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

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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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Wg W ' 'Til Bill' Ilis roommate, Stuart I.ox-ing. was reading his own letter from home, but he looked up and asked, VVhat kind of a letter did you get? I got a call-down from the head of the house for spend- ing so much money last quarter. It's a sad world -and because I spent so much last time he's shut down on this quarter's allowance. I lumph, grunted Carl, a little thing like that shouIdn't worry you. Listen to my troubles and you'll see how small yours are. XVell, tire away. lust listen to this, Stew, my friend- 'My dear Nephew: Your mother writes me that you are do- ing very well in your studies.- Get that, fz'lIcr? -so I thought as an especial treat you might like to spend the week-end with your cousin Laura and me. I realize that we shall have to become acquainted all over again. because it has been many years since we have seen each other. We should be delighted to have you come this week-end and unless we hear differently, we shall expect you on the afternoon train Saturday. Your devoted aunt, SUSAN JENKINS., Now isn't that just durky? And me with a heavy date on Saturday I Stuart stretched, yawned and then remarked, Didn't I hear you say once that this jenkins dame had a lot of money? Gosh, yes. but what's that 'got to do with her asking me to come to visit her F XYell, Mister Monroe, if I were in your shoes, I certainly shouldn't pass up a chance to visit her. Maybe she would get soft-hearted and give you a few extra pennies for being such a studious little boy, Yeah-maybe, but I'm not giving up this date if I never see Susan. The room was quiet and Carl was sitting on his bed thinking. All of a sudden he bounced up with a shout, Say, Stuart, I've got an idea and it's a honey. V I 1 'tlYell, spill it, old man, but it better be good. Now, listen-you go to Aunt Susan's for a week-end. I'll give you the transportation, and you may have all the extras that the dear lady hands out. Golly, Carl, that's risky business. For heaven's sake, won't she know the difference? IIasn't she any pictures of you? You and I don't look alike except in height. No thank you, I don't care about being jailed for false impersonation. Aw, come onl Be a pal. Can't you see l'm in a jam and only you can help me out? llow is Susan to know whether you are me or yourself? You can have all my clothes except what l'll need Sunday, and I can spare ten dollars besides car- fare. XYell. Carl, if I weren't so hard up, I'd never listen to your scheme: this may work out, and it may not, it remains to be seen. Yes-I'll go, but if I do put this over, I'll be eligible for the leading role in the class play, for it will take an enormous amount of good acting. XVhew, what a relief! I thought one while you were going to get cold feet and not go. Now, let's plan. I'll tell you all I can about things she would naturally ask about. Then followed a session which would be re- membered by the two boys for many years. They tested step by step as nearly as they could, the visit to Carl's Aunt Susan. Stuart was told as much as could be remembered by Carl, of the family history and the state of health of each member of the Monroe family. Saturday morning came all too soon to suit Stuart Loring. Ile hadn't slept much the night before, because he wasn't a boy who played prac- tical jokes on people. Ile was taking this prank very seriously. Carl made all the arrangements and soon Stuart was on his way. .Ns the train sped on, Stuart began to feel more cheerful. Maybe this Laura wasn't such a bad scout, maybe she had changed for the better since Carl had seen her last. It was possible that this was going to be a lark after all. It was then he decided that lunch would be very acceptable right away. so he made his way into the dining car. Stuart saw a very pretty girl seated at a table across the aisle.

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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