Wilson Central School - Crest Yearbook (Wilson, NY)

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1PAGE SIXTEEN STARLIGHT that they could make better time. But we have come to the conclusion that they couldn't get enough to eat at Buffalo, so they went back to the Falls to get more. Even if we were all tired when we reached home, we all declared that we had had the best trip which we have had for a long time. THE SECRETARY, ’16. God marks how long this life shall be; How grandly broad with reach of sympathy. How high toward heaven its growth —He leaves to thee. —ALDIS DUNBAR. “1HE HAUNTED HOUSE.” The road running along the side of the hill gradually ascended from the river which paralleled it. On the left the dense forest bordered this road, while on the right, the steep sloping side of the hill descended to tin water’s edge. The distance was a good mile before the top of the hill was reached. Here was the Haunted House. As one leaves tin road and makes his way toward it a creepy chilling sensation runs up liis back and ends in a shudder. The Haunted House has a dismal aspect about it in the darkening shades of a summer’s evening, and a forbidding one in the winter's twilight. The pines which grow on every side of this house— so old as to be built of logs and consisting of two stories—moan and sigh when winter with its chilling winds passes through their drooping branches. By two steps, very rickety and the worse for the weather, one reaches tin porch. Here it is a question whether to go in or turn about and flee from the house, never to look back until its form is completely hidden by intertwining trees and distance alone. But if one chances to decide in the affirmative and crosses the threshold of the interior he finds himself in a room pervaded with a musty odor. Upon his left is another room which contains the sole piece of furniture—an old couch. At the back of this room is a door that leads to the kitchen, which is as bare as the front room. Coming back to the room containing the couch, one notices an iron ring, old and rusty, nailed to a trap door in the floor. Should this be lifted nothing but darkness is disclosed. To raise one’s self up from this discovery and look around, a desire possesses one to know more of this house so dreary and dismal and situated on an almost untraveled road. About it all is an atmosphere repelling yet fascinating. It was just dusk at tin end of a dark and rainy day, when out of the forest on the left and into the road appeared a young man clad in a suit similar to that of a hunter. ‘‘Surely this is the road they told me to take,” he spoke half aloud, ‘‘and there must be some place along here where I can find a night’s lodging.”

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STARLIGHT PAGE FIFTEEN Four years have passed, and we Seniors Are about to start out afresh; Rut whatever our success hereafter. We will owe it to W. H. S. E. S., ’16. THE SENIORS' AUTOMOBILE TRIP. Last fall soon after we had organized we decided that we would like to go for an automobile trip. The plans were then made, which were, that we would go Friday, October 7th, that we should go in Mr. Kick’s and Miss Thompson’s cars and last, that we all should meet at Miss Thompson’s. At nine o’clock, having met at Miss Thompson’s and arranged ourselves in the cars, we started for Ransomville, but we were sent back to get Marion's camera. In turning around, our car slid into the ditch and after much pushing, Mr. Pasko finally pushed us out. Securing the camera, we joined Marion in Ransomville. From there we went to Youngstown, where Marion discovered that she had lost the cap from the gasoline tank. They went to Youngstown to get a cap but were able to get only a cork. After visiting the fort, when George Norton and Norman Kick got lost in a passageway, we went to Niagara Falls in quest of a cover for the oil tank. Hut Marion was again disappointed, for no cap was to be had. We ate our dinner on Goat Island and, in spite of the rain, it was very much enjoyed by all. Our dinner eaten, we started out of Goat Island in the same direction in which we came. Near the entrance we were stopped by a policeman who told us we should have gone the other way, but he would let us go on, if we would be careful. But those in the other car, when they saw that we had been stopped, began rapidly to back up, before he could have a chance to say anything to them. They barely escaped backing into trees before they got away from him. We we joined by them at the park entrance. At Mr. Pasko’s suggestion, we visited the Hydraulic Power plant. We found it very interesting and enjoyed the beautiful river scenery very much. e then started for Buffalo, although it was raining quite hard. Reaching Buffalo, we went to a cemetery to see a beautiful monument which Ilazel told us about. Then we went to the garage, where we were told that we could get the cap the next Tuesday. Now. to get out of the rain, Ave went to Shea’s and saw “The Dust of Egypt.’’ When we came out of there it Avas quite dark, so Ave decided to go home, but those in the other car decided to stay a little longer and have supper first. When Ave had left Buffalo, Ave stopped beside the road and ate our lunch. When A ’e neared home Ave sbav, that it had not rained here at all. We let Mr. Pasko out at his home and then took George to a Aveiner roast to Avhicli he Avas invited, but found only the coals; then the rest of us Avent home. The next morning Ave heard that the other load Avent back to the Falls with the excuse that they knew the roads that Avay and

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STARLIGHT PAGE SEVENTEEN IIis thoughts seemed to keep him company as he slowly began the ascent. “Where has Alice Le Vans disappeared to? It has been five years since she was last seen by anyone who knew her. At that time she was in the company of a stranger who came to town a week before her disappearance. He must he connected with this case and I will find her if it takes a lifetime,’’ Blair exclaimed through set teeth. “Her father was good to me when I was down and out. It was he who put life in a new light to me. Well I remember the night he saved me from what 1 thought tha only way to end it all. And what an expression of pity was in her eyes as she saw me then ! But she never knew the hard road of life. Hers was an easy one, congenial surroundings, parents who almost idolized her, and never a care, all were hers. How good it must seem to have all these!” and he thought of his own hard struggle for life less than ten years ago. “Ilello, what’s this?’’ he exclaimed as by chance he left the realm of thought and came back to a material world. It was the top of the hill and what he saw was the Haunted House. Blair paused awhile before he decided to approach such a dreary abode, but having no better place to go, he made his way up the path and onto the porch, lie knocked in vain for no one came to the door. “Well, I’m going in and stay for the night, anyhow, he said as he pushed the door open and made his way inside. It was quite dark now and he could scarcely make his way about to find what sort of a place he was in. The rain still fell softly on the roof overhead and a slight breeze caused the pines in the yard to moan. “Who would ever have dreamed of my being compelled to pass a night here,” he said half aloud. “I m here now, so I suppose 1 11 have to make the best of it. I wonder who lived here, perhaps years ago. Surely the house has been vacant for some time and its material proves it to be quite long standing.” When Blair had now finished his supper—a couple of sandwiches a piece of boiled ham and a few good swallows of warm coffee from his thermos bottle—he found the old couch and taking a blanket from his small pack, he retired for the night. He lay there for some time thinking of the day s events and of flu possibility of ever finding Alice Le Vans. Sleep seemed to elude him tonight for some reason. Perhaps it was his thoughts that made him wakeful or another reason that lie disliked to acknowledge this queer house and its lonely situation. “O shucks!” he exclaimed. “I’m a big coward that’s all, who is alone in an old house.” With these words he turned over and went to sleep. How long he had slept he did not know, but he was awakened by a creaking noise not ten feet from his couch. Then there was a bang as the trap door fell backward leaving the hole uncovered. Blair raised upon his elbow just in time to see a white figure rise slowly up through the hole. He became almost paralyzed with fear; he was