LITERARY ISSUE The Glenville Mercury Monday, June 3. 1968 Vol. XXXIX, No. 28 Glenville State College. Gle nville. West V~rgmia "To the Depth and Breadth and Height" by Roberta Chancey Marnages fall mto a certam pauem after a penod of vears. There her, I kept wa1t1ng for her to sm1le calml v and tell me that she was ts a ume for meals, a orne for work, a ume for relaxauon, a ttme for pregnant. But the day never came. I toyed. w1th the 1dea of ask1ng her bemg aparL Such was the pleasant order wh1ch nme years of mar· If perhaps there was some medical reason, but I dec1d<>d agamst it. nage brought to Robert and Ehzabeth Hamson. Wlw shou ld I chance hurung a fnend to satisfy my own cunostty? So I have known the Harrisons since they moved to PorterCield six the subject was never brought up. years ago. They were wonderful neighbors from the beginning, as Life continued in its variations or routine until November of l ast well as active and interested citizens of the community. They bad year. Then years of cal mness and order were changed by the ap­ much t.o-oHer and willingly contributed what they could . Likewise, pearance or one ten-year-old boy. Mark came into Elizabeth' s class­ the community oHered much in return. Elil.abeth accepted a position room when he and his parents moved to Porterrield hom upstate New as fourth grade teacher ln Porterfield Elementary School , one of the York. He made quite an impression on Elizabeth. His sandy hair, finest schools in the state, and Robert became a successful ac- heckles, and cute little smile made him almost irresistable, she countant. said. (Conunued on Page Two) Upon Hrst meeting the Hanlsons, I was impressed with their dig­ nified manner. They were very hospitable and considerate, very calm and orderly. I didn' t really t-hink that I would ever be close to them, however. They seemed . too detached t.o desire close relationships except with each other. I suppose 1t was actually through my three hnle extroverts. Todd, Kelly, and L1 sa. that Elizabeth and I became well acquamted. They were always dtsappeanng, and I 10\"::mably found them 10 Elizabeth's back lawn or 1n her kttct'len havmg cooktes and m1lk. Chtldren are upposedl~· excellent JUdges of character. and 1f so, Elizabeth Har- nson ranks among the samts themselves. Elizabeth had a knack with chtldren. Perhaps 1t was a result of her aatmng, maybe a personal philosophy, or poss1bly JUSt some­ Roberta Chancey thmg from wtthin that the c h1ldren sensed. A t any rate, the l onger I knew her, the surer I was that she should have a houseful of chtld­ ren of her own. Dunng the rust three or maybe four years that I knew

Once thts was done, they started an tmmedlate search for an apart­ Summer '64 ment for Sam. He would never forget that rust by Jtm Moorehead day. because of a small inctdent whtch occurred as Btl! and he Sam had always been a "go went to a small dehcatessan to getter." At least that IS tbe way get another newspaper. An early bts father John Hale hked to mom1ng ram had rumed the one descnbe b1m. Hts father's delivered by the paper bov. Pennsylvama Dutch ancestry In hts polite hometown way he and his mother's Enghsb vem opened a door for a man wbo had bad made Sam a hard workmg a bundle of newspapers. Sam was person wtth bulldog determma­ dazed by the stare the bovme tton to get ahead, to be a go­ man gave h1m. He remembered pher m hiS own way. Perhaps 1l that cold, harsh stare all sum­ was thts somewhat strange an­ mer-It was a part of the ctty, cestry wbtch Dad prompted Sam hts JOb, hts life during those to continue h1s education when three months. most of bts htgb-school fnends " Btll, why dtd that man stare had letsurely accepted the re­ at me as 1f I were crazy?" gJOnal apathy by allowmg them­ "That's the ctty. You don't selves to be drafted or h ve off do anythm g for an ybody you theH parents unol they slid don't know. People thtnk you're easily mto a hometown JOb. uymg to take advantage of them. These people got mamed and because everyone IS out for that began to live as thetr parents buck; and they don't gtve a darn had lived-merely hometown how they get 1t." boy3. James Moorehead, a JURIOr Even though this bad bothered Oh, to be certam many others English maJor, ts from Namoa, him, he let it go in passing. He had gone on to college, but they w Va. He was graduated from wa.s HUed too much with his Marsh Fork 1-llgh School m 1965. would return. They would take own importance; but after a over dad's busmess or settle couple of weeks, his self im­ down teachmg school somewhere of home. L&ler, though, his portance bega.n to gl ve wa.y even 10 the county and contmually mingled feelings slowly subsided as the novelty of living in the perpetuate the cycle from whtch Into weariness . city wore orr. He settled down to they were born. Not Sam. Per· As Sa.m stepped hom the Grey­ a commonplace way of lire-a haps his ancestry, tns parents hound a.t the Cleveland terminal, life aput from the city, a life as dati}· wtll to meamng1 had lHted he tried to assume a look of an entity. That was the way htm above the regtonal com­ worldliness; but he felt every­ other people seemed to live. placency and mouvated htm to one knew he wu just another Why not him too? get a JOb m a Cleveland steel West Virginia. Hillbilly seeking After settling down, be had be­ m11l after h1s freshman year at employment be could not rtnd a gun to see less and less of Bill college: Well, no matter what It home. "What the heck, " he mut­ and his fa.mily . He came to know was. the Greyhound was movmg tered. " I have got to rtnd Bill one way or life, one road-both SWlftly over the rolling counuy­ now." ends being void at first. stde of the OhtO Valley. There "H1, Sam," slltd Bill Wnght as was no tummg back until the he stretched out hts hand. "I A sen tor, Robert Cooper IS an summer' s end. dtdn't recogmze you at flfst. A English and sOCial studtes rna· Thinking of his farewell to his few years can make a lot of dtf· 1or. A 1964 graduate of Sutton parents, Sam's anxiety was ference. You sure have changed H1gh School, he has been a dampened by a touch of nost&l­ a lot." photographer and editor or the pa. IUs father's firm grip a.nd "You're nght, Bill.'' Kanawachen. HIS hobbles are the kiss he bad placed on his It took several hours that Sun· photography, wntmg. btcyclmg, mother's tear-sta.Lned cheek day mormng to tell Btl! Wnght and water sports. Cooper has had &long with regula.r letters were and hts small family all about art1cles pnnted 10 the literary by Robert Cooper all Sam felt he would have left what was happemng at home. tssue 1n two prev10us y ears. FIRST PLACE

002_R.jpg Page T wo The lnfrdel Kathy Cheslick I am sure that he doesn't suspect that I know He considers him· self too clever for me. A business trip1 How absurd' He must think me a mere moron. t am certain that it IS Ntcole. They are seen to· gether constantly. The rising, young senator and his personal secre· tary do much more than JUSt d1scuss his great political future which ltes JUSt ahead. Here I sit, hts O\VO lovtng wtfe, dnnktng a toast to my dear husband, It seems tromc. My husband? Ntcole sees more of him than I. yet I know she will never have htm for her own. Ken interrupted her thoughts. " Enjoying y ourself, darling?" " Why yes. It has been a delightful evening, though I imagine that you feel rather tired, don' t you dear? Campaign s peeches, banquets, political rallies, -1 wish you would s low lt down a bit, Ken. I wouldn' t want you to have a break down at twenty-nine .'' He smiled at her and kiss ed her lightly on the nose. " You always think of me, Paula . 1 guess that is why I need you s o. These last four years have been the happiest that I have ever known. What do you sa y 1 take a couple or days of£, and we go up to the lake?" " That would be relaxing for a change," Paula replied. "When do you think that we could go?" " I'll have to talk it over with Nicole and check on my ~chedule for the next few days, then I'll let you know," Ntcole-would she never be free or her? As she sat watchmg Ken discuss some polittcaltssue wtth a fellow senator, Paula's thoughts drifted back to when she had fast met her husband. She was a Junior at the universtty, and he was a bnlliant law student. They had both been popular, yet somehow they had never met one another until the day that Paula's brother brought Ken home. She was alone at the ume. ''Hey, anyone home?" Jtm yelled as he burst tnto the house. (Conttnued on Page Five) To the Depth and Breadth and Height (Continued from Page One) " But there's something so strange about him," sbe mused that first day. " I feel so drawn to him. He seems to remind me of some- one. " Elizabeth was concerned at. the time, but eventually it became unimportant. Then one day Mark came to visit the Harrisons on Satur­ day afternoon. Since his father had t.o work on Saturdays, Mark was overjoyed when Robert suggested that Saturday afternoons might be a good time to get a little fresh air and exercise by playing football. After that, the Saturday visit became regular. It was 1n March that the accident happened. lt was a terrible disaster. Forty three people dropped into the Bay River when the brtdge fel I, Mark's par en Ls among them. Everythmg happened so quickly then. A ten-year-old boy was l eft homeless. With no relatives to take h1m tn, other than a seventy· year-old aunt, Mark was sent to the county orphanage. Ehzabeth and Robert, unable to bear the thoughts or his bemg alone in a strange place. went to the orphanage to make arrangements to bring Mark home with them, temporanly, at leasL There they learned the facts about Mark's lire. He had been an adopted child, placed with his foster parents when he was only SIX weeks old. He was born to an unwed mother m New York on March 23, 1958. The records were fanly complete, although some facts are never revealed m a case such as this. 1 don't know how Elizabeth reacte d to the information a.t the time. That evening sh e told me t hat Mark would be coming to their home lD a fe w days. She and Robert had talked or taking Mark permane ntly. d ,/_ ,/_ L When 1 turned [rom the kitchen sink after finishing the dis hes and An Toen Toere w as N ottJing really looked at Elizabeth for the flrst lime since s he had c ome In, 1 saw that she was pale and shaken. Her usua l calm composure h&d given way to a show of deep emotion. For a moment there was si­ lence. Then there were tears. Eliza beth sank into a chair and began gloves and ran to the wat ting to tell her story. Limousine. " 1 didn' t know until today at the orphanage. How could 1 have " Dtscuts it with Vammte," been s o blind? He ' s my son. Mark's my son." That was the story or Julie' s As she talked, tears-slow, hot tears that come from deep within­ llfe. Well, this is s omething 1 sJreamed down her cheeks. Nevertheless, s he kept he r voice steady ca.nnot discuss with Vt.mmte. ann contlnued her s tory, seeming to find some relief in telltog tt. "It happened so long ago, before I met Robert. I was in college. Maybe I could blame my youth. But, then, I suppose I can only blame myself. I was so gullible. "I'll spare you the details. I found myself pregnant, went away motber a.nd d&d were In Europe, and had the baby, and gave him away without ever seemg htm. I felt when I was crowned Snow Queen, that I have to g~ve each of us a chance. He deserved lt, 1f I didn'L t hey were visiting with the Then I met Robert. Governor, and now Mother ls too "I wanted to tell htm before we were mamed, but I was afraid. busy to hear wbt.l I have to say. He was so good and had such htgh morals, and I dtdn't want to lose How will I ever tell her? It is h11n. So I kept my secret. Later I found that I could have no more children. Robert wanted to adopt a chtld, but I wasn't sure that I de­ served one. And now here's Mark, legally ours tf we want h1m, mine Patrtcta Kmcatd, from Sw1ss, been so trus.tworthy, so honest, even tf we don't. Do I deserve him? Could I poss1bly bn ng him home Rod Engle Wi thOut telhng Ro:.Jert the truth? And would telltng the truth mean W. Va., is a JUnior Engltsh ma· (Contmued on Page Four) chooswg between the two? I couldn' t!" jor with a mmor 10 ltbrary science. She is a 1965 graduate I wondered what to say to her. Actua lly, I said nothing. Instead , FIRST PLACE J simply pressed her ha nd , hoping somehow to give her strength. of Nicholas Cour.ty Htgt: School. Microcosmic Love Cleanliness begs for sticking mud. Burdens sometimes become too heavy for one pers on's s houlders by M1 cbael Ireland to give bear, and one lightens his load by s haring it. Although 1 gave And Then There Was Nothing Rascals long for secunty. V.i rgms yearn for poundtng blood. no a dvice to EU:tabeth, s he sha red her burden with me . She mad e "Mother, there IS something I SECOND PLACE he r own decis ion and credited me with being the wise counselor. have to ~ell you," Julie Htlliard Btllygoats pine for punty. In a gram of sand the world JS 1 understand Elizabeth much better now. How little 1 understood mumbled nervously as she fol­ Mtchael Ireland seen before! There is a bond between us which will never be broken. lowed her mother mto the hall. Mtchael Ireland. sophomore, is So m you I love thts earth. Mark, Ellzabetb, and Robert are joining us for dinner this evening. "Later, darling, I am late for a speech maJOr. An acuve drama I see and love what might have They have been a famUy four months now. Elizabeth kept he r secret. Garden Club. Tell your father. enthusiast and member of the been She d ecided tha t s he shouldn't jeopardize the relationship which You know how well be enJOYS Ohnimgohow Pl ayers, Mtchael Were man of no.)ler bHth. existed among the three of the m. hearing about your puppy-love reports drama news for the Mer­ Unable to love my fellow man Of course, Mark wtll need time to adjust. He needs all or the love romances. Oh. dear: He won' t cury. A graduate of Troy Htgh I love you. It ts enough. and a ffectton whtch Elizabeth and Robert can gtve htm. And what be home until late because of a School, hts mam hobby is read· Midst all the other grams of greater or deeper love could posst bly exist than that wh tch caused bustness engagement. Why don't ing. He IS president-elect of the sand Elizabeth to h1de the cruth, to keep her tenible secret as a constant you discuss it with Vammte? Lt terary Society . We are beautiful. We love. but unshared burden? Good-bye dear,'' Valerie Hilliard

003_L.jpg Monday. June 3. 1968 THE GLENVIL LE MERCURY Page Three They drove in silence along the darkening highway. The I ights from the passing cars An Escape from Life broke into the dB.Ikness and flashed bold yellow beams into their private though ts. Tod was by L mda Seckman thinktng of his father and of his The last of the fadmg rays of sunlight were filtering their way own trip to Sal timore for a three through the trees as Tad Collins swung his luggage mto the back months' visit with him. It had seat of the stauon wagon and climbed into the front seat to wait for been almost a year now since biS mother. He was a tall, wel l-built youth With sandy-colored hair he had last seen him. Even and laughmg gray eyes that mnrored his youthful vitality and love of though they wrote and oc­ hfe. His hfe had been a happy one for most of hi s seventeen years­ cassionally telephoned. Tod felt fuller than most. He could remember the t1mes that his father had a breach or chasm had been made taken him fishmg, camping overn1ght 10 a small pup tent beside the between the two ever since the sueam and the times hts mother had helped hi m with hts arithemetic divorce. Now maybe this reunion wtaen he had had trouble with It in school • That was a few years ago would draw them back together and now he had grown up Into a self-disciplmed individual who knew again like it had been before. what he wanted and what he must do to get 1t. College loomed omi· J oan Collins' thoughts fol ­ nously ahead and w1th tt the prospects of someday becoming a writer. lowed the same lines as those He had grand and glonous hopes for his future but, more importantly, of her seventeen-year -old son. he had the fortitude and self-drive to mold these dreams into a reali­ It had been hard for them all be­ ty . He honked the horn now but not tmpauently. cause of tbe divorce but she "Are you certain that you have everything now?" h1s mother ask· and Nathan both knew that i t ed earnestly as she approached the car. Teasingly, 3e nodded nega­ was inevitable. Five years ago uvely to her quesuon but she, nevertheless, started the motor and she would have said that it could !Jacked carefully out of the dnveway. "Oh, by the way, d1d you get never have happened. Today, vour checkbook from the desk drawer?" she realized all too keenly " Yes, Mother. If there's anything important, just send it along that it had. Tad was the only on the next Pony Express!" He grinned impishly and she knew th at one she was concerned about sbe would miss him while be was gone. But she also knew that now. She knew that the divorce n was important for Tod to see his father again and she knew that had hurt him deeply but he had Nathan wanted to see his son again, too. The visit would be good for never let his pain show. She both of them. had tried, tried earnestly, but " Don' t look so sad Mom . I' m not going to be gone all that long. somehow the situation grew in· After all, you don't want me to stay tied to your apron s trings for creasingly worse instead of ever, do you?'' He smiled teasingly at her and s he noted the irony in better. Looking back over it bls statement for Tod bad never been the type to be tied to anything all now, she asked herself­ or anybody. He had always been independent, never wanting or need­ Did I really try hard enough? ing to depend upon others. ln that way, he was like his father. Na­ Was there something else that than was the epitome of the self-made man and he ha d certainly made I could have done? Time passed a successful life for himself as an aeronautical engineer. His busi­ as if theH thoughts could travel ness life had been a s uccess even if their marriage had not been. on to eternity. "What nme is 1t, dear?" she. asked, fearful that they m1ght be Suddenl y, seemingly from out late of nowhere, a car witli blinding · 'It's 7:40. Don't worry. The plane tsn't scheduled to leave until beams bore down upon them, 8:30 so we have plenty of time. Bestdes, 1f I'm late, he added jok­ tearing them out of their thoughts mgl y tn a pseudo-digmfled manner, I'm sure they will wait for me l" and iniD terrifying reality. There "Oh, I'm certam that they will," Joan Collins replied, stressing was no time. The car was ap­ the word certam. Tad knew just bow to make her forget her troubles proaching with such speed that and his JOVial manner was just what she needed now. it was only a matter of seconds before the horrible sounds of screeching ti res, shattering THIRD PLACE by Robert Cooper glass. crusbing and twisting Summer '64 moment, pondering many ques­ metal, and helpless screams tions wbicb troubled his mind. (Continued from Page One) broke out into the once tranquil T be boy is lying there, he night. And then there was n'o­ Reality At one end of the road was nis thought, not as a living human thing but horrifying silence. room, e1ght by ten and ancient. being but as a breathing corpse. '' Tod . . . Tod,'' she moaned by Pauline Vineyard Wh en he looked out the window, He can breathe but nothing more. "Oh, Tad, where are you? She be no longer saw green lawns, How can I tell his parents tbat lay slumped over the steering THH THIRD PLACE flowers, children playmg, and T od is no \anger tbe Tod that wheel in a state of semi­ older folks talkmg. He saw the they once knew. Nor will he It can beIDa child asphalt playground and the shop­ consciousness. "Tod, please ever be for tbe impact of the The touching of snow, or pmg cen ter. Because it meant be all right. Please, Tad, pl6ase. Tben there was silenct! once crash was so great that his The realization that solitude, he had never really agam. skull bas been crushed, his Dolls can't grow; gotten used to the room. The The huge, massive door of the brain damaged beyond repair. drab green walls and dtrty white hospital room was opened by a He is no longer a human being That tricks lie beneath ceiling reminded him of the jani­ doctor dressed in a s urgeon' s capable of functioning as such. Magic spells, or tor's storeroom in his dorm at Even though I hate the term for long, white coat. Be moved That the alternative of Heaver. school. The furnishings were all its crudeness, he is indeed, quietly, a lmost reverently, to­ Is Hell. worse. His bed was pallet-like ward the bed, gazing down at what the newspapers call ' 1 a and 1ts sagging rut in the middle the motionless figure with the human ve getable." I must tell told 1ts age. Many others had How brief the moments Miss Lmda Loutse Seckman is anguis h and pain known only to them s o they can make the de­ Berore this spent slept there. A sbabby-curtamed a doc tor- a feeling of utter help­ cision, perhaps the most im­ In gurgling trusting Wind OW above the length Of the a junior math and English ma­ le ssness. The doctor knew that portant one of their lives. Enchantment. bed allowed the light to cast JOr from Vienna, W. Va. She is a soon he must tell Joan a nd shadows from his toiletries on 1965 graduate of Parkersburg (Continued on Page Four) Nathan Collins. He stood for a the mirror. Other tha n this, there ~~h School. education if they wanted to go Although he bap quit school as were two other things m the 1grtonng them, the older men fo und the man who had helped on. " Da got quick minds, smarter soon as posstble, he was not room which he had rented for seemed the embodiment of re­ hitn. 'n me." ignorant. He had lea rned to live nine dollars a week. One was a sentment. To be certam there "I want to thank you fo r help­ He would never forget Jim's and cope with a white man's chair, the other a closet. He were exceptions, and he could Ing me." advice for married men. world. It was the lasting in­ hated t.t)e room. readtly recall one-Jim Hawkins, "Oh , dats ok, man. Been there "Sam, when yo' gil married do Ouence of th1s one man that His hatred of the prison-Uke a middle-aged Negro. sooner I would have saved yo' yoself a favor as well as yo ' caused Sam to react differently room drove bim to the streets. Their meeting seemed strange from the embarrassment.'' wife.'' from the other people m his There was nothing there for h ifTI , at the time. Operating a sweeper "Why d1d you help me when " What do you mean?" hometown when heated nots since be was too young to drink wh1ch was built like a small everyone e lse could have given "Well, a lot or people never broke out from the black man's bee r and too old and too good to hOISt, Sam maneuvered himself a damn." make 1t, 'cause da don't know unrest a few years later. fool with the neighborhood 1nto a corner. Bemg trapped and "Well, I been here fo' a num­ if da km talk with each other or Being acquainted with J im punks. knowing he would damage some­ ber a· years. and 1 done most not. Da is too busy Iovin'. And Hawkins, made his room seem ~ The other end of the road show­ thing before he could get out everthm' by myself. Nobody don't forget dat when yo' gil more like a prison. Waiting for ed structures of steel and con­ caused htm to break out into a showed me anythin'. They only marned and start Jovm' da IS a another shift, eating a meal ln crete, bla st furnaces, sweat and cold sweat. A bead of sweat ran said I shudo d1s or dat. I guess lot o' thins dat km make yo the shopping center, doing his toil. This end bad one consula­ into the corner of h1s eye and I jist naturally enough want to laundry were all routine-all the tion-eight ho urs a day of labor. married life a lot happ1er." blurred the smnks of the older help others, 'cause [ never had harnesses of daily life. Sam This was the steel mill, and he Jtm had given htm mvaluable man watchmg h1m. They had none myself.'' looked forward I to work. hated it too. Knowing lt meant advice. After Sam was marned, been waiting for this to happen. Eating their lunch together be­ he never took his w1fe for grant­ The summer passed, and late ~~ton ey for school was the only "Hey, man, need uh hand." came a habit. L ike any two men i n August he said a final good­ thing that kept him here. ed. At least he tried not to. He Lookwg over h1 s shoulder, he their conversations ran the played the dominant, the com­ by to Jim, turned in his badge It has been said that each man saw a robust, middle aged Negro. course of topics. They talked and identification card and left is merely a cog in th e machme. prising role. Gtvmg h:s "w1fe Wh y hadn't someone e lse come? about education, politics, race variety added spice ID thetr life. for his room to pack. The taxi If th1s were true, he wondered He bad never hked Negroes; bu t problems and women. Sam learn­ arrived to take him to the bus why the mil l operated. There He told his wife about J1m. in a baH-hearted vo1ce vmdica­ ed that J im was supporting Gold­ Obvtously, Jim Hawkms was station. One last look in tbe was no acceptance or th e new, tlve of failing youth, he answer­ wa ter, because " he is de best not an educated man. He had se­ mirror at bis sturdy frame, a especially tf the new happened ed, ''Sure. '' man fo' the country, i n my opin­ cured his job before the com­ qu.ic k comb through bis shock to be a college kid on a summer An hour later when the whistle ion." He als o bad learne d J im pany required a mimmum of a job. Showing them nothing and of brown hair, and home, later, blew, he grabbed his lunch and was s a ving money for children's high-school diploma for a job. much later.

006_R.jpg Page Four Washington Zoo (Continued from Page Two) by Rod Engle and so loving to all of us. I A man lS praised can never tell him! How could and tears are shed 1 ever look him in the race when he is gone again? Julie picked up her cash· And the people come mere s wea.ter and jumped into to see her car and raced orf to meet with ctgarettes Scott. and cameras It was late when Julie re­ dirty st.ories turned to Orchard Manor. How­ and filthy though ts ever, the huge mansion was all They read the words lit up like a lighthouse in the on the expens ive monuments harbor. Julie strolled around the But they don' t understand sprawling twelve-room house and or care to tried to thmk or a way in wh1ch They have come to see she could tell her parents about to say they have been there Scott and her. Walking on the For this is Ameri ca soft, green carpeL or grass, Julie a land or dead heroes touched the Flowers with her and bubble gum fingertips. How dad loves those a land of Lincoln rlowers. I guess they are the and television only thmg he really enJOYS in The great cemetery life. Mother i s always running Is a showpl ace off to a meeting, Tod, Jr. is Shallow pictures a re taken dead, and l never have the time Little Laura smiles to share with him anymore. " Be will be bwled in Arling­ bes ide the obelisk Loud voices broke the silence ton Cemetery," was mother' s then c ries fo r a popsicle I which lulled over the darkness. only response to the young A hero is a hero Julie found herself standing di· Marine who brougbt the horrible news . A faraway look came over wh en he i s dead rectly under the windows of her her face and she moved without The statue carved parent's bedroom and what Col· cause, but never did she break­ The monument erected lowed seemed to be a s tOry from down as dad did. Sbe only re­ He is esteemed Darey the Dachshund a cheap magazine and not the minded me, " Tba.t we were Stra­ he provides an outlet by Ruth Semerad VOices of her parent.s. tons and we must maintain our for the summer vacation culed, the boss shoutmg, "Get " This does it Todl I have o ver­ His tomb proVIdes away from me white dog. Ain't looked this cheap affair which dignit¥, in public. People of our material for slide shows I told you there just am' t no job you ba ve been ca.nying on for stature do not give themselves to Many people climb for white dogs in these parts?" ten years but tonight did it! Bow grief," she spoke assuredly. some 800-odd steps Unlike other dachshunds, could you t ake her to the club in Now, added to the gner, I must to see the view Darey is white. Darey is a white front of all of ow friends? I tel 1 mother or the baby wtuch The domed building across a pool dachshund in a black dachshund have never pushed you. I have grows within me everyday. I must tell her that the supposed filled wtth cigar s tubs society. c losed my ears to gossip and trips to the library every night and paper cups The second greatest desire prayed that Julie would never which Oarey has is to speak to heu it. I have been blind to the were turned into a raging af· Bury me not on lhe lone prairie fair at the lake. Night after but in a marble coffin the young dachshund who comes nigbts that you never came home night, Scott and I drove to the Marble can wear the footsteps down to watch the trains com· and lied to J ulie about your Forsaken Lake and there shared Marble is easy to photograph ing and going. She is a s mall absence." Valerie Hilliard' s the love that was sacred to man And ma rble is cold dachshund and younger than him­ stinging words pierced J ulie' s self. Her coa t is always neat heart. and wife. You don't need guards "We will marry," Scott bad pro­ around a marble coffin and shiny and her throat adorned "How could I do it? Well, I'll mised her tonigbL Mother will But guards are neede d with a bright orange bow. Many tell you bow I could do it. never adhere to that. Next week where the torch bums times Oarey bas stood at the Twenty years with you- that's t am to leave for s chool, ror For many people seek door of his borne, watching the what did it. 1 never loved you! young bitch from out or his small I ttied but you never knew the mother's Alma Mater. Scott­ to quench the e terna l name Motberwould never accept Scott­ for s ummer vacation Mrs . Ruth Paugh Semerad, a comer or the universe and wish­ meaning of the word. I could ing desperat.ely tha t he llad the his father wa.s only a coach at is a time for fun 1965 graduate of Lost Creek hardly stand yow stiff, cold re· courage to speak. the local high school and his The city is ready High School, is a junior major­ sponses to my touches. Wh y On this particular morning, just mother graduated only from bigb The heroes are gone ing in speech and English. J o you think I married you? Your arter finishing his breakrast of a s chool. And the people are willing money, your father could put me bone and Alpo (and noticing at lhe top-that's why I tolerated Julie pulled her robe tight about her growing body and tap­ Darey the Dachshund lives in a again, as be bad frequently, that your snobbish arrogance," her small Southern town near the his food was almost gone, this father shouted. ped lightly on her mother's door. An Escape city of Nowhere. Darey is an being the last or his Alpo), be " So th.&t' s why you moved to "Come in," her mother called (Continued from Page Three) ordinaf)Hype dog. He bas sma1l looked up to see his adored com­ the spare bedroom? You couldn't in a low voice. " Mother, there is something Ever pointed ears, bright green eyes ing toward the tracks. Swallow­ even stand to sleep with me. since the new law bas been pas­ and a long sleek body. Darey, ing bard, Da.rey rose oo &11 tours You were constantly preccoupied I must . . . , " Julie stopped m­ stantly. This was not her mother. sed, there have been more and belonging to the canine species, and walked toward her. When be with her. Well, I 'll show you­ This woman was a beaten, more cases in which parents are bas desires much the same as was within be&ring ra.nge, Darey I'U s how you both! My father lonely vegetable. Her broad, faced witb this same decision­ other members of his fami ly. spoke: will ruin you and you'll never s traight shoulders were slumped to let the bodies of their c hild­ Darey enjoys rising early each " Hi," he said, "Do you like bold a nother position as long as and rounded as though they were ren live while their minds have the trains, too?" I live! You have used me as long morning and traveling down the weary rrom years of heavy bur­ ceased to function or to let Turning on him with a look of u you are going to. Get out ! Get road fo r a brisk walk, pas t his den. Her elegant black gown was thet.r bodies unite with their favorite fire hydrant, up Cat­ wrath in her eyes, the black out of MY bouse! Take your wrinkled and soiled. In her dead minds in total death. or dachshund s poke: cheap little whore and live with Lane Alley and back of his bad she clasped a glass or all the cases I have encountered, meagre two root by four foot " What do you mean, speaking her," mother screa.med breaking brandy tightl y. Her once neatly there bas not yet been one in to a black dog? Don't you know into loud sobs. home on the edge of the railroad filed and polished nails were which the decision was made to tracks. Darey has lived alone in better than that? You don't have "You asked for it Valerie! You now bitten and split and chewed discontinue medication so that this small borne for somemonth s no right to speak to us black never bad the time to be a wife. to the rlesh or her soft, tender tota.l death would occur. Look­ how, since the death of his bitches like that, you white dog. Women's Clubs, Garden Clubs, tog down at this he lpless body Now go away- get out." dinners, parties. clothes. board bands. mo th er. Valerie Hilhard raised her now, it would seem much kinder Darey Is old enough to c are for meetings . came fi rst! The only Perplexed and deeply hurt, bead and gazed a t her young to h im and to those who know himself, and no longer being !l thing you ever loved was the Darey retreated backward to seek daughter. Juhe was so innocent him to let him die. The circum­ young puppy, must carry on his precious Straton name. Well you the security or his home. Once and pure and she will now have stances are utterly hopeless. shoulders the burden or a dog. take that name and all its glory inside, he cowered m the corner, to bear lhe truth about her There could nevear be ny mira­ Never having worked before, and go s traight to hell," Tod his paws drawn up around his father. 1 bad hoped that Julie culous discovery found to re­ Darey' s great ambition in life, Hilliard screamed as he slammed head as if to alleviate the pain would leave for school before turn him to what be once was. now that be is old enough, is to' out of the house. by blocking out the sunlight. the gossip reached her youthful Jus t when does tHe end and be a railroad watchdog. It i s for Not dad! Cheap affair for ten Outside the trains co~tinu ed to ears. Now, I have to tell the death begin? Does death be­ years! Not Dad-not Dad who this reason that Darey secured move, but Oarey neither heard whole filthy, rotten story. For gin whefl the brain can no longer the small home by the tracks. It tucked me in all those nights nor cared. He was tired-tired of ten years, I protected her but run<::tion? How does one measure i s ofte n dirty \Vith smoke and that mother was being hostess the weeks or trying. He knew to de ath? Must it be in entirety or at parties, not dad who t-ook me now she bas knowl noisy there, but Darey does not then that he must get away, but Julie was speechless. A tear can it be in parts? He kneW no to the c i rcus on Sdurday after­ mind. be could think of no way to fell from her motber' s black­ definite answers nor where be Each day Darey en vi ously leave, nor or any place to go. noon while mother shopped for might find some. But now be clothes. Cheap a ffair for ten circled eyes. Yes, black circles watches the other dachshunds Having no money to fi nance his now encompa.ssed the troubled mus t tell them about their s on years kept rolling over in Julie' s at thei r duty, moving briskly travel s, Darey decided to wait blue eyes which at one time bad so they ca n decide. back and forth along the rails, until nightime and bide on one mind. All those years her dad bad been living two Uves-Uving been as blue a.rd pea.ceful as a A gray swirling mist of nothing· seeing that no unwanted dog or of the outgoing trains . Knowing brook. Palo, frustra.tton, empU· a lief It wasn• t the finn wblch ness spiraled upward and on­ cat hitches a free ride on the the schedules, he was sure that neu oow clouded ber face. demanded all of dad's time but ward · a continual sluggish train. the watchdogs would not catch What was oaoe an lroocl&d movement of ordered chaos. Darey bas spoken to the boss him. Maybe he could go north; th&t cheap slutl of the railroad about the job Tbinking back over the years, (Continued on Page Five) (Continued on P age Six) many times, but be is only ridi· (Continued on Page Five} Julie saw her mother in a new

007_L.jpg Monday. June 3, 1968 THE GLENVILLE MERCURY Page Five "I appreciate your betng so gtve him another child. Never! through Paula as she hurri ed t o­ agreeable about this dmner· It waS all her fault. K en realized ward Chapline Street. She was The Infidel dance," Ken sa•d soothmgly. that as well as she did. She ten minutes late for her appoint­ And Then There " I realize that tt was such a knew he held no love for her, ment already. She t ried to seem short notice, bu t I knew you because of what had happened. calm as she sat down in a rather (Continued from Page Two) would come through as usual. It was at this point that he bad l arge, over stuffed chair. Was Nothing "Be down in JUSt a second." I think tt is commg off rather turned to Nicol e for the love and " It has been nearly two weeks (Continued from Page Four) Sbe scurned through her cIa set, well, too. You and Nicole are Wlderstanding she had once been since I caused that small dis­ structure was crumbling like an able to provide. p1ckmg a fa von te dress for mdispensable. " t ur bance, Paul, and I feel just ancient wall. Mother' s face was casual wear. She caul d hear the Her eyes burned into him at The drive home had been a fine.'' She tried to seem cheer­ now troubled and her forehead rwo boisterous voices from be­ the mention of Nicole. Yes, long and cool one. Ken tried to lui this time. ''I guess my bore the wrinkles and scars of low. She finished dressing and P aula believed that Nicole was, start a conversation, but his at­ nerves were frayed, that's all.' ' time. Daddy did this to berl went downstairs. indeed, indispensable. Why must tempts soon dwindled in to no­ Paul a pulled herself tn ughtly. A man did this! Will Scott do "H1, Sis!" J im gave ber a fast he lie to her so? But of course thingness. The sight of home I 've got to relax. She kept thls to me i n timef peck on the cheek and turned her she knew exactly why. Ken seemed to relieve some uneasy poundmg tha t fact mto her head. "Yes, dear, what du\ you want toward the houseguest. "Paula, musn' t rock the boat, now of all tenseness growing between them. She was certain that Ken had to talk with me about?" Va l erie I'd like you to meet Ken Jonson. times. He couldn' t take a chance ·'Why don't you go on up to been with Nicole consta ntly with· asked. Ken, my little sister." on a scandal at this point of bed?" Ken asked patiently. in the past couple of weeks. Julie did not have the nerve to "Well, J im, I wasn't aware such a high and mighty career. "Tonight was too much to ask She hated them both now. She t ell her mother now that she tbat you had such an attractive What would happen if word would of you after all of the traveling had been degraded bng enough. was pregnant so she said, " Mo­ member sta:;bed away i n your reach the press of Senator Ken we have done this past week. She must put an end to th•s de­ t her, I just wanted to talk with am1ly closet. I am very pleased Jonson' s lewd affair with Miss Please forgive me. I should have bauchery. you about my fall wardrobe, but to meet you, Paula." Nicole Martin? Paula was aware known better than to have ex­ Dr. Benson seemed satisfied you look tired. We will discuss " Better watch th1 s one," Jim that only she knew of his un­ pected so much of you 1n so with Paula's cond1t1on, and he it in the morning. Good night." huckled. He has got more girls faithfulness. She would never little of a time. I am sure Nicole sent her off with hearty congratu· Julie leaned to kiss her mother n the stnng than he knows reveal what she knew to anyon e could have gone.'' lations commendmg her Improve­ and her bands touched her hair. hat to do with." else, because she also was Paula felt her nerves shatter. ment. She had won the fHst Even the shine and gleam had Paula could readily see why, aware of the fact that she would "Nicole, Ntcole! Will you please round. left her medium-length blond too. She admired his c lean-cut always possess him. have the damn decency not to She went dHectly from Dr. hair and her bouncy curls were bedraggled and dull. T he lines features. T he coal-black hair "Paula, do you feel all right?" throw her in my face every time Benson's office to Ken's. He phasize d the face, which pos­ Ken asked. I tum around? I know that I am was alone. around her run, firm lips were essed a rich, bronze tone. He "Don't worry abou t me, dear. inadequate as a wtfe. I realize Nicole must be out to l unch, tight and drawn and a gray mist owered above her five feet I'm just a little tense. That's that I can offer you nothi ng, but Paula thought. How nice for her covered her silky complexion. eight inch frame, and she liked all." please have some compassion!" plan to work out so well. But She wi ll never know about mel \be slimness of his waist "But I do worry about you. You A nood of tears broke loose. what plan? She had no idea of She will never know that I am upled with the broadness of have been acting so strange Ken stared in disbelief. He what she intended to do, except no better than dadl Julie roo.ched is shoulders. She was attracted lately, Paula. You seem to be could not grasp this alien, un­ that she had t-O destroy Ken, just for the sleeping pills and wal ked Ken's clear blue eyes which miles away, when I tty to dis· responsive face. '·Paula, what as he had destroyed her love and to her room and closed the door eemed to penetrate her very cuss something with you. Maybe are you tal king about? I can't everyt1ung they had ever bad to· behind her! istence. His \'Oice was smooth you should talk to Dr. Benson understand why you are so up­ gether. d eloquent. Be was rather again. He seems to do you a set. Was 1t somethmg that I said Ken glanced up as Paula en­ servatively dressed, yet his world of good." or dld this evemng?" tered the room. ·'Darling, what a d taste was quite evident. Why dtd he always do this to " This evening!" she cried. surprise. I am so happy to see e bad a certain polished charm her. She reminded herself often She began l aughing hysterically. you looking so much better." ich, when added to his good enough without Ken calling her "Can you really think that I am Why did he have to lie? She ooks, summed up an air of attention to tt. It was satisfying so blind. Oh. Ken, why do you coul d not stand his lecherous rldliness which Paula at to know she had not thought or torture me so? I tty to be a good lies any l onger. She could feel ce appreciated. She and Ken it once this evening, until now. wife. I try, I try! Oh, God, help the quivering i nside and the l it off quite well together. He I t seemed so long ago since it me !'' hatred rising to its peak. She d remarked, in his familiar happened. Their baby was only Ken caught her as she fell. He understood what she must do. d-humored na tu.re, th at the fifteen months old. They were carried her upstairs and put her A man so corrupt could not be eird Sisters had decreed them the ideal family unul the day of to bed. Then he called Dr. Ben­ allowed to live. She picked up be everlastingl y intertwined. the accident. She was never ac­ son. the l etter opener. Someone, She and Ken had marned soon tually sure that it bad been an "I have given her a sedative to someone unknown to Paula, tter her graduation, even though accident. Paula was playing wtth calm her down, Ken. She should seemed to be compelling her, en­ en had another year of law Timmy when the phon e rang. sleep the rest of the ntght." ticing her onward. chool to complete. They were She had left htm on the floor and "What should I do, Paul? I T he tightness inside made it tb from upper-mtddle class somehow he had reached th e thought she was getting along dif ficult for her to breathe. She aanlies. so naturally money lighter on the coffee table. By fine, but things just haven't started toward Ken. as no probl em. Yet neither the time she heard the scream­ been the same between us " What is it, Paula? What are raved maten altstlc wealth. ing it was too late. She became since •. She imagines that you doing ... ?" She plunged ey loved each other com­ ill and was unable to attend the .here is something between the woul d be weapon directly FOURTH PLACE etely, and each one's life was funeral. Dr. Benson con fined her Nicol e and me . Maybe if I take into the beart. Again and again Patrick McCartney, a junior, is voted to the other. That is un- to her bed. Ken took it hard at her away for awhile, to Europe she stabbed him, and each wound a math and physics major. Mc­ 1 now! first, but he h ad tried to cheer or South A merica. She l oves Rio released an inner tension within Cartney is a 1965 graduate of Ken nudged Paul a back in to Paula with the prospects of a in the fal l." her body. Glenville Htgh School. He IS eality. "May I have this dance new baby. Tried, that i s, until "The change might do her She knew sh e woul d never for­ presently photographer of the llh the loveliest lady or my Paula was told that she would some good, Ken. Let me know get that horrible expression on Mercury and is a former member 1fe?" never be abl e to have another what you decide. I'll check on his face. A look of disbelief. of the band and chorus. H1 s hob­ It was the first time that they child. Paula tomorrow." bies are: nding, photography. ad really been together all This was why Ken bated her, l t was a brisk October morning, (Conti nued on Page Six) poetry, nature study, and read­ vening. she thought. She could never and the wlnd seemed to cut ing.

much 1arger than he was ac­ his body swollen from hunger. Dorey • •• customed to, and everywhere He saw tn a store some meat (Continued from Page Four) there was activity. facing him, teasing hJm, beckon­ behadheardof other white dachs· As he crossed the streets, ing him toward the counter. He bonds up there, perhaps he could Darey had to move quickly to ran into the store, grabbed the JOtn them. avoid being burt. All day, he bWldle and ran out, hearing, but As darkness came and Darey traveled from place to place, almost oblt vious to t he calls of prepared to leave, he thought of aslting and then pleading for a the angry black storekeeper. lbe stories t hat his mother bad job. The sun was bot as it burn­ Darey ran into the street, where &old him, of the time when white ed into the pavement. He was he saw the nash of an oncoming 4acbshunds bad tried to gain hungry and his paws hurt, but he vehicle, heard someone yell a rule. bad no job, no food and nowhere brief curse and felt the agony of " But that is all in the past," to rest. At times he would stop a mcment. be thought as be heard the to rest, but an impatient foot When the sun rose the next • btstlet of he train, saw t he would nudge him on. morning, Darey was lying in the • beels begin t o move and fel t Long after dark Darey stumbled middle of the street. His once lbe motion beneath him. " The into an alley lined with garbage white fur was a dusty brown and blacks are the rulers. They were cans. He pushed and shoved the hair was matted together 1n rulers. They were stronger, until the lid fell off one and then pl aces by clots of dned blood. creater in number and more rumaged around in the garbage H1 s mouth was open, the meat tlcious than we ." until he found some scraps of l ying nearby. His eyes were Darey curled himself mto a food. For days this contmued. turned back 10 h1s head and red all and watched the blur of Darey moved from cay to city, had tri ckled from his mouth to cenery and I ights as they sped searching for something, any­ run in a pool beside the meat. urriedly by. Sometime he slept, thing. He had been k1cked at, Cars came by, qu1ckl y, un­ or when he awakened the bright cursed and beaten. concerned. Someone yel led, ight was glaring harshly in h1s He had become bitter during "Hey, what is this in the yes and some dog was barking. the past weeks and prone to street? Someone move it." 'Hey, there's a white dog asleep bark with little provocation. He "Ah, it's j u st a dead dog," P here. He' s hi tching a ri de no longer expected kindness. another replied, "and a white ou dogs, let's get him." but only tried to avoid pain. one at that. Stealin' meat looks Darey dashed out of the tram One eveni ng when the w1na l ike. Guess be'll never steal to the hard gravel below aod bad begun to blow h&rshly and again. " ed across the rows of tracks the streets were dark and nearly to the city. It was a l arge city, deserted, Darey moved &lone,

016_R.jpg Page Six THE GLENVIL LE MERCURY She had tc laugh the next da,\' when her mo ther expressed concern over a seven te~n year old girl dating a twenty ·five year old man . "Relax, Mom, he's not an ogre contemplating m~· ruination'" How could she expl am to an anxious mother that they had actually spent It Might Have Been d1e maJOTit\- of the e\'enmg d\scussmg and argumg about predesuna· tion? But then how could she even explatn to herself JUSt what the by Greta Ha\·hurst attracuon was that Brett held for her? lie defmneh• was not hand­ some. or cute, or "tough", as the pie-college crowd was learmng to When she finally stopped crvmg and the ughmess ln her breast say Actuallv he was sort of pudgY. shalt, and JUSt plam·lookmg. He became the only feehng of wh1ch she was awa1e, Elaine began. as seemed interested m Elame she thought, but she still had the feel· all others had before her, the wevnable pondenng, ·he 1nevnable mg that he was quite amused at he1 1deas. her conception of hfe. quest1omng of Why" Why had this happened? for what sane reason, They dated all summer and then relauonsh1p developed, qmte what earthly purpoc,e th1c; unumelv death" Oddly enough, this was naturally, physically as well as mtellectuallv. Breu graduallv and the f1rst time that she had viewed death 10 this manner-unumely. deliberately- awakened her to her emoti onal and intellectual capac1· " I don't believe It, .. she was confused, .Janet didn't really call tles. me. Surely I'll wake up and discover this IS JUSt a bad dream." Then, college at last! In the f1rst few months, dorm hfe. new But the matronly housemother coming to her room with a mild friends, new classes. and other customary elements of a freshman's sedative and a few impersonal but kmd words told that ll was true. life kept Elai ne busy, and although she and Brett corresJX)nded and Today had begun as most Saturday mornings in the domlitory. In­ contmued to see each other occasionally, their relationship d1d not side could be heard the sounds of slamming doors, running water, and -··..,1\·e fulther- that IS, not unul she began expenencmg a penod of ch attering girls exchanging joking remarks. Outside on this l ate depressiOn. College ilff' was losing tts excitement: the local April day the sun was warm, promising a pleasant day outdoors­ boys on campu s somehow seemed pallid and i nsipid in companson perhaps a few hours on the sun roof. Elaine wanted to have a good with Brett. Elame. though she had not led what coul d be termed a start on a sun tan before she went to the university for the big week­ end as Brett's date. Then, as Elaine was dressing i n her quiet, sheltered life, was diSturbed by the general amoral or 1mmoral (she knew not wh1ch) attttude she was encountering. Mrs. Greta James Hayhurst is 1 ultilitarian-type room, she heard one or the girls call down the semor English and speech rna· typically deserted, echoing weekend hall, " Phone for Elaine." When she confided 10 Brett during a weekend when both were home from school, he dtd not laugh as she had half-nervously expected. JOT from Sutton, W. Va. She is 1 She answered the girl and, buttoning her blouse, ran to the phone, He managed to convey to her ht s personal phliosophy concemmg the transfer student from PacH1c only vaguel y wondering who coul d be calling her . Lutheran University m Tacoma, Disbelief , the senseless, mane reply, "You must be k1ddmg,'' matter. He told Ela1ne that tf she felt she could indulge in the actiVl· ues so commonly participated m by others and not ha\·e any doubts Washington. Mrs. Hayhurst 1s a was her react1on wheJ'I Janet tried to expl ain gently that some of or quesuons about the "ngh tness" of the matter, that she should go 1961 graduate of Sutton Higb Brett's fraternity brothers had JUSt given her the news. "But," School. thought El ame, "Brett can't be dead! I JU St saw him last weekend­ ahead and do as the crowd did. ·'However ", he said, "if you have only 7

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