Ruth and Ralph were awake when the first note sounded. She was gathering up her nerves for the booming of the cannon and Ralph was saying: "I believe Miss Schwarmer would influence her father to do away with that monster if she knew how it hurt you and especially your mother." "She does know it, Ralph, and I believe she has done it," exclaimed Ruth, springing up and listening intently. "Yes, Ralph, don't you hear it? It's a bugle! Really a bugle!" Another note sweeter and louder greeted them. "Yes, it is a bugle and a very fine one. What a blessed creature Adelaide Schwarmer is!" said Ralph. Ruth could not speak. Her heart was so full of gladness, but she indulged in what Ralph called "a happy cry." CHAPTER XX. THE DEDICATION OF THE LIBRARY. The dedication of the library proved to be a very enjoyable affair although the military "fuss and feather," the Independence Day racket and the ostentatious hoisting of flags were left out. It was more like a church dedication, minus the mounted marshals and uniformed cadets which are among the latter day improvements or experiments. The Schwarmers stood out more conspicuously than they would otherwise have done; but they were no more so than the Killsbury people felt that they had a right to be. Mrs. Schwarmer was in regal robes with which the ladies were much pleased. Mrs. Martin nodded to Mrs. Arundel and said: "She has honored us at last by putting on her best apparel." Adelaide was dressed in a lovely white mull. Nobody had noticed until then how very pretty she had grown. Mr. Schwarmer insisted on wearing his plain business suit as it was eminently proper he should since he had to do the main business part--that is, hand over the deeds to the Town. That being done he made a short characteristic speech, in which he said: