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

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hw' T I Oll,K.PL.. l 15 I dunno, replied Michael, 'ibut they haven't been here for a long time, anyway. Look at the garden! Maybe we can go in, Philip excitedly offered. I don't think we better, Valerie looked around anxiously. Oh, we told you not to come, Philip replied angrily. But Michael spoke reassuringly, I think it will be all right, we won't touch anything. How can we get in, anyway ? asked Peter. Try that window over there, said Philip, and I'll try this one. Michael ran to one of the Windows. 'iThis one is unlocked. Come on. I'm going in. VVhen they had climbed in, they found them- selves in a dusty living room Filled with many pictures, some on the walls, others on the floor leaning against the walls.- Gosh, look at these pictures, they look different from the ones in my house, declared Valerie. f'Yes,,' agreed Philip, they look as though someone painted themf' Look at that one over thereg it looks like the beach, doesn't it ? Peter pointed to a canvas in which the talent displayed could be recognized, even by the eyes of children. Yes, but look at these horses. Boy! They're great Vi said Michael, gazing longingly at a picture of two large chestnut horses, the background of which was undoubtedly the farm they had in- tended to explore. They were all busy looking at pictures when suddenly Valerie exclaimed, almost reverently, Isn't she beautiful ! f'VVhat? said Michael, joining Valerie. Oh, come here, fellas 3 Philip and Peter went over and gazed down on the picture that Valerie was holding. She is rather pretty, isn't she F declared even the practical Philip. I wonder who she is. Peter voiced the ques- tion of all the children. I don't know, said Valerie, but she is very beautiful, isn't she? I wish I had those lovely blue eyes. She seems to be looking right at us, doesn't she? She is standing in front of the rock where the undertow is. Out on Park Drive, a short distance from town, a party was being held at the Country Club. Many cars were parked in front and couples could be seen dancing to the soft music of a well-known orchestra. At a table in one corner of the beauti- fully decorated room sat Sheldon Churchill, a tall, intelligent-looking young man of about twenty- seven years of age. He was idly watching the dancers as they gracefully glided past him. It was apparent by his abstracted manner that he was not enjoying himself. As the couples took their seats, Sheldon arose and crossing the room disappeared through the French windows which led to the garden. At a nearby table, John Knight, the elderly business man of distinguished bearing, was talking with some friends. Glancing up, he saw Sheldon leaving the room. He excused himself, saying, UI am going out to get some fresh airg I'll be back presently. As he stepped onto the lawn, he saw Sheldon slowly walking down the gravel path which led to the river. He followed behind but not closely enough to make it appear obvious that he was shadowing him. Sheldon stopped, lit a cigarette, and continued on down the path to the side of the river, where there were a ,few benches. Coming to one of these, he slowly sat down and laid his head in his hands. The fog was drifting up the river and in the distance could be heard the fog horns warning the ships at sea. Sheldon shivered and sat up, gazing out on the river. What was that queer feeling he seemed to have as he gazed into the fog? Did he hear someone calling him P-It couldn't be she, it couldn't be! Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder and quickly turning saw john Knight standing, looking at him with a questioning gaze. Mr. Knight was an old friend of Sheldon's father and when Mr. Churchill had died he had promised to keep his eye on his son. As Sheldon looked up, he smiled and said, Oh, hello, Mr. Knight, I didnit know you were here.

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, ' V B 4 s 14 lI.!i'i ! THE CHILDREN'S ESCAPADE SHIRLEY Lowau., '38 It was a beautiful day in August, the sort of day that makes the people in the cities Hock to the beaches. The waves were rolling in on the sands, bringing with them a fresh salty breeze. Further up on the cliffs the breakers were dashing against the rocks, sending great sprays into the air. Some sand-peeps were running along at the edge of the water and in the distance could be seen a yacht with its beautiful white 'sails silhouetted against the blue sky. Down on the bank of the river where the ocean flows in to wind lazily in and out of the marshes formed by the Sperwink River, some small boys were building castles in the sand. They were wait- ing for the tide to go out so that they might take Peter's rowboat and cross the river. VVhen the tide goes out, it leaves a sand bank high and dry so that there is very little distance from the other side. When you have crossed this stretch of sand, you come upon a small rocky beach. Further along this beach are cliffs, where it has been said that Indian arrows have been found. There is a large farm farther up, where one can see cows and horses grazing on a very green hillside. As the boys sat waiting, Peter, a boy of seven, with blond hair and chubby brown arms and legs. asked, Where shall we go when we get across ? Oh,', replied Michael, we can go every- where. Don't forget the tide will be coming ing we car1't stay too long, this from Philip, the largest of the boys. l'd like to go up on that hill and see if we can catch one of those horses. Gee, wouldn't it be fun to get on one and play cowboys. Peter's eyes glistened. I'll be an Injun, put in Michael. No, the old man might give us the dickens if he saw us on them,'l cautioned Philip. Pd like to explore those rocks over there 5 maybe we can find a treasure. 'tOh, look who's coming, fellas, Michael mut- tered disgustedly. It's Valerie. Gosh, we don't want her tagging alongf' Peter exclaimed, rising to escape the nine-year-old child with sturdy arms and legs who was fast approach- ing them. Hello, called Valerie sweetly, Hwhat-cha doing P l'Oh, nothing, answered Philip, winking at the others. 'lWhy donlt you go over and play with Betty P I don't want to go over there, pouted the little girl 5 'KI want to stay here with you ! She seated herself, and not looking at the boys began to pat the wall of the castle that was beside her. All right, fellas, called Philip, who had been watching the ebb of the tide. HI guess we can get across now. Come on. Can I come? cried Valerie, jumping to her feet. The boys looked sheepishly at one another, then Philip replied, No, you can come some other time. Girls wouldrft like what we're gonna do. But seeing how broken-hearted she was, they told her to come along. When they reached the other side, they pulled the boat far up on the sand bank and walked over to the beach. ' Let's go up to the spring, Pm thirsty,', sug- gested Valerie. All right, gang, come on, agreed Philip, patronizingly. Only a short distance from the salt sea water, they had discovered, the first time they had crossed the river, a spring which was filled with cold, clear water. When they had each had their drink, Michael suggested they go further along the shore through the shrubbery ahead, where they had never been. All agreed with this plan and off they scampered. As they came bursting into the clearing, they saw a small white cottage with a flower garden which was now almost over- run with weeds. Racing each other to the porch they hesitated, wondering if anyone was inside. Peter tiptoed across the porch and peered into the window. Nobody is here. He motioned the others to join him. I wonder who lives here P

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1 wL 16 '4Yes, I came with some friends of mine. I didn't expect to find you here, either. Where have you been for the last seven or eight months ? A'Oh, Ilve been about everywhere, replied Shel- don, looking at Mr. Knight. You're looking well, sir. f'Thank you, my boy, you are looking rather thin. NVhat has happened to that invigorating salt air you've always been praising ? Oh, I haven,t been to Sperwink Beach for quite a while, said Sheldon quietly, his face twist- ing with unexplained emotion. I see, said Mr. Knight, watching the younger man attentively. 'lAnd your painting? Ilm told you have postponed your exhibition again. K'Yes,,' replied Sheldon, ruefully. I havenit painted a picture in months. Why don't you tell me the whole story? Therels nothing to tell. Oh, come, come, my boy, I'm no fool. Some- thing is worrying you and I want to help you. I am only interested in making you happy. I suppose it would help to tell my troubles to you especially. You might be able to advise me as to what I should do. I'll do my best, said Mr. Knight, sitting down beside Sheldon. HEarly last summer, began Sheldon, then stopped. After a time he resumed, UM1-. Knight, have you ever seen Sperwink Beach just as the sun has dipped below the pine trees, when all the world is blue-the sky, the sea, the tiny sloops, the rocks, the sand, even the dark shadowed pines -blue-every blue imaginable-turquoise, aqua- marine-indigo-? A world of supernal beauty. He paused a moment, then in a sad and quiet voice he added, f'She-the girl-was a part of that beauty. Mr. Knight's imagination was not carrying him beyond the fog which had now crawled to the very edge of the garden, hiding the river, mufiling the moaning bell buoys and steamer whistles. I had almost finished painting her portrait, continued the muted voice of the young man at his side. Then one day we planned to go swimming early the next morning at the little beach beyond my cottage. When I got there, she was already in the water swimming about and calling to me to join her. She was quite a distance from the shore and I warned her against the undertow. As I started to swim toward her, I noticed that she was not making much headway. She laughed at first but then became frightened. I told her to tread water and not to waste her strength trying to swim ashore. I knew that I couldn't help any by swimming out there myself 3 so I decided to go and get the small boat on the bank. As I started to push the boat off the sand, I knew that she was losing strength. I tried to row faster, but the boat was being swung around in the current. Once she sank beneath the water. I grew weak with fear but rowed the faster. I lost sight of her altogether then, and when I finally got to the place where I had seen her last, it was too late. I couldn't save her. It's a dreadful thing to watch any person drown. My intelligence 'may tell me that the only sensible course was to swim back for the boat, but my every instinct tells me that I should have struggled hand to hand with the terrible force which was dragging her down. I never went through such a terrible few days as I did then. All I could think of or see was her white face against those seething waters and her pleading eyes, then, one white arm slowly, slowly sinkingf' Sheldon broke off with a shudder. I stood it a week and then left, We two had planned to do such wonderful things together. VVell, I have been traveling ever since and-here I am. As Sheldon paused, John Knight turned to him with pity and understanding in his eyes and said, I'm sorry, my boy, so sorry. But you must be brave and have courage. Remember the little verse that your father used to say when you. were discouraged, 'There is a destiny that makes us brothers, none goes his way alone. All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own'. t'Yes,,' sighed Sheldon. Then fog reached out its tapering fingers and touched his feet. 'AI think we'd better get back to the boat, de- clared Philip, 'Awe don't want to be caught over here. Look, the fog's coming in with the tide.'l