The Washington times., 1902-06-22
WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL.

few nights ago a large number OF
the cadets who formerly belonged to
Company H arranged a meeting, and,
armed with mandolins. guitars. and all
manner of musical instruments, de-
parted forthwith to the garden adjoin-
ing the residence of certain girl stu
dent of the institution, who received
her diploma last Wednesday evening.
The young lady had long been the most
popular girl in the school, and the ca
dets, filled with a consuming desire to
do her final honors before graduating
night, proceeded to treat her to a SER
enade. All the love songs in the stu
dent category were droned forth in true
knightly style. Eveidently every one of
the band ina gined himself back in the
old medieval days, when knights were
bold
The crowd sang of the maiden's fair
ness. of her general attractiveness, of
her extreme popularity with the cadets
of Company H and the students of the
school as a whole. There was nothing
iudicfous about the serena6e to them;
they were in dead earnest"-just about
as mach in. earnest as more than a score
of Industrious high school boys can be
when they remain up out of their beds
and sacrifice several hours Of much
needed restfor the cake of showing their
individual and collective interest IN a
yeung lady. In fact, they were thor
osghly happy. They were happy with
themselves; they were happy over the
rare enjoyment they were furnishing
their schoolmate. From love ballads
they finally turned to singing their old
school tunes, their old stand-bys during
four long years of hard study. Next
rag-time came in for a share of the
melody, and then a most marvellous COL
lection of grand opera and hymns.
Still They Sang On.
Sitting under the big old trees on the
lawn, with the moon beaning down upon
them the modern minstrels sang on in
bliss. The proverbial irste parent Of
the story books was blessedly absent.
According to the reasoning Of the ca
diets, the fair maiden within was re-
ceiving a huge benefit. Fortunately,
also, the scene Of their exertions was
far out in Mount Pleasant. where there
were few neishbors to take exception
to the melodious strains OF the serenad-
ers.
Still the happy band sang on.
They apparently enjoyed their own
ballads equally as much as their school
mate was supposed to be enjoying the
performance from within.
But presently something happened.
1t was not very alarming something
that did happen, but it was quite sur
prising and bewildering. The door of
the stately residence was thrown sud-
denly open, and the young lady herself.
with several members of her family,
stepped out upon the veranda and well
coined the minst:els in most charming
tones to enter and partake Of a feast
ti,at had been hastily spread. To say
that the cadets were dumfounded would
De to put il mildly. They had sought
10 provide enjoyment for the pretty
Western High Schsol girl, but not for
r2oT-ent had they expected to have the
taslcs turned On them.
Partook of a Glorious Feast.
As tho lads, amazed and somewhat |
Ecs.tat.ngly, stalked into the brightly |
1.gitcd dining room they seemed to half |
lclievo that they had really stumbled |
into that mythical Castle Bountiful. |
Notwithstanding the lateness OF the |
hour glorious feast had been spread |
and the minstrels were ushered into the |
presence Of the imposing array of |
grub" 1t is needless to describe the |
scene that followed. Sufficient to say
that the cadets found it incumbent upon |
them to sing several more songs They |
evidently We're treated to a most enjoy |
able time by their charming hostess.