Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-06-11
"MoTHER!" CRIED KITTY. you DEAR
ERAUpp"

SdSueS over the Stage! Anu, see, there's
a pink bow on every girls chest"
THE class colors." was the smiling
answer.
ut looks like Elizabeth stopped
abruptly. Again she stood at her Win
dow. eyes uplifted to the wonder and
the beauty of the early morning. That
was the meaning behind it all-the
commencement Of IL new day in the
Sky; the commencement Of a new
striving and achieving in these young
lives; rose colored dreams and ambi-
lions, ribbons of dawn fluttering with
yates heart.
Kitty's piece" came at last. She
had been elected valedictorian of her
class, Elizabeth listened spellbound.
To this idolizing judge every thought in
it was inspired by genius. every SEN
tence a poem in prose, while through
the whole reading ran flashlights of
the child herself-IAitty with her first
doll Rugged in her fat little arms, Kit
ty with her first medal won at the
Hillsboro school fastened upon her
proudly heaving breast. Kitty with her
hair done up for the first time and the
last tuck out of her Sunday dimity.
And when the good natured house
burst into applause Elizabeth longed
to stand on her chair and shout. She's
mine. all mine!"
After the benediction's hush dubbed
over a reaction of chatter and laughter.
Look at the freak in front of you"
the carelessly high voice drifted over
EliZabeth's shoulder red currants,
purple ribbons and a dress handed
down from the ark. A country mother,
l suppose. bobbing up at commence
ment to humiliate a poor little gradu-
ate!"
A crimson spot burned Elizabeth's
cheek. There vas a mist before her
eyes. and an ache gripped her throat.
But so strong was her habit Of unSelf-
ishness that she was scarcely con-
scious of her pain. Her n thought
was to slip away before humiliating
Kitty.
The opening of the nearby side door
promised instant escape. and she has
tened toward it. She did not know that
the band was playing. She did not
notice the graduates filing down to the
same door. She did not hear the NUT
tered protests Of the people that she
passed.
zone moment, madam At the door
an usher laid a OBTAINING hand upon
her sleeve.
She shrank back as though the daz-
Zling white line approaching were an
apparition of horror. There she stood.
motionless. trapped in a crowd where
Kitty could o fail to recognize her
and be Inundated. And yet a sudden
JOY leaped in her heart as she felt
Kitty's eyes upon her. 1t had been so
many months since she had had the
child in her arms! With these con-
ficting emotions she breathlessly wait
ed. The white line flashed on IN
broken. Kitty had passed her by.
Madam. you may go now"
Elizabeth stared vacantly at the ush-
er and tottered out of the hall. Life
had ended. Kitty-the pride. the prom
Use of all past years-no longer belong
ed to her. but to this gay outside world
where she was an intruder. THE
child" was ashamed of her mother:
She stumbled on. There was a white
blur upon her singing eyes where the
graduates hocked on the campus, then
a detached white figure with out
stretched arms darting toward her.
"Mother!" cried Kitty. you dear
fraud. you pretending you couldn't
come! When l discovered you al
most broke ranks and ruined the
march"
"But-but. Kitty" faltered Eliza
beth. people are looking, and"-
ri don't care if the whole world sees
me hugging you'll" laughed Kitty. with
a rapturous kiss. 'Oh, muzzer. guess
what? I've got the Hillsboro school! l
can live at home. and We'll have a
servant. and-and you need only twirl
your thumbs for the rest of your life!
But come. honey, l want to introduce
You to all the girls"