The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-10-13
A GIRL GRADUATE,

1t was examination week at Mount
Seward College, but most of the
work was over, and the stud
ents were waiting in the usual fever
OF anxiety TO learn the verdict on
their papers, representing so much
toll and pains. Some OF the girls
were nearly as much concerned
about their graduation gowns as
about their diplomas, but as in
dependence was in the air at Mount
Seward, these rather frivolous oirls
were in minority. DullliliiitHie
term time most of the student. e
the regulation cap and gown, and
partly owing to the fact that Mount
Seward was a college with traditions
OF plain living and high thinking be-
hind it, partly because the youngest
and best loved professor was a
woman Of rare and noble character.
istics, woman who had set her own
stamp on her pupils, and furnished
them an ideal, dress and fashion
we're secondary considerations here.
There were no low emulations atMt.
Seward.
A group of girls at bay window
overlooking the campus were discuss
ing the coming commencement.
From various rooms came the steady
patient sound OF pianos played for
practice. On the green lawn in front
OF the presidents cottage two or three
intellectual looking professors and
tutors walked up and down, evidently
discussing an affair that interested
them.
The postman strolled over the
campus YEARLY, as one who should
say: "This is my last round, and the
bag is abominably heavy"
He disappeared within a side door
and presently there was a hurrying
and scurrying of fresh faced young
women. bright eyed and blooming
under the mortar caps jauntily perch
ed over their braids and ringlets
rushing toward that objective point,
the college post office. One would
have fancied that the letters came
very seldom, 10 see their excite
ment. .....s......-1-.----..--.'"
Margaret Lee received two letters.
She did not open either in the pre-
sence OF her friends, but went with
swift step and heightened color to
own suit OF rooms. Two small
alcoves curtained off from a pleasant
little central sitting room, composed
the apartment Margaret shared with
her four years chum. Alice Raymor.
Alice was not there, yet Margaret
did not seat herself in the room
common to both, but entered her
own alcove, drew the portiere and
sat down on the edge of the iron bed
not larger than a soldiers camp
cot.
1t was an austere little cell, simple
as a nuns, with the light falling from
one narrow window on the pale and
brown hair of the young girl, to
whom the unopened letters i'll her
hand signifed SO much.
Which should she read frst2 One
in large square envelope, address,
ed in a bold business-hke hand, bore
a Western postmark, and had the
printed order to return if not deliver
ed in ten days to Hilox University
Colorado. The other in a cramped
old fashioned hand, bore the post
mark OF hamlet in West Virginia.
1t was a thin letter, evidently belong
ing to the genus domestic correspond
ence, a letter from Margaret's
home.
Which should she open first!
There was an evident struggle, and a
perceptible hesitation. Then she
laid the home letter resoiutely down
on the pillow of her bed, and, with
hair pin, that womans tool which suits
so many uses, delicately and dexter,
ously cut the envelope of the letter
from Hilox. 1t began formally, and
was yery brief: