West Side High School - Legenda Yearbook (Saginaw, MI)

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Johnnie Williamson ' s Tie What do we wear neckties for, anyway; especially those big, bright red ones that are so hard to get on? Have you ever been late for the theater or dance, and then, you just could not make that tie stay on? Well, it just spoils your whole evening. You walk about wonder- ing what people are saying. Is it on straight? Is it all wrinkled up? And then, at last, the evening is over and you get home and look into the mirror, only to find that the tie was all right, after all. Johnnie Williamson stood before his mirror, struggling valiantly with his new tie. It was the evening of the school ball, and John had asked the very popular Mabel Wiltse to accompany him to the dance. Mabel had beauxs galore, and Johnnie surely felt proud that she had accepted him. Of course, he must look his best, for, perhaps, he might please her, and not be cast ofl so quickly as many of her admirers had been. At last, Johnnie became exasperated and lost his temper com- pletely. Curse followed curse, until our hero had exhausted all the curses contained in his vocabulary, which was quite a feat, since his supply was, by no means limited. Quarter to eight, he exclairhed. Got to be there at 8:15! Like to get the guy who invented these things. But, at last, after much pulling and tugging, the darned thing was on. Johnnie dashed from the house and hurried down the street. But on his way, these doubtful thoughts began to assail him. Do I look all right? That tie! I wonder if it ' s crooked? What will Mabel think of me? Mabel came to the door. Hello, Mabel, — Johnnie made a quick tug at his tie. — I hope you ' re feeling well, I feel just like having a great time — glances around to see if there is a mirror within reach. Well, Johnnie, you ' re just on time. Most of the men come around so early. But I ' m all ready. I feel as if I were in magic boots. I could dance all night. John ' s face was scarlet. He fumbled with his hat. He had never before felt so embarrassed. He felt sure that Mabel was looking at his tie. And he just stood there like a dummy! At the dance, the situation became even more distasteful to poor Johnnie. He could not keep ofi his partner ' s feet. All the eyes of the dancers seemed to be fixed upon him. I can ' t dance tonight, Mabel, I ' ve ruined your pumps. I hope you will forgive me, whispered John as he was waltzing with his fr iend. Oh, I guess I can. It ' s quite noticeable that you can ' t dance to- night. Who are you thinking about, anyway? I hope it isn ' t that red- headed Jones girl over in the corner. You ' ve been paying her quite a bit of attention tonight, replied Mabel, just a little coldly. Johnnie noticed the tone of her voice. He knew what it meant. She felt foolish dancing with a fellow who wore a rumpled up tie. After the dance, he went to the dressing room and fussed again with that troublesome little nuisance. One thing comforted him, for he saw three of his friends engaged in the same process. But the tie just would not change its appearance for the better. The more John fussed, the worse the tie seemed to become. At last, he returned to the ball room, feeling even more ill at ease. Finally, the evening ended. Shall we walk or ride home? asked John.

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be six dollars left. Six dollars will be sent with love and sympathy, quoted Mary. Nothing doing! June interrupted. You ' ve got to help me pay for the smashed car. The garage man said it would cost eighty-three dollars and I need some help. In the end we each paid one-sixth of eighty-three dollars and sent the six dollars with love and sympathy. THE BONNET AND THE RAIN The day had been so dull and warm, It caused us all to sigh, When in a flash, we saw, afar, A cloud up in the sky. The air grew thick, and thicker still. We could not breathe so well. The whole sky, now with the clouds did fill; The rain came down pell-mell! Oh, wailed a trim young maid, aghast, As she began to fret; Pa says this bonnet is my last, And now it will get wet! A poor, old lady tottering came; The rain around her poured. The miss walked past her all the same, Her bonnet might get spoiled. The poor, old lady looked amazed at this young thing so rude. Ah, shelter me! she cried aloud. Impossible, I ' d spoil my hood, The pert young thing avowed. The old world rushes, helter-skelter, so We must look apart From those who have a bonnet to shelter Instead of a loving heart. C. L. PURCHASE.

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He felt sure Mabel did not care to walk with a clown like him, h it, nevertheless, he thought he would ask her, anyway. Let ' s walk, replied Mabel, much to John ' s surprise. It isn ' t far, and it ' s such a wonderful night. Oh, I ' m glad that ' s over. It ' s such a relief to be in the open air, sighed Mabel when they reached the pavement. Well, I suppose you ought to be glad. I ' ve spoiled the whole evening for you. Well, now, I wouldn ' t say that, replied Mabel, laughing softly. Then came the walk home in the moonlight. The streets were very quiet, not even an automobile was seen. Mabel and John walked along in silence; each was attempting to read the mind of the other. Finally, when they reached Mabel ' s house, she asked, with a touch of sarcasm : How does your tie feel, Johnnie? I knew you noticed it, answered John, downheartedly. It looked awful. Everyone seemed to look at me. How foolish you must have felt. Mabel laughed. Well, I don ' t think it looked so bad. In fact a number of girls spoke to me of your beautiful tie. Just think! They even asked if it were a gift from me. How silly some girls are! But how did you know my tie was troubling me? asked Johnnie. Well, you see, I know men rather well. I ' ve watched my brother quite often and I know all your weaknesses. I saw you were not at ease, and I knew it must be your tie. Besides, explained Mabel, I was in the same boat as you. You can ' t imagine how glad I was when I got out of the place. I did something just awfully foolish. You won ' t tell if I tell you? Promise? Honest — cross my heart, I won ' t. Well, then, here goes. You see, John, we girls just love to wear these puffs on our ears, the bigger the better. (They are such horrible things and I hate them.) I wanted to have some great big ones and I did something terrible. I bet you ' ll never forgive me if I tell you. Forgive you? Well, I guess it would be a pretty poor sport who wouldn ' t forgive you. Well, come on. Confess your great crime. Was it murder or something? I ' ll be the judge of this affair. Then Mabel looked up at him, her eyes wide open with mock fear and her lips pursed. Oh, John, I put some paper in my puffs to make them big. You can ' t imagine how I felt at the party. I was so afraid that they would show. Oh, forgive me, John, please, and so saying Mabel sobbed piteously upon the shoulder of Johnnie and he, like one well versed in the art of love-making, fondly embraced her. Why, Mabel, that wasn ' t anything. Oh, but it was so silly of me. I ' m such a little fool, cried Mabel. Oh, but you are not, said Johnnie. Oh, but I am! You ' re not! I am! Keep quiet. You know I ' m to be the judge of this affair, com- manded Johnnie authoritatively. Well then, judge, what is my sentence? Hurrv, for this suspense will kill me. Prepare, young lady, for the sentence is a severe one, said the judge. Oh, dear, you make me suffer so. I ' m only a girl and Oh, Mabel, look at the moon, exclaimed John, and Mabel looked. The moon was directly above them and Mabel received her sentence. - HARRY GNATKOWSKI.