him for a citi- zen. He knew, of course, that he was very brilliant. Why! he must be brilliant to have just proposed to Marjorie Kendall and to have her accept him. Marjorie was the most popular girl in town. For a long time Theodore had watched her with wistful eyes and had pitied her for not realizing what she was missing by not accepting his attentions. He was glad that 'at last she had realized what a brilliant match she had made by becoming engaged to him. But as Marjorie sat in her room gazing out of the window, she was not thinking how brilliant and wonderful Theodore was. She was thinking how she had seen Jimmie Fisher, the man to whom she was secretly engaged, riding with another girl the day be- fore. When Theodore Johnson had had enoughlnerve to propose to her that after- noon, she accepted him to spite Jimmie. Jimmie Fisher needn't think that I'll stand for anything like that, Marjorie said aloud, l'll show him that I don't have to de- pend on him. Marjorie's black eyes flashed, and she banged the book that she had in her hand on the dressing table. He can't get away with anything like that,', she continued aloud, and to spite him, I'1l marry that conceited Tlheodore Johnson tomorrow l She went to the telephone, and picking up the receiver, gave the operator Theodore's number. Almost instantly, she heard Theo- dore's soft, cooing voice at the end of the wire. This is Marjorie, Theodore, she said hurriedly as soon as she heard his voice, If you want to marry me, you'll have to do it tomorrow, she went on. Oh, I say, Marjorie, said Theodore in a surprised voice, Isn't this rather sudden? Couldn't you wait until day after tomorrow, I haven't even got you a ring, you know. Never mind that, you can get one now, can't you P Marjorie's voice sounded irri- tated. lt will have to be tomorrow or never. You must be here at nine o'clock sharp! Goodbye l She banged the receiver down. The next day dawned bright and clear, as the poets say, and nine o'clock found Theodore Roosevelt Johnson in front of Marjorie's house in his Chevrolet. Marjorie was as prompt as Theodore, and she looked very sweet to him as she tripped down the walk with her pretty black hair tucked under a little blue hat, which matched the blue sport suit she wore. Theodore opened' the door for her. Dearest, do you realize what day this is ? he asked as she sat down beside him. Do you realize that you are eloping with me? Marjorie smiled wearily. Yes, I cer- tainly realize it, she said, but for goodness sake start. There isn't any use of staying here any longer. Theodore started his car and headed for the little town of Midboro. This was the place in which he had chosen to be married, and he had telephoned the justice of peace to be ready for them. He was sure that everything was so well planned that nothing could possibly happen to interrupt them. They had a very dull time on the way to Midboro. Theodore attempted to start a pleasant conversation, the subject of which was himself, but Marjorie seemed inclined to be silent. At last they reached Midboro, and conse- quently, the office of the Justice of Peace. Marjorie had not yet broken the silence, a.nd Theodore was beginning to feel nervous. But he knew that girls are often inclined to be queer, and he imagined that Marjorie was thinking of how wonderful he was. That was all right with him.

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THE HILLTOP 11 VVe soon forgot about the wedding, and the minister never thought of making the groom answer the important question that he asked him at three-fifteen o'clock. Margaret Finnerty '31 ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS At the French airdrome of Saint Michial in France one morning, the roll call was sounded and to its summons came the fliers on the run. Men, said the Brigadier, who is going up to get that Boche, who is bombing the hospital? I won't call for volunteers now, but I will call for them to- morrow. On the break of day, the men filed out to see who was the lucky one. To their sur- prise, the Brigadier called for Corporal Dancy. He was commonly called the coward of the outht and they expected him to cower and run off, but instead he said, Very good. Sir, and was off to warm up his plane. Also there was to go the bravado of the camp, a strapping fellow, by the name of Mug Soak McClancy. He said to the boys, I'll get that Boche before the kid can even .sec him. - I Off they started, first they zoomed as a welcome to the Boche to come and fight and not to slink away like some lower form of an animal. And sure as fate the Boche who was no coward came and started right off with the Kid, Mug darted at the Boche like a fool and tried to pepper him quick and show up the kid, but the Boche met him with a spray of lead. Mug im- mediately zoomed, and the Boche waited for that. Then he followed him up to the tail and shot off the control wires and the rud- der. Then f'Mug went down to earth as fast as a rock. That left only the kid to deal with, and the Boche saw that the kid was not ex- perienced, so he took a long circle and tried to take the kid into camp, But the kid knew this had been tried on the plane yes- ttrday, and so he saw it immediately. Con- sequently he took a dive in order to reach a height, and once over the Boche he in- tended to spray him. But the Boche saw it at the same time, and he gave his plane all the gas he had, and as he flew over the kid, he sprayed him. The kid knew that the Boche was too much of a match for him, so he thought he would rather die than to face his fellow planesmen. He rushed into the Boche as he was turning around to stamp him to his list of victories, but it was too late. As the kid came on, he sprayed the Boche and caught him squarely on the back of the plane. The plane doubled up and burst into Hames. The kid landed ten minutes later and re- ceived a round of applause that no other man ever had gained. On questioning about Mug, the men merrily shrugged their shoulders and said, Oh, he only had his head blown off. The kid got a Croix de Guerre for his honorable work and was promoted to first lieutenant of the airdome. Howard Mellor '30 i THE TALE OF THE TOWN'S BRIGHTEST CITIZEN Theodore Roosevelt Johnson's chest swelled with pride. He hooked his thumbs into the arm 'holes of his vest and gazed at lrmself in the mirror. What he saw as he gazed there was the figure of a man in a gray, well-fitting suit. The face of the man was one that would attract attention even in a large crowd. Not because Theodore was exceedingly handsome, but because his nose was of a rather enormous size. His nose was the only thing that bothered Theodore. But no! I should not say that. Theodore had one other fault, and that was his forgetful- ness. You understand he had a very good memory, but it was rather short.

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THE I-IILLTOP 13 They walked slowly up the steps and into where. I want you to meet my cousin who the justice's office. Theodore explained who they were and told the justice they wished to be married at once. Of course, young man, said the justice, you have your marriage license, haven't you ? Theodore's face became the color of a ripe cherry and he gulped painfully. Er--what? he asked miserably, er- what did you say ? I asked for your marriage license, answered the justice. Theodore gulped again. Well, I guess I er--, I must have sort of forgot that I had to have one, he said, can't we get along without one ?'l Both Marjorie and the justice looked their disgust, and Marjorie looked angry, too. Theodore johnson! she cried angrily, you would do something absurd! I might have known you'd forget the most important part of anything you had to do. And as for marrying you after this! It's all off! With these words Marjorie dashed out of the room. But she rather resented her angry words after the first minute or so. For how was she to reach home? After the way she had spoken to Theodore, she could not possibly go home with him. But wonders and marvels always happen at the right time, you know, and just at that moment a long, gray roadster stopped in back of Theodore's Chevrolet. It was jimmie, and also, the blonde girl. Marjorie felt the impulse to run, but where could she run to? So she just stood and watched jimmie with tears in her eyes as he jumped from the car and came up the steps toward her. Marjoriel how does it happen that you are here? jimmie asked as he took her hands, I've been searching for you every- is spending the week with my mother. Marjorie gazed in surprise. Your cousin, jimmie, your cousin, you say? Oh, jimmie l jimmie looked rather puzzled at the glad surprise he heard in Marjorie's voice. Why yes, he said, my cousin. I thought you'd be glad to meet her. j Oh, jimmie! Marjorie sounded happy. You'll never know how glad I am to meet your cousin. Theodore Roosevelt johnson gazed at himself in the mirror. But this time his chest did not swell with pride. Well, I admit I am brilliant, he said aloud, but I seem to be the only one that realizes it. Oh well, such is life. Theodore switched off the light and juinped into bed. E. Patterson '31 SCHOOL ONE HUNDRED' YEARS AGO The one horse shay has stopped in front of the house, and john, Mary and Mistress Susie jump into it and ride off to school. jolm is sixteen and Mary is seven, but they both go to the same school and sit in the same room. That is not at all unusual be- cause all the pupils from five to twenty, short and tall, sit together on the same hard wooden benches without any backs to them. The little tots are not able to touch the floor lst The school they attend is the largest in the vicinity. It is in the center of the town, and about twenty boys and girls go there. School keeps during the winter months for four days a week, weather permitting. They started a little early this morning, because it is j'ohn's turn to be janitor. He has to build the fire and sweep the school house. Mistress Susie is staying at john's house this month. Last month she was with the joneses, and next month she will stay with the Browns. Mistress Susie is quite