The two girls had grown closer and closer to each other, and they
now found themselves very loath to separate, to dismantle their
pretty room and pack their trunks, for their final flitting from
Hilton, their well-beloved alma mater. Their prospective departure
was also generally regretted by both teachers and pupils, who were
to remain, for each had won a stronghold in all hearts.
There had been a great change in Sadie, but it had only served to
make her more attractive, and she had kept her word to "do her
best" work during her last year, for she now stood second in her
class, and thus had won the respect of her principal as well as of
her teachers, while her happy temperament and the almost prodigal
expenditure of her ample income to give pleasure to others had
made her many firm friends among the students.
Katherine, as we know, had broken every barrier down before her
junior year expired, and during the present one not a cloud had
gathered to mar her relations with her associates; while, having
lived her religion, Christian Science had grown to be respected by
the whole school, especially after it became known what had
produced the wonderful change in Dorothy, who did not seem like
the same girl, and was now able to get about quite nimbly with the
aid of crutches.
The last all-important day arrived, and the retiring seniors "did
themselves proud" in their "grand final parade" before the public,
receiving their floral tributes and diplomas with pretty,
consequential airs and smiles of supreme content, singing their
last songs, but wiping away a furtive tear or two which the
suggestive melodies evoked; then their reign at Hilton was over.
After the class was dismissed, as Katherine was gathering up her
flowers to take them to her room, she glanced at the cards
attached to the various offerings. One bore "With dear love from
father and mother"; another was from "Sadie," and a third from
"Dorothy."
She stood in thoughtful silence for a moment after reading these
names, a look of perplexity on her young face, a little shadow
dimming her pretty brown eyes.
"I wonder," she began; then, suddenly cutting herself short, she
threw back her small head with an unaccustomed air, and with a
bright red spot on either cheek, went straight to her room,
"Bless your heart, honey! Whatever has given you such a
magnificent color?" Sadie exclaimed, as Katherine opened the door,
to find her roommate trying to dispose of the wealth of flowers
that had poured in upon her from all sources.
"Have I more than usual?" she inquired, putting one hand over a
hot cheek, which began to take on an even deeper hue.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account