Westmont Hilltop Senior High School - Phoenician Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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dear.” said Mrs. Wainwright, adding the last to her pretty, fair-haired daughter. Estelle came reluctantly toward her relatives. “Estelle, these are your cousins, Jeanne and Ted Norton,” said Mrs. Wainwright. “I’m so glad to see you, Estelle,” said Jeanne, as she ran forward to kiss her cousin. “Oh, don’t touch me! You’ll make my dress dirty,” exclaimed Estelle backing away, as she held a dainty and well-kept hand forward and mur- mured a faint, How do you do?” “Oh, I’m so sorry,” said Jeanne, abashed at Estelle’s actions while she took the proffered hand. Ted followed her example and an unpleasant silence dropped on the group, but Mrs. Wainwright’s cheery voice came to the rescue. “Estelle, dear, will you see if your father wants anything before lunch? I’ll take Jeanne and Ted to their rooms.” Estelle departed quickly and the others entered the house. While they are thus occupied, I shall de- scribe them. Jeanne Norton was a dark-haired girl of thir- teen summers. She had a dark complexion and beau- tiful black eyes. She was a quiet girl and rather than make trouble, she often took the blame for things which her friends did. Ted was a quick-witted boy. fifteen years of age. He was tall and handsome with grey eyes and light brown hair. His parents had died within the last two years. He and his sister had come to live with the Wainwrights because their mother had asked Mrs. Wainwright to care for them. She had bequeathed all her money to her sister for the sup- port of her children. Estelle Wainwright, sixteen years of age, was a blonde. She was very haughty and thought herself quite above other people. Mr. Wainwright was as haughty as his daugh- ter. This grieved his wife, because it caused her much embarrassment. She was a very lovable woman and always tried to make up for the mistakes made by her husband and daughter. ♦♦♦ Estelle entered her father’s den without knock- ing and was greeted by him. “Well, daughter, how do you like your cousins?” he asked. “Oh. Father! They’re horrible! Why Jeanne wanted to kiss me! They haven’t any manners at all,” replied Estelle, haughtily. “Well, we’ll have to put up with it,” was the answer. Then they went to the dining-room and found Mrs. Wainwright with Jeanne and Ted. Mr. Wain- wright was then introduced to them and it was a very quiet Jeanne who stood before him. The meal was very trying, although Mrs. Wainwright tried to en- tertain them. After lunch, Mr. Wainwright re- turned to his office and Mrs. Wainwright showed the house and gardens to Jeanne. Ted asked if he might go to the library instead of looking at the house, and Mrs. Wainwright quickly consented. lie entered the library and looked around until he came upon an interesting book. As he drew it forth, he heard something jingle. He looked around and his eye fell on five silver dollars in the place where the book had been. “Someone must have put it there and forgotten about it. I’ll take it to Aunt Mae,” he thought. He put his hand out and had picked up the coins when he was startled by a shrill,” Ted!” He dropped the

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before it is too late! I’ll get the baby.” Running to the baby’s room, he opened the door. It was a mass of suffocating smoke. Dimly through the smoke he saw what he thought to be an empty crib. Mother had got the baby! Choking, and dizzy from the smoke, he tried to close the door leading to the room, but tripped and fell. There, weak and worn out, he lost consciousness. ‘‘Mother, Mother, where’s Daddy and sister?” cried one of the children outside of the burning house. Mrs. Alcott screamed in terror. Where were Daddy and baby? All the neighbors had gathered around but no one dared go into the burning house. No one was asked to go! A low, piercing cry came from the baby’s room. Cap stopped barking raised his head high into the air and jerked up his ears. It was his master’s child who called him. He must go? In an instant he went dashing into the mass of flames. Everybody turned their heads. Cap was the only one who did his duty. Up the stairs and into baby’s room he ran, running over Mr. Alcott’s unconscious body. Taking the child’s clothes in his mouth, he pulled her out of bed. Getting a tighter grip on her nightgown, he ran faster than he had ever run before, for he had another duty to perform. Making his way through the smoke, he reached the outside. Dropping the baby at Mrs. Alcott’s feet, he made for the house again. Up to his master he ran, performing a duty that a human being would have hesitated to do. The flames had almost sur- rounded him. With difficulty the dog ran through them, dragging his master to the stairs. He pulled and pulled, but in vain. At last he emitted a terrify- ing howl. The crowd outside hung their heads. Howl after howl the crowd heard. At last Mr. Alcott opened his eyes. Getting up. he leaned against the wall, and realizing where he was, he went tumbling down the stairs and was soon outside. It was too late for Cap to run down the stairs. He ran to the window and gave a leap into the air, and fell to the ground. But poor Cap did not know of the tears of gratitude and joy that were shed over him—Cap’s troubles were over—his last night had been a glorious and a heroic one. MARY CAMPBELL, ’26. THE TWO ORPHANS The large car of the Wainwright family could be seen speeding along the streets between the de- pot at Millington and the Wainwright home. Its occupants were Mrs. Wainwright with her sister’s orphaned children. Jeanne and Ted Norton. Mrs. Wainwright was driving the car and the two young people were enjoying their ride very much. They talked but little, for they were interested in the scenery. They had formerly lived in a small town and coming to Millington to live was quite an event. They were suddenly brought from their en- chantment by hearing Mrs. Wainwright’s soft voice saying: “Now that we’re home, I hope you’ll have a nice time.” “Oh ! we can never thank you enough for having us come here to live, Aunt Mae,” said dark-haired Jeanne. “Don’t worry about our having a good time. We’ll never get used to all these beautiful things,” she added, as she gazed at the house and lawn before her. “Oh, yes you will, Jeanne. Ted will like it, too, but we must go into the house now and you can get ready for lunch. Oh, Estelle, come here a minute.

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coins quickly and turned around. He was con- fronted by Estelle, who was smiling icily. “So! JoureaUy are a thief? I'm glad I caught you then, Ted, she said, coldly. “Why, Estelle! I found this money in there and was going to give it to Aunt Mae,” he said, his anger rising at her cutting remark.” I am not a thief. Miss Wainwright. “Hon’t Miss Wainwright me!” Give me that money and I 11 take it to mother,” she ordered, hold- ing her hand out for the money. I’m sorry, Estelle, but I think m take the m°£eyi r? ,uUnt Mae myself,” replied Ted quietly as he left the room. i . uste11 fo!lowed stubbornly, although she was glad her plan had worked so well. They found Mrs. Wainwright and Jeanne sit- 2n ? feerlch ,n.the rose arbor. Estelle hastened ahead of Ted. saying: “Mother, I’m sorry to say I found Ted stealing some money. I didn’t know he was a thief. I went into the library and saw him reach for the money which you had put in the bookcase.” “What!” exclaimed Mrs. Wainwright. while Jeanne ran towards Ted. “But there must be some mistake for I took all that money out yesterday.” Aunt Mae, I found this money in the bookcase and was just reaching for it when Estelle entered,” saK c roPP,n? the silver in his aunt’s hand. ... . “Excuse me just a minute, please,” said Mrs Wainwright as she hurried out of the room. Estelle saw her mistake when her mother said that there was no money in the book-case. They watched Mrs. Wainwright and saw her enter the house. She then went to her room and opened her purse. She evidently was satisfied with what she saw because she picked it up and took it with her. She then went to Estelle’s room and picked something up from the dresser. Hurrying outside, she found three quiet figures anxiously awaiting her. She sat down and opened her purse. I find that five dollars are missing from my purse. Estelle, you’d better sit down. You don’t look well, she said, for Estelle had suddenly turned white. “I found this set in my purse and I think I’ve found the ring to which it belongs. Estelle, is this your ring?” “Yes.” “Did you know there was a set out of it?” “Yes—Oh, Mother, I’ll tell you all about it. I took the money from your purse and I remember now that I caught my ring on the fastener. I didn’t notice that the set was out until this morning and I thought I’d lost it. I put the money in the bookcase because I thought that if I found either Jeanne or Ted touching the money, I could say they were steal- ing it. I was sure that one of them would pick out that book. I thought that if I could prove them to be thieves, that you would send them to an orphanage. I didn’t want them around. I’m very sorrv that I did such an act, and I know that they are better than I am. I’ll never do such a thing again. Will you forgive me, Ted?” “Certainly, Estelle,” replied Ted. warmly. “And won’t you kiss me, Jeanne?” Jeanne ran forward and took her in her arms. Mrs. Wainwright smiled at the happy trio as they walked under the arbor. When Mr. Wainwright heard the story, he was very much surprised, but he forgave his daughter although he remained as haughtv as ever. VEKA FULMER. ’27.