Bright and attractive maidens, in lovely evening dresses of many hues, flitting hither and thither with their attendants in more conventional attire; parents and guardians, gathered in social groups, or from advantageous positions, watching with smiling content the brilliant scene; lavish and beautiful floral decorations lending a perfumed atmosphere and artistic effect to the whole, all made a charming and spirited picture which Prof. Seabrook dearly loved to gaze upon, and to which he always looked eagerly forward at the close of every school year; albeit his enjoyment was somewhat tempered with sadness in view of the final farewells that must be said to his senior class on the morrow. To-night, as he mingled with his guests, everywhere showing himself the thoughtful host and courteous gentleman, his glance fell, several times, upon a graceful, rose-draped figure wearing a spray of white moss rosebuds on her corsage. He also observed, as she moved in rhythmic sway to the inspiring music, that she was supported by the strong arm of his distingue- looking brother-in-law, who seemed, he thought, to be paying more homage than usual to the Terpsichorean Muse, and one particular lady. "Well, what do you think of it, Will?" whispered his wife, who happened to be near him once as the couple went circling by. "What do I think of what, Emelie?" he queried, evasively. "Why, of the way Phil is carrying on to-night! Did you ever see anybody so lost to all things mundane--save the presence of a certain very dainty little lady--as he is at this moment?" "He does seem unusually frisky, I admit--especially with his feet," said the professor, with a smile. "His feet! Will, just look at him! He doesn't know he has any feet; he is all eyes and--heart! You know what I mean, dear," his companion pursued. "I've seen you watching them with that quizzical look in your eyes. What would you think of it as a--a match?" "Emelie! a matchmaker!--thou!" ejaculated her husband, in a tone of mock dismay, though his lips twitched with amusement. She laughed out musically, a sound that he loved and heard frequently nowadays. "But what would you think?" she persisted. "I would think, sweetheart, that--with one exception I could name- -he had won a crown jewel and the sweetest wife in the world," replied the professor as he looked fondly down into the blue eyes uplifted to his. Once Sadie, leaning on the arm of a dashing cadet in uniform, swept slowly by Katherine and her companion. "How about that wager, honey?" she languidly inquired, her roguish eyes fastened upon the conspicuous rosebuds. But Katherine's only reply was a defiant toss of her brown head as she smiled serenely back at her and whirled blissfully on.