The Union Republican., 1904-10-21
PRESCOTT'S
.CLASS DAY
Observation-Disclosures

WHICH lSSlOOuCQ luS CdIlpuS Hdu
Just been lighted as Prescott entered
near Grays and passed slowly
through the yard. The fairy scene
gave him a painful thrill OF re-
miniscence.
"Same old crowd" he reflected,
observing carelessly the gay gowns
of the women and the varied 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, l 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. A young cousin was
doing the honors today, 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 program and found
himself tonight bit sick at heart.
81 didn't know l 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 Statue had
seemed strangely tame compared
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 sweetly.
He knew the fate of those wilted
flowers.
Where had she drifted to in all
these years1 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 oi
Thayer, and he paused 10 look
up at row of familiar windows
They were crowded now with
maidens i'll in-bow- tinted gowns
and the murmur of happy voice:
floated down to him.
Prescott set his teeth and passed
on. "I'll go over to Memorial, >
he thought, "and then take look
in at the Gym and after that ]
think | may be excused; this bust
ness is wearing and painful. "
Memorial was filled with its
usual throng of gay pleasure seek
ers. and the strains of dreamy
waltz foated down from the
balcony.
Prescott 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 re-
niembered we'll and he meant to
have look at it. Ten years before
he had been sitting there with a
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 Class
Day should be crowned. There was
special seat reserved 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. vii
liams had appeared at the entrance
OF that dim corridor, most evidently
i'll search of some one, and she had
arisen with entirely too great
show OF eagerness.
II promised him dance" she
had said, and Williams, hearing
her voice, had come forward.
Prescott had scowled and remarked
that it was nearly nine; but his
classmate had persisted; he would
bring Miss Richards to Thayer in
in due season, he promised; and
Prescott had turned away foolishly
hurt and angry.
or course she had arrived too
late to secure her seat, and, of
course, Williams stayed to receive
her smiles, and of course, Pres
colts great day ended i'll anger and
humiliation.
He felt his heart stir with sick
ening sense of failure as he entered |
the old corridor tonight, and, for
a few moments, he did not notice
that any one else was there. Then,
as his eyes became accustomed to
the dim light, lie saw promenatling
men and maidens in the distance
and vacent seat i'll the very spot
where he had sat with Her upon
that eventful evening. At least he
thOi1oht If xTas NaNat1t until he H. 4