The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-07-10
A vALEDICToRY
BY N. E. w.

ed to be looking down upon the college
which he had so richly endowed, there is
no reason to doubt that it experienced
thrill OF very pardonable pride. for the
campus presented brilliant scene. The
festivities OF commencement day were In
full swing. Seniors of both sexes-for
Peters proviso with his million had gall
lantly insisted on the rights of the weak
er vessel-hurried Importantly to and
fro, picturesque figures in cap and gown.
youth and beauty in fresh muslins and
ribbons collected in Watteau-ike groups
under the ancient elms. laughing and
chattering, and every half hour brought
newcomers to swell the already prodig-
ious crowd.
Never had a more perfect June day
dawned upon the little town; never had
alma mater turned out so large class,
nor one which everybody felt was des-
tined to make more stir In the world,
and never before had so many Of her dis
tinguished alumni appeared to render
the occasion memorable. Rumors flew
that the mighty railroad nfagnate, the
popular novelist, the scientist whose
electrical discoveries had shaken two
continents, and the professor who was
| throwing new light upon Grecian his
| tory by his notes on the homeric poems
were all in the field in expectation Of the
comforting Of degrees. with their rela-
| tives down to the second and third gen.
| erations.
| Beckford. in short. was en- fete, and
| V-.1@o 70
| flock into Bent Hall, where the exercises
were held, and the seniors, marshalled
into line, moved slowly toward that
| stately edifce the very air seemed to be
| buoyant with excitement.
1T is a great Glass;" murmured the
Greek professor to the novelist. as they
| sat side by side on the platform in the
seats reserved for honored guests, watch
ing the interminable ck-gowned line
| file up the steps and into place.
The novelist agreed, and having an
eye trained to nice observation. added
that there were some very good-looking
girls in the lot, which showed more than
anything else the increasing popularity
Of higher education for women.
Rather different from our time said
he. The professor nodded. He had not,
indeed, very engaging recollection Of
the young women who had pusrued their
studies in those distant days; if he ever
|
fkatureds poorly-dressed specimens of
blue-stockings, with whom feminine
charms and attractions were the last
things to be associated.
"Some Of them are awfully clever, I'm
told" whispered the maker of books.
1T Is a. girl who has the valedictory this
year. l wonder which one? If l were
going to bet on 1t I should say it is this
damsel, just about to take her seat now"
She was a TALL handsome creature,
with a superb figure, which the gown
could not completely conceal. Her black
hair broke into little wilful curls all
| over In very unacademic way a lively
coquetry looked out of her blue eyes, as
they glanced quickly over the body OF
| the hall, now an animated flower bed OF
millinery. And the vitality, the phys
zeal richness of her beauty, the older and
wiser man knew well were not the out
| ward and visible signs Of a scholar who
loves learning for its own sake, and he
smiled quietly as his companion, warm
ing to his subject and ready at his trade
proceeded to point out the inventory OF
such unexpected loneliness. That phase
Of the graduates did not interest him
He preferred to amuse himself by trying
to pick out the winners among the young
men, scanning the rows of intense faces
some fresh and boyish some alight with
good humor and cheerfulness, some dark
and sullen, and almost all for the mo-
ment touched with earnest feeling thai
lifted them out of the commonplace.
How wildly all predictions about his
own claSs had flown from the mark
, Vhe Intellectual wonders had settled
down into hum-drum men of business
several of the most brilliant lads hat
gone to the dogs and disappeared from
the surface of society; drones had start
ed up suddenly with q squirt and led thei1
amazed fellows In prosperity Deatl
had reaped his yearly harvest ant
thfnned the ranks, but every now an(
, then some such occasion as the presen
brought many of the survivors back ant
; over post-prandial cigar they exchang
ed biographies. Yet they were neve
wholly frank. Some pages of the pas
lives were sealed together, and turnet
, | down, not to be read by any eyes but tn,
authors. by his very seldom, if he hat
grown wise by experience, never at all.
' The professor drew a deep sigh. TIL
1 | wife of his bosom was then beyond in tn
r | audience. Her bonnet was gayer, he
r | dress richer, her air laughter than an,
. other, for she loved the world and live,
for the world; cold, proud woman, 70
whom he felt great respect and graft
tude. Had she not given his position
dignity and shared with him her forum
e and her fine old name? Yet just now h
did not care to meet her eye and with
. start pulled himself together and glance
9 | at his program.
l The exercises had begun during hi
: | musings and were we'll under way Hi
!, peighbor was nudging him playfully a
the pretty girl. blushing rosy red wit
unwonted shyness which made her NOR
J | charming than ever and caused a littl
buzz Of f1attering comment to run aroun
t the hall, advanced to read paper o.
\ | THE Specific Relations of Atoms to Mole
cules'' 1t threw flood of light on thi
!, vexed question, going into the matter a
: length, but the visitors yawned frs
{ behind their fans then openly, and onl
the smiles and glances which the autho
skilfully mingled with the dryest pas
sages kept them from dropping off t
sleep.
3 There was a good-looking dandy in
front row, dressed in the height of fash
ion, beringed, boutonniered, frock-coate
: who appeared to feel the deepest inter
n est in the subject. for he never remove
his eyes from the fair reader. at whic
the professor wondered until he saw no,
: now and then when four eyes met, TIL
+! telltale color swept in tremulous wave
: across that lovely cheek and the folds G
the black gown on her bosom rose an
: fell more visibly. Again he was cor
s scious of a curious irritation within him
self But it took no form. He onl
e thought that once again the mind was t
t be conquered by the heart, and the scho
d ar.would close her books to learn the les
e sons, sweet and sad, that love coul
teach her.
j. shes got BEAU" whispered the no,
d elist gleefully, land that's why sh
" didn't get the valedictory' He wa
II pleased at his astuteness and on the spc
added an extra chapter to his serial rur
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