Winamac High School - Totem Yearbook (Winamac, IN)

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2 4 THE TOTEM pony from Little Hawk and rode to , the nearest railroad station. When he arrived at the town he sold the pony and then went into a cloth- ing store, and when he emerged from the store he was dre.sed in white man ' s clothing. He went to the depot to await the west bound ex- press. It Avas early yet and he went into the waitingroom. He tried to sit quietly but his limbs were goaded by his conscience and lie walked back and forth with quick, nervous steps. Just as Charlie heard the shrill whistle of the coming train, a middle- aged man and woman came into the watingioom. It is Col. Wilson; the very man 1 sold that land to last winter. I hope he doesn ' t recognize me, Charlie muttered under his breath. Meanwhile Wilson Avas saying to his wife: There is Charlie Wesley. I wonder what he can be doing here. 1 saw in the R paper last night that his wife was very sick. The train came then and the Wil- sons got on it, and a young lady got cff. The newcomer was Felicia Jef- ferson. Charlie greeted her in an in- different manner, attended to her lug- gage, then took her to a hotel, where he left her and then went back into town and walked aimlessly about the streets. When does the next east-bound train leave here, Charlie asked of an arehin in the street. In fifteen minutes, was the an- swer, and Charlie started in the di- rection of the station. It was yet morning, and the train would reach R some time in the middle of the night. That night Mrs. Wesley wakened in the middle of the night and called hmdly for Charlie. The nurse came quickly to the bedside, thinking that her patient was delirious. Don ' t be alarmed. I just awoke suddenly from a dream, Lily said, as she let her eyes rove restlessly about the room. Suddenly her eyes stopped their wandering and she ap- peared to be listening. Wasn ' t someone knocking? she asked. No, said the nurse, it was only the wind, or you dreamed it. Take this powder; it will make you sleep more soundly. But someone was knocking at the front door. She went through the hall and started to open the door, but as soon as it was unlocked it was thrust aside by someone outside, and a masculine figure dashed through the hall straight into the sick woman ' s bed chamber. The nurse stood pet ri- fted with horror, for who but a mad- man, or someone equally terrible, would burst into a sick woman ' s room at midnight in such a manner. There was a faint cry of Charlie and another of Lily ; then the nurse saw the man fall on his knees by Mrs. Wesley ' s bedside and bury his lace on Lily ' s breast and weep tempestuously. Lily ' s white hands stole out from under the coverlet and gently caressed Charlie ' s brown eurls. and a happy, peaceful smile settled on her face The nurse turned awav with tears

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THE TOTEM 23 not unusual for him to be called away in inspect sonic land. Lily asked for some definite idea of the exact nature of the trip, bul Charlie seemed 1111- communical ive. Charlie, .Mrs. Wesley said on the evening of her husband ' s depart- ure, ' 1 wish you wouldn ' t go; I fee] as if I would ne er si e you again. Please write to me as soon as you roach your destination so I will feel better about you. Charlie hesitated a moment by her side. He felt as it ' he must confess his guilt to the little trusting creat- ure; then he laughed scornfully at his own weakness, and kissing Lily light- ly on the forehead, ran quickly down tli steps. His wife stood silent and motionless where he left her, watch- ing her husband ' s figure grow dimmer •and finally disappear in the pale moonlight. Then she was siezed with a violent fit of trembling and she grasped the porch railing to support herself, but her strength deserteel her and with a faint cry she sank to the ground. A short time later a servant came to the deior in search of her mistress, and there on the porch Mrs. Wesley lay as cold and colorless as a dead person. The doctors weirkeel far into the night with her At last she came to, but she seemed wholly indifferent as to whether she lived or died, and lav motionless with closed eyes and a death-like ' pallor on her face, heeding nothing that took place in the room. But Lily was not the only heart- sick person. Over west by the big forest in the little cabin home ' of Lit tie Hawk, a young man was tossing sleep- lessly about on his bed. 1 le found ii impossible to put his mind at rest, but always before him was the- image of two women. One was small and delicate, bul when be thoughl of her another image arose- before him, rosy and healthy, with a coquettish ex- pression in her black eyes. At last the man fell into a troubled sleep, lie dreamed that he was in the cabin of Lit t le 1 [awk, but t he house seemed to In deserted; it was very dark and the only light was a patch of m iligh! on the floor. Something in the room seemed to magnetize his ewes ami he was conscious of another presence. He looked over his shoulder and saw Felieua. Her eye ' s ulitte ' ivel and her body seeMiied to taper away in the form of a snake. Charlie ' tried te move, but he seemed rooted to the spot. The wind outside moaned ami sighed, and now and anon it whis- pered : Lily. Presently several doctors came into view bearing a white coffin. When they drew near Charlie saw his wife in the coffin and she was reaching out her hand to her husband. He grasped the delicate little hand and Felicia slunk back into a Corner and the glitter went out of her ewes. Hut the doctors bore the coffin on and Charlie was alone with his tormentor, who hisse ' d like a snake and darted at him. Then he awoke with a start and found himself standing in the center of the room. The wind was whipping a. branch of a 1 1« ' against the roof and Charlie blamed it for disturbing his sle-i p. The next morning be purchased a

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THE TOTEM 25 nt joy and sorrow mingled in her eyes. Silver Bell and Little Hawk sal by their fireside and listened to the wind blowing playfully among the trees. 1 1 se ni ' il in whisper softly with hushed breath, bul now and again it would laugh softly. The wind is very happy tonight, maybe. said Silver Bell. The wind answered her with a little gurgling laugh. —IV A GALBREATH. TEN LITTLE STUDENTS. Ten little students Going to school in time; Tuttle heard Ma calling, And then there were nine. Nine little students — And it was getting late — Roger stubbed his toe, And then there were eight. Eight little students — All would go to heaven; Ale went the other way. And then there were seven. Seven little students. And Tady doing t ricks ; Oh ! he lost his balance, And then there were sis. Six little students, And they could hardly strive; Wab laughed out loud, And then there were live. Five little students — And should have been more; Agnes got mad, And then there were four. Pour lit 1 le t udents — And Jim climbed a tree; Sure, be tore his t rousers, And then there were three. Three little students, And what could they-do; Fern swallowed her gum, And t hen there were t wo. Two little students. And. oh. how t hey run; Keplar gol his feet tangled, And then there was one. One little student. Going to school for fun. Wow ! See Kinnick coming . ' And now there ' s none. —DONALD BLEW. WHY I ALWAYS HAVE MY LESSONS. First I ' ll get my German lesson, Short and easy to translate: Drill and English exercises — Ought to gel that done by eight. My, but that translation ' s easy — Not much use to read that through, Hange an die Wand die Veste! Machen sie die Ture zu! n You hang his vest upon the wall. Simple. What V the next line say. ' Yon make the doors, too, that must mean. Wasting time here doesn ' t pay. Better gel the exercises; Those 1 can ' t well do in class. No. I ' ll write them out tomorrow; (imss I ' ll let my German pass.