Middletown transcript., 1903-06-06
u--~HE last lantern in the
thousands which fes-
tooned the campus had
lust been lighted as Pres


colt entered near Grays
and passed slowly through the
ward. The fairy scene gave him
q painful thrill Of reminiscence.
Same old crowd, he reflected
observing carelessly the gay
gowns Of the women and the var
led attire of their escorts. Same
old crowd, only this cap and gown
business is rather new to me.
Same old crowd and the same
old time, I suppose, for all the
rest of them. What kids the
seniors appear to be.
He sighed little bitterly as
he moved on toward Thayer.
He was one of the few men In
evening dress, and he had worn
that under protest, feeling it to
be still the seniors right.
Prescott had not attended Class
Day since his own, ten years be-
fore, and he felt strangely old
and out of place. Ayoung cousin
was doing the honors to-day, and
he had come home to please the
lad and to see, also, how it might
feel to renew old associations.
He had conscientiously gone
through the programme and
found himself tonight a bit sick
at heart.
I didn't know I was growing
old, he muttered, but the thrill
has certainly departed from this
sort Of thing-I suppose because
I'm not in it.
The exercises at the Senate
had seemed strangely tame COM
pared with his own memories Of
the valiant scrimmage in tramp
like attire about the old Tree.
What a handful of crimson
blossoms he had won, and they
had all gone to Her. But she
had not cared for them, though
she thanked him SO sweetly. He
knew the fate of those wilted
flowers.
Where had she drifted to in all
these years? Had Williams made
a good husband, he wondered.
He would really like to know.
Prescott suddenly became
aware of the fact that he was in
front Of Thayer, and he paused
to look up at row of familiar
windows. They were crowded
now with maidens in rainbow
tinted gowns, and the murmur
of happy voices floated down to
him.
Prescott set his teeth and
passed on. I'll go over to Me-
mortal, he thought, and then
take a look in at the Gym, and
after that I think I may be ex-
cused; this business is wearing
and painful.
Memorial was filed with it's
usual throng Of gay pleasure
seekers, and the strains of fine
waltz fioated down from the bal
cony.
He pushed his way through
the crowd and made for the end
of the hall. There was a certain
dim out-of-door corridor which
he remembered and he meant
to have a look at it. Ten years
before he had been sitting there
with girl-with Her. She had
promised to join the party in his
room later to listen to the Glee
Club. He had planned how his
Glass Day should be crowned.
There was special sea4reserv-
ed for Her, and he had Intended
sharing it; but-why recall all
the dismal business?
Another man had entered the
paradise before it was secured to
Prescott's exclusive rights. Will
liams had appeared at the en-
trance of that dim corridor, most
evidently in search of someone,
and She had arisen with entirely
too great show Of eagerness.
I promised him a dance, she
Lad said, and Williams hearing
her voice, had come forward.
Prescott had scowled and remark
ed that it was nearly nine; but
his classmate had persisted; he
would bring Miss Richards to
Thayer in due season, he prom
ised; and Prescott had turned
away foolishly hurt and angry.
Of course she had arrived too
late to secure her seat, and, of
course, Williams stayed to re-
ceive her smiles, and, of course,
Prescott's great day ended in
anger and humiliation.
He felt his heart stir with
sickening sense Of failure as he
entered the old corridor tonight
and, for a few moments, he did
not notice that anyone else was