Westbrook High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Westbrook, ME)

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9 Mrs. jenkins, glancing away from the llound- ering youth, caught sight of her daughters expres- sive face and became aware of the situation, Not at all an unkindly person at heart, she smiled slowly and said, Not at all, young man, Laura and I should be very glad to have you for our guest until tomorrow night-but under your own name, if you please. .Xn expression of unbelieving relief passed over Stuart's face to be exchanged for one of beaming satisfaction as he, too, caught I.aura's smiling glance. C S '38 . ., . NEWSPAPERS At our house newspapers cause a small riot. Every one from the baby to my grandfather takes part in this riot to see who will get the paper first. ln the morning it is usually the early bird who gets the paper first and reads his choice bits before the others come down and stand around ready to jump on it the moment he lays it down. When the early bird, very seldom I, finally does put the paper aside, it is usually separated sheet by sheet until everyone has his favorite sheet. The favorite reading position of us kids is to have the paper spread out on the floor, while we get down on our knees and elbows over the paper and in this position read the news. Dad would rather read the paper after he has eaten his break- fast. This works out fine because Grandpop reads the daily news with the paper propped up against the milk bottle. He reads between bites or eats between stories. While this is going on, Mother, being very busy, does not get a chance to see very much of the paper, but later in the TIIOTII- ing, while picking up the scattered sheets, she glances over the news and usually knows more about the world than we, who got it first. How she does it nobody knows-a woman's sense of gossip, I guess. The night paper is a different story as Dad, wise old soul, has the paper come to the office, where, in his spare moments, he scans the head- lines. VVhen he comes home, though, the first words he hears when he opens the door are. Can I have the paper? or Gimme the paper, please, and the mad scramble for the Funnies, the sport pages, the front page and the household page is on again. This goes on day after day, week after week, and year after year, until one would think that the newspaper was the most important thing in the world, For one day the newspaper is a very much-wanted piece of paper, but after a few days of lying in a wastepaper basket, nobody fights over it, especially when mother says, Who will burn the paper for me P MY TONGUE Sometimes when something I have said Seems mean instead of kind and sweet, That little tongue that's always sad Like the tongue that's upon my feet, That quiet tongueiupon my shoe, I always know what it will do. Sometimes I think that I desire, When I am extra dull, you know. My tongue to learn from tongues of fire That Hash from dull brown logs below, That bright, quick tongue of flame it's true, I scarcely know what it will do. Of course my tongue is wonderful, just think how it can talk and taste, A shoe tongue really is too dull, A flame tongue acts in such hot haste My tongue can be between the two, My mind must tell it what to do. M. L., '37, THE END OF THE STREAM lt was raining: in fact, the rain had been turbu- lently falling all day. And now it was the early evening of this November day and the world out- side the doctor's windows was bleak and the thick black mud clung to every available object. Dr. Stone looked out of his windows onto the rain-swept, wind-lashed world and drew his smok- ing jacket closer about him as he prayed that he would not be called out, especially beyond the river. He shivered when he thought of that part of the village beyond the river, Black River. XVater would be pulling and sucking at its banks with

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ii ll fi and he did wish he had nerve enough to change his seat, when suddenly it was all arranged for him. The steward asked him if he would sit at the tahle for two and let a party of four have that table. Stuart asked permission of the pretty girl and she gave it graciously. VVell, if things werent breaking right for Stuart Loring! Ilow he wished Carl could see him now, XYhile wait- ing for their orders they hegan talking. Only hy drinking a long drink of water was Stuart ahle to cover up the fact that he had almost hlurted out his own name instead of that of Carl Monroe. lYhen he finally did say that he was Carl Mon- roe on his way to the city ot' Rochester to see an aunt, the girl leaned toward him excitedly and gasped, You'll never helieve it, hut I am I.aura blenkins. Isn't this the most exciting thing ever? Now you and I can get acquainted. I didn't know I had such a good-looking cousin. She was little, with the hluest eyes he had ever seen. and her hair was a riot of hrown curls. 'I'hey talked schools and sports. and Stuart was very much relieved to have family atlairs left out ol the conversation. At 2.30 they arrived at Rochester, and they were met hy a uniformed chauffeur. Laura seemed glad to he at home and Stuart was glad that the meeting with the Aunt would he postponed for a little longer. .Xfter a drive to the outskirts of the city they turned into a road that led to a heautiful house. .Xt the door stood a very dignitled person who, Stuart knew immediately. must he .Xunt Susan, She was tall and gray haired, and had cold lilue eyes that seemed to see clear through him. Ile helped l.aura out of the car, and they hoth ran up the steps. I.aura kissed her mother and was given a chilly hug, then she introduced her mother to l.'arl. Klrs. -lenkins put some eye glasses upon her very aristocratic nose and said. So this is 't'arI': you have changed. I cannot see very much family resemhlanee, hut then you ai'e young. Come in, lioth of you. Carl said, Yes, ma'am. no, ma'am, and thank you, and followed into the house. 'I'hat afternoon was a nightmare for Stuart. Klrs, -Ienltins asked for all the memhers of the family, and Stuart thanked his stars for a good memory. .Xt dinner it wasn't so had, for he and I.aura could talk together except when Mrs. ,len- kins interrupted with, Uh, hy the way, 'Carl,' whatever hecame ol the maid that had such a talent for singing? The maid? Oli, yes, she-that is-er-I think she-- Stuart took out his handkerchief and patted his forehead, she married two years ago and has a radio engagement. IIow interesting. I thought your mother once wrote she was in Italy studying. Stuart knew instantly that he had made a mis- take, Ile glanced at I.aura and then at her mother. Surprise, douht, amazement followed each other with amazing rapidity across their faces. lfinally a common emotion was expressed hy hotli-Iearitear for his sanity. Ile might as well tell the whole story now, so straightening his tie and trying to look very nonchalant he hegan his speech, I,adies, you see hefore you the 'tireat Impersonatoiy' I-er--tried to he someone I wasn't. My act was going Iairly well until that opera-singing maid popped up out of the lilue. and did I fall down thenI .X rather awesome silence tilled the room. 'I'hen Mrs. vlenkins, having comprehended the situation, So you are an impostor? Yes, Init I can explain myselff' stuttered the now completely routed Stuart. You see, I'm tiarl's roommate, Stuart I.oring. tiarl had a heavy date. I was hroke, he offered me transportation and ten hucks. and we thought I might get away with the idea. so I tinally consented: and now I'ni in Dutch all around. 'I'here was a pause. everyone was thinking the situation over. 'lihen Xlrs. 'lenkins said. I am very angry with Carl for his part in this atlair, and I should think you would he very much ashamed for your role in it. I suppose that this is only one oi the silly pranks you play in college. I.aura, however. curled up in the hig wing' chair hy the tireplace, was smiling happily. This good- looking college hoy was not her cousin after all. lYeIl. said Stuart, I guess I'm due at lfxeter on to-night s tram. now that we have this tangle smoothed intl.

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'xi ff to such a rain as this. The small streams would almost be rivers themselves. But here and there wottld be the dim flickering of a light in some lonely farmhouse. For scattered over the whole region were farmers, as each time the river went on a rampage the soil was left more fertile than be fi irc. Ile shivered again as he turned from the window to ptit another log on the tire. That pain in his heart seemed much sharper as he bent, lle shook himself as if to shake away the gloom and dread, dread of a eall. when he was like this. l haven't time to be sick. he mused. My people need me. To be sure. he told himself. there are other doctors, but they're jtist boys fresh from medical school. lYhy, l've been here since this cottntry was tirst settled. nearly sixty years ago. I know these people, They need me Y lior he truly was the peoples doctor and he lired, not for himself. but for his people. lle had been kept busy all winter and all summer- through the wintry blizzarcls-through the spring floods to the distant farmhouses, always battling to save a life. llis hands and feet had frozen last winter bitt his heart had still glowed warm within him. lint now a new winter was ahead and barely before it had begun he was sick! .X bedraggled man on a bedraggled horse stopped at Dr. Stone's house: a few minutes later a step was heard on the porch and the man pottnded on the door. lt's here! sighed llr. Stone. lle had known ii would come. 1 lle let the tuan in himself. for he lived alonel he was without wife or children. lle opened the door and saw one of the farmers from beyond the river standing there dripping with mud and rain. I Joseph l.ane? asked the doctor. holding the lautern. which he had brought to the door with him, up close and peering into the man's face Yes, answered l.ane. half apologetically. lYho is it, joe? asked the doctor. l.ouisa. she's got pneumonia bad. Doe, and l'm scared. Then noticing the pallor and the pained expression on the cloctor's face, he added. Yon're sick, too, ain't you, Doc? XYeIl. admitted llr. Stone, l'm not so very energetic. There was a moment's silence and then l.ane continued, You've got to come. Doc. the other doctor, Dr. llutchins. can't. Says he's got a sprained ankle. lDon't see why he cau't come just the same, though. You've come ottt when you've been worse than that. lle paused a miutite. 1 guess he's scared, lloc Y lt's an awful favor to ask you. lloc, you being sick like you are. he added. The doctor thought to himself but he did not speak aloud. lt's more than a favor. no doubt it will probably mean my death VA' lle was weak and had a pain around his heart. lle knew all the symptoms but he hadn't time to think of himself. These thoughts ran through his mind, but pres- ently he stopped thinking and said. l'll go, Joe! Thanks. Doc. llow you goin'? ..I , I V .- n nu nuggj. 'lie careful, Doc, the river's high tonight and the old bridge may go out, That old iron bridge has seen better days. l've seen it high before, but thanks jttst the same. Neither of the men said a word, but both were thinking of the same thing, of Louisa whom Dr. Stone had pulled through so many previous ills nesses. With a few words of encouragement. Aloe went ottt into the rain again and the doctor pre- pared to put on his coat and to hitch up his hor-te. lu spite of his coat and the blankets which he hatl brought along. he was wet before he was barely ottt of his yard. lt was slow going through the mtid and rain and the doctor felt that his tem- perattire must be rising and he knew that the pain arotind his heart was sharper. Dr. Stone had been traveling for more than an hour and now he eould hear the roaring and rushing of lllaek River. lt was high just as -loe l,ane had said. lle stopped and got ottt. taking the lantern with llllll. lle wanted to see the condition of the nar- row bridge himself. lle walked out a few yards on the bridge, feeling the planks and rails as be