Wethersfield High School - Elm Yearbook (Wethersfield, CT)

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Evangeline was to leave the farm at 4:30 and get the 6 o,clock mail coach. After dinner Evangeline went to her room to rest as she had done every day of her visit. Mrs. Broadbrook sent Edith to call her. Edith went to Evangeline's room and knocked on the door-she knocked again and when she still failed to receive a reply, she opened the door. Evange- line was not there, but on the floor, as if dropped in a hurry, was the letter which Evangeline had received that morning. Edith opened it and found, instead of the letter telling Evangeline to come home, merely this one line: In the grove at 2:30. Edith rushed back to the kitchen, threw her mother the note and ran on to the grove. On her way she met Charles walking along, whistling merrily. Charles, she cried in despair, have you seen Evangeline this afternoon?,' I guess I have, he answered coolly. Where is she? demanded Edith. u Well, I guess by now she's many miles from here! What do you mean? u Do you mean to tell me that you didn't know that she was sent to visit you, not because of her health, but because she was in love with Fred Canton, a Government Official, that her parents didn't want her to marry? Well, I had an idea about it. Well, the minute he found out where she was being sent, he got in touch with me and asked me to arrange their elopement. He was my best friend in the city when I lived there and when I left him I promised I'd do anything for him, so now I,ve done it. You mean that Evangeline has eloped! Yes, indeed, replied Charles, and they started walking. As they passed the tree under which all of the elopement had been planned, Edith stopped and read in plain letters, cut deep into the tree, not only the E which she had seen from the distance and believed stood for Evangeline, but the whole name EDITH. Oh! she sighed with relief. They looked first at the carving and then at each other. He whispered, Edith, let's follow their example! -Isabelle Wolcott, '27.

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To Edith's great surprise she failed to kiss them good-night. It was eleven before she appeared next morning and after a sub- stantial breakfast she reluctantly consented to be shown around the farm by Edith. Nothing pleased herg the cows frightened her, and the hogs disgusted her. Needless to say, this dignified lady with her parasol somewhat surprised the animals. That evening Charles, a very good friend of Edith, called, as was his custom. He was immediately attracted to Evangeline. He was so interested in her that Edith became very jealous. Their friendship seemed to increase, and on Sunday afternoon Charles did not call on Edith, and Evangeline was not around. Edith, becoming alarmed, walked down the lane to see if she could find her. The lane led into a small grove of trees and what should Edith find but Evangeline sitting under a tree on which Charles was carving some- thing. Edith stole near enough to see what it was. On discovering it was a large E, in bitter anguish, she ran off by herself and sat down beside the running brook to weep. To think this city cousin, whom Edith had finally concluded had been sent to visit them not on account of her health but to break up an infatuation for a Government Official whom her parents did notz like-to think that this snippy, love sick, city cousin should take possession of ber Charles-Charles who had been so faithful to her ever since his return from working in the city. It was more than she could stand, and she gave way to an outburst of tears. lt seemed to her as if her heart would break. On Monday evening Charles again took Evangeline for a walk and Edith saw them under the same tree, Charles still carving. They were engaged in a deep and earnest conversation. It seemed like something important. In a flash there jumped to Edith's mind the idea of some catastrophe-perhaps an elopement! Could it be possible Charles and Evangeline were planning to elope? Edith thought of seeking advice from her mother as to what the plans might be, but then, lest she be accused of eavesdropping, she refrained and kept her suspicions to herself. Edith's father drove in to the village the next morning and happened to meet Charles, who was waiting for a friend expected on the mail coach. When he reported this at the table that night Evangeline turned pale. Edith could not sleep when she went to bed that night. Her mind was on Charles, Evangeline and the other man. What could it all mean? Had he come to help Charles and Evangeline elope? But Edith's curiosity was soon to be satisfied. Early the next morning Charles appeared with a letter for Evange- line. She read it in silence, became somewhat nervous, and said that it was a letter from home, stating that she was to leave immediately, but giving no reason. She was to go that afternoon. She packed up her things and had the hired man take them to the station that morning.

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THE SNAKE Hey, fellows! quick, here's a whopper of a snake, shouted Bill, from the edge of the lake. Coming, echoed voices from all sides. It was a boys' summer camp. In a few seconds a dozen fellows were grouped around the stone wall that ran into the water. He's gone down among the rocks, said Bill, Keep looking, he,ll have to come up for air soon. Bah Jove, this is simply ripping, murmured Percy. His right name was Percival Christopher Whitehall. Look out, Percy, said Lanky, If mine eyes mistake me not, I remark the head of a serpent in the branches of this most noble tree which towers above us. Percy instantly crouched and slowly looked up. I believe that you boys are spoofing me, he said gently. There he isf' came the shout from the other end of the wall. And there near the wall could be seen the head of a water snake. A dozen rocks landed all about the head. The snake started to swim off, and every one could see that it was at least five feet long, and of a brown and yellow color. It left in the direction of the beach in front of the second bunk house. At this moment the second call to supper put an end to snake hunting. Right after supper Lanky collared Bill. Bill, I just thought of something, I've got an idea, he began. Lanky, don,t take it so to heart, Bill said kindly. What? Take what to heart, demanded Lanky. This thinking of yours. 'You know that it won't happen again. It's only beginner's luck,', laughed Bill, and turned to go. Lanky pulled him back. It was that snake that made me think of it. It's like this- went on Lanky. Lanky, I think it will work. We'll try it any way. Shi- Here comes someone. See you later, and with this Bill went one way and Lanky another. Well, fellows, what say we turn in? exclaimed Lanky, at about ten o'clock that evening, as he rose from the circle around the campnre. Bill, I think you and your gang up in Bunk House Number One had better get lots of sleep. We're going to beat you at baseball tomorrow, he went on. Yes, We have Percy, the boy who hits 'em hard, far, and frequent, sang out one of the Second bunk housers. With this the fellows broke up for the night, each group going to its own bunkhouse. Wonder where that snake went?,' said Lanky as he got up in his bunk. My, Gosh, aren't you in bed yet, Percy? and he looked over the edge of his bunk to Percy's lower one. Er-No, someone mussed up my blankets and--U