"SUCCESSFUL SUE"

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 6, 6 July 1935, Page 20

"SUCCESSFUL SUE"

(A School Story by "Thistledown," 10, Lyall Bay.)

THE afternoon sun streamed down on a dark-haired girl of 15. Her name was Susan Conway, better known to her friends as "Sue." She was standing on the golden sands of Sandy Cove Beach. Her sun-tanned feet and ankles were buried in the sands, and she was talking to an old friend of hers. Her friend's name was Joy Wilson, a blondehaired girl, with big blue eyes. She was talking to Sue in a friendly manner and saying, "Do enter for the swimming carnival, Sue. You're a great swimmer, and don't think you're not. Anyway, do it for my sake, old girl, please. Joy paused, arid Sue said, "All right, Joy.' I'll go in for it." Joy clapped her .hands and said, ,'I knew you would, aid sport." Sue breathed happily. "It will be fun," she said. \"Of course, it's well worth trying, 'cause Auntie's- so interested in sport, and I'd do anything to please her." | . , ':■■•,-' But during their conversation Joy and Sue had not been aware of a third person watching them and listening1 to every word they spoke. The person's name was Gertrude Brian, a mean and spiteful girl. She belonged to the same school as Sue and Joy, and always tried to make trouble between Sue. and her friends. Gertrude never tried to be good at sports or lessons. She had no friends except girls of her own type, and they were very few. The girls had named her "Sour Grape." Now that Gertrude had heard everything she wanted, to hear she said spitefully to herself:.."She shan't win if I have anything to do with it." She walked away already. thinking 'of a plan to stop Sue from winning the race. | I . ■ The day of the carnival had arrived. ' Sue found herself in a state of excitement. At 1 o'clock she set out for the bathing pool, where she arrived earlier than necessary. "Oh, dear, I am early, and Joy won't -be. here till 2 o'clock," said Sue, and then, she stopped, for she saw Gertrude Brian going into the sheds •by the pool. ■ ■ , , Sue went into the shed near ,Gertrude's and put down her bathing things and went to meet Joy. A little before 2 o'clock Joy arrived. They got to the shed and went inside. Sue threw back her towel, but there were no bathing wraps underneath the towel. "Golly!" said Joy. "Where's it gone?" "I don't know," said Sue. "I left them here before I came out to meet you." \ ■ ■ "Let's have a look, anyway," said Sue. They were walking put of the shed when Sue stopped to pick up a handkerchief which was on'the floor. It was marked "Gertrude Brian." "Gertrude's handkerchief," said Sue. "It's funny that she should come in here." Then4* Sue smiled a very grim smile, but she did not say what she suspected. They went out of the shed, Sue still holding the handkerchief. Meeting a little boy on the corner! they asked him if he had seen anyone coming out of shed thirty-four. "Yus," said the boy, 'T saw a girl coming out of the shed with some blue togs in her hand. She went in there." He pointed to Gertrude's shed, which was forty-one. "Oh—thanks, son. Here's a penny for you," said Sue. "Come on, Joy, we're going to look into this." They went up to Gertrude's shed, opened the door, and just caught her putting the togs in a bag. "My togs, I believe," said Sue, calmly. "I don't think you have any need of them, as you don't swim." She took the togs from the gaping Gertrude, and with a "Come on, Joy," they walked out.' ' "Oh, hurry up, Sue," said Joy. "It's nearly* two." , • . Sue was in her costume in a few minutes, and went out. She heard her name being called, and hurriedly put up Her hand. "All. right," said a man. "AH hear what I'm going to say. When I say 'sit' you sit on the boards, then when I say 'go' you stand up,, spring, and dive and swim for your lives." .-.■'■ "All right," said the girls.. , . . - When the command to "sit" was given1 the girls sat down, then when. the command "go" rang out they sprang and dived. Sue made a clean dive into the "water and came up again to see. two girls in front of her. She used a powerful overarm stroke. She passed one girl and' ■< had one more to pass. There was twenty yards to go to the winning post., Sue swam her hardest, and with a few clean strokes she passed the girl,, She was first at the winning post. ' •• , r ■ "Good old Sue," came the words of Joy, but Sue was too cold "to worry about winning. She was shouldered and carried round and round. After she had received her prize-she hurried to the dressing shed. ' When she was rubbing herself down Joy said, "I. shall name you S.S., which stands for 'Sue the Successful,' or 'Successful Sue.'" ■; / *

OUR GARDEN. (Original.) , - We live In an old old garden, Beside a rippling brook, Which laughs and gurgles ■ On its way towards a shady nook. The, birdies sing among ths leaves As in the breeze they swing, And flit and fly beneath the eaves On bright and flashing wing. Beside the gate a foxglove stands, , "• A sentinel bold and brave, " While at his feet the violets sleep So modest, sweet, and rare. The lovely roses nod their heads To greet; each passerby, \ While hovering o'er the pansy beds, - Flew brlKhtrhued butterflies. ' "■'■" .."ICE MAIDEN" (13),. Glenslde. ;; ~ ~ . ;.".> ; . ' :

FAIRIES. • • (Original.) When it is twelve o'clock at night, Fairies dance in the pale moonlight, They put each flower gently to sleep, ' Where the woodland pixies peep, , r Before the fairies, go home, They. bow. to the Fairy Queen on her throne. The bees are busy making honey. To sell for silver ;Tairy money/ What, do:you think the Fairies buy? Golden gowns and hats so high, Daffodil, petticoats, nnd rose petal coats. Fairy purses and sliver boats, Now, it 'ls.th'e fairies' bedtime and they must 'go to sleep,' ; For in the morning early they have their house ' ■ ':• to sweep, ' . So you see, they have a. busy day. In so' far away. ':.'-. \. . ■-.; ■ "AUSSIE" (10).