West Fairmont High School - Maple Leaves Yearbook (Fairmont, WV)

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.,,,.Q iii? -fl-W t AP' tc5c.cn'vc5i c Z fill Iaamelzfz jlllzm By LILLIAN HUFFMAN, Sophomore AMELA COPELAND, her maiden aunt of uncertain years. Miss Q America Copeland, a second cousin by marriage, Martha Payson, and her sister, Belle, had been aboard the steamer, Lancaster, three days. Pamela seemed to be immune to any such contagion as t ' seasickness. Not so her worthy escorts. They had long since suc- cumbed and were suffering in the throes of awful agony. Pam was on the upper deck beside the railing looking out at the rolling blue sea. She had not been standing there long, however, when she had an uncanny feeling of being watched. She turned her head and gazed into a pair of gray eyes belonging to a handsome young man. The man said: I am William Ashly, Jr. I have seen, by the passenger list, that you are Miss Pamela Copeland. Pamela's smile was a credit to Miss America's exhibition of how she used to overwhelm the minds of young Beau Brummels, and William Ashly, Jr.. straightway became her devotee: however, her smile was puzzling. When Pamela went below she found her Aunt America in a much improved state, and so she expounded: Aunt America, he looks so familiar! I could swear I've seen him before! He has big, gray eyes that must have come from Ireland! She talked more of the saintly, heavenly, divine Mr. Ashly, When she retired and after many sighs fell asleep to dream of-Mr. William Ashly, Jr. The next morning found Miss America sufficiently recovered fromv her affliction to go on deck. It is more than probable that curiosity played a lead- ing role in her recovery. The two ladies dined with Mr. Ashly, and thereafter they talked inces- santly of him. It is little wonder that Belle Payson and Martha were made so keenly aware of his presence that sea-sickness left them and they went to view this demi-god. Their opinion accorded with those of Pamela and Miss America. They were agreed that they had seen him before. As Belle put it: I feel that in another incarnation, I was a princess and he my consort. After this bold speech there was general sighs and suspicious glances. At last they broached the subject to him. Mr Ashly, haven't we met you before? queried Pamela. I'm sure your face is familiar! A'Er-why, I-I daresay you have-uh-seen me before. Er-I used to appear in public very often. In what capacity? asked Belle. Why-I'd rather not speak of it at present. I'm sorry we've intruded on private affairs, stated Pamela in a slight frigid tone. Mr. Ashly bowed stifily, and after a slight pause in the conversation, Belle and Martha, murmuring something about a beauty sleep, went below. Miss America soon followed, leaving Pamela and William the benefit of a full moon. But this favor Pam declined to accept, and so she, too, retired. Page 82 ...R . '

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,N A. ..., Wifi' l B aetcsttnfevesi i EH convince him that something terrible had happened, and he nearly scared his Mother and Dad out of their wits, when he entered the house shouting: Who's shot? Luckily, by this time Babs and Jack were out of sight. When Barbara and Jack reached the station they thought that all was well. It was. until they were on the train. The conductor was coming down the aisle calling at the top of his voice: Telegram for Barbara Clarke. She was then seized with two sudden impulses, one, to ask for the telegram and the other not to. Finally she decided to ask for it, but not to open it until they were married. The conductor handed her the telegram 'mid the stares of the passengers. Barbara tried to look at them scornfully, but must have made a sorry attempt, for the passengers kept on staring. Everything went along smoothly for an- other half hour until-Barbara's aunt was seen coming down the aisle directly toward them. Barbara grasped convulsively at her heart, and gave Jack a sharp kick on his shins, so he would notice her aunt coming toward them. He pre- pared to give her some good excuse for their presence upon the train. Aunt Cornelia was a tall, thin person, who looked as though she had just partaken of a green persimmon. She was as prim as a china astor, She nodded cooly at Jack and condescended to give Barbara a perfunctory kiss upon her cheek. She then said: Babs, dear, I didn't know that you were going to take a trip, Where are you going, dear? And, why are you with this young man? Barbara swallowed hard and said: Oh, Aunt Cornelia, we are going to a house party at Greensborough. You know Margaret Ryan is giving a house party for her college chums, as she is soon leaving for France. Oh, how strange. I just left Margaret in Newtonsburg, and she informed me that she was going to a sanitariumf' With that she left them, leaving behind only an icy start. If there was anyone she detested it was a liar. Barbara nearly left Jack sitting there alone, because as men always do, he wouldn't say a word when she needed him to. Now Barbara's aunt would be sure to leave all of her millions to Bob. The rest of the journey, with the exception of the last half hour, was spent silently looking from the window. They were both very nervous and jumped at any little noise. Barbara was very restless and kept asking if it wasn't nearly time to get off. At last they arrived at Cireenburg. Jack hailed a taxi and ordered the driver to drive to the courthouse. The driver gave a little short laugh and started toward it. It seemed as though he was going as slow as he possibly could, but Iinally they arrived. They entered the courthouse and found the marriage license bureauf With much blushing and stammering they secured the license. Next, they were off to the minister's. Barbara nearly forgot to answer the vows, but it was finally ended. They were married. Barbara then opened her purse, and seeing the telegram, opened it: it read: Barbara, will consent to your marrying Jack if you will have a quiet home wedding. Mother. Page 81

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V,,yJ,,, l .nur ' ll I -W metettmves will The following day Pam took her Aunt America into her confidence, saying: Aunty, don't you think Mr. Ashly is divine? Miss America was conscious of a slightly increased tempo of her heart-beat, but she answered in a condescending tone: He's a very nice young man. But to herself she was saying: Divine? That is too mild to put it. He is a veritable Apollo. Pam continued: It is so mysterious about his seeming so familiar to us all. I wonder who he is, really. That evening a slight fog arose and the passengers of the Lancaster as- sembled on the lower deck. They were sitting in groups discussing politics, stock markets, scandal and clothes. Pam had already grown bored with such talk, and Mr. Ashly wasn't there anyway. He could have held one spellbound talking about the weather. She slipped quietly away and ascended to the upper deck. and, seeing the familiar ligure of William Ashly, Jr., she gave a melodramatic sneeze, which sounded real to listening ears. William came and escorted her to a steamer chair. After a few moments, he concluded that Pam's scarf was too thin for com- fort, and he calmly placed his arm around her shoulders. Pam, could youL? No, Mr. Ashly, I could not! She stated this in her most haughty air. No, I could not. Considering the mystery around you-well, it is hardly to be expected! Before William could say one word Aunt America came upon the scene with Belle and Martha. He hastily made a place for the ladies to sit, and after a few moments, went below. A stiff and awkward silence ensued. At last, Aunt America spoke in calm. subdued tones: Captain Trexler says we shall land before tomorrow evening. The ladies took this calmly enough: Pam sighed, bit her lip, and said: I'm glad. It's been such a long, tiresome voyage. At least one lady present thought: How can the child tell such falsehoods? With a few more words they went to their respective cabins. The next day everyone on board was in a hurry preparing to land. Pam did not see Mr. Ashly again until they had come in sight of land. It was a queer meeting. Mr. Ashly seemed nonplussed: Pam was plainly embarrassed. They spoke, but it was a formal, rather curt salutation. Ten seconds and it was over. Miss America, who was standing beside Pamela, greeted him with a more friendly word and then he had gone, Suddenly a man in uniform said: All off. and so they passed out of sight of Mr. Ashly. The four ladies went back to their home and appeared to forget the voyage. One day Pam went to the post-office for any letters there might be for her. There was only a magazine. This she took home and slowly scanned the pages. At last she saw a picture, an advertisement, Mr. Ashly's face! When Miss America came in she found that she had fainted. When Pam became conscious, she whispered in her aunt's ear: He's the Arrow Collar Man. Page 83