Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-07-21
PHIL'S VALEDICTORY.


High School. Late on the previous af-
ternoon Mabel Bowen, who had gone
back to the building after school for
her questions in geometry, had peeped
into the principals office and seen the
teachers making out averages for dear
life. as she told Fannie Day.
And just know they are making
senior appointments, and they're going
to be announced today said Mabel.
So the word had been passed around
in the morning. Scant attention was
paid the psalm and the hymn though
each senior tried his best to look as if
he had not thought of beng appoint.
ed.
Then an exasrerating thing happen
ed. Mr.. Castle has inst said, 1 will
now read the list of those who have
been appointed to take part in our
Commencement exercises, when Mr..
Wilson, the superintendent. came in
and talked with Mr.. Castle for ten min.
utes.
Didn't | tell you the names would
be read out? whispered Mabel. Oh,
if I'm appointed, | do hope they'll let
me reclte never can, could, might,
would or should write an essay
'Sh!' said Fannie. He's goin' to
read. Just look how complacent Guy
Fenton is He knows he s sure to get
first place. Don't you
The students appointed.' said Mr..
Castle, are as follows. IN the order of
their standings
Then he hunted for the paper and
adjusted his glasses as deliberately as
if he did not know that every senior
heart in the room was beating ike a
trir.hammer.
Philip Winters, Guy Fenton, Bertha
Finley, Celia Peters, Mabel Bowen,
Richard Hardy, Clifford Tracy, Fannie
Day, Victor Lee and Archibald Hunt
er. These students are requested to
meet Miss Stone in her room today at
the close of the session.
Ten seniors tried not to look glad
and the other twenty tried not to look
sorry but everybody looked surprised,
too. Guy Fenton not first! And Of
all boys in the class to precede him,
Phil Winters
Every one knew that Guy was the
best student in the senior class, and
Phil was nst an ordinary, faithful,
humdrum fellow. No one expected
him to get an appointment at all. He
to be fist How had 1t happened? ?
Guy Fenton looks were unpleasant
ly suggestive of II thunder. cloud when
he fully realized that his name was not
first, and Phil himself looked hardly
less troubled. Then the signal Was
given. and the classes went out. The
busy boys and girls had to put IF the
discussion OF this great event until
recess.
At recess Guy Fen;on had cleared
away his thunder cloud. He walked
straight up to Phil Winters.
Congratulations, old bvyr he said,
holding oat his hand. i am thorough
ly glad you've got it,
That gave everybody the cue about
the valedictorian, for Guy was leader
if he was conceited. And after every
one had congratulated every one else,
and all had met Miss Stone and been
set at work, the Commencement ap.
pointnents began to be among the ac-
cepted facts of the universe, and gave
place to other subjects of discussion.
But there was the least bit of thorn
IN Phil Winters side that prevented
him from taking the full degree Of
pleasure in his success. Phil was not
concerted, bu. he enjoyed being at the
head as much as Guy Fenton would
have enjoyed the distinction.
4 can't see myself how 1t happened
Phil said to his mother that night.
Guy always got higher marks than I
did
is anything besides scholarship tax
en- into account? asked Mrs. Win
ters.
Yes, answered Phil. thoughtfully.
You know ut the Friday morning ex-
erclses the teachers all mark, and Miss
Stcne makes an average Of those marks,
and that is counted, too. But even
there Guy is ahead of me. though he
broke down once. You see he was al
ways working for the valedctory, and
| never thought of anything beyond
getting through credltab!y.'
There might have been an error in
the making out Of the averages, sug
gested his mother. Then she pur
posely said no more She had been a
teacher herself, and good one, and