Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-27

tlelr graduating pieces 10 autulClnS Z
audiences-their parents aud relatives /
furnish the admiration-the boys dress I
ed in their Sunday clothes the. girls |
in simple white. canot refrain from |
thinking back 10 those days when all !
this was of so great moment TO me.
Even as schoolgirls we were looking
forward to a time when We should be |
the mothers sending our children to
school and listening TO them crate on
graduating day. And some of us girls
had sweethearts long before we reach
ed the high school. But there is
long step between a high school and
a grammar school graduation and
still longer one between a high school
and a college commencement.
My bean ideal at school was Fred
Sumner. If could win a little atten-
ton from him | was happy. If he
frowned upon me was like sweet
Alice in the song of Ben Bolt"-l
trembled. He was the son of wealthy
parents and one of the leaders in the
social features of our school life. Hap
py was the girl who received. an invi-
tation to one of the chiIdren's parties
at his fathers home. | was thus hon
ored. though I was not quite up TO
Fred Summers set. and appreciated
the honor.
There was another boy in the school
who lived near me and who was of
very different type. Johnny Ryerson.
Johnny's mother was a widow and in
straitened circumstances. She really
couldn't afford TO keep Johnny at
school, but she did. though as soon as
he was old enough to work she needed
what he could earn. Johnny studied
very hard He was obliged to study
hard. because he did not learn readily.
But what Johnny learned he learned
thoroughly. In this he was unlike my
! idol. Fred Sumner. who learned so
| easily that he seldom paid much at
tention to his studies till just before
examination. when he would do all his
studying at once.
When Fred went away to college
was considered his best girl. He
! would leave me alone once in awhile
| to go after some other. but invariably
/ came back to me- What it was that
held him to me | don't know. was
certainly nothing of belle. and the
social standing of my family was moth
ing like. his. Nevertheless there must
have been something in me to attract
him. for he certainly gave me the
preference. and before he was grad
uated he told me his story"
When we all got through the high
school the question came up as to GO
ing to college. Girls were not so used
to getting a college education then as
now. and l., not having the means to
carry me through without working my
own way. concluded not to take uni
versity course. Fred Sumner went to
one of the large colleges, where he
soon became prominent. He was elect
ed member of one of the most select
fraternities and was altogether an all
around desirable fellow.
Johnny Ryerson's mother made uT
her mind that her son should have q
college education. and she bent hel
energies to that end. O. college
was but q few miles from where we
lived. and Johnny could go there and
sleep and eat at home. At Ieast
that's what he did. though how no
body could find out. Johnny didn't gel
into any of the fraternities and. in
fact. took a back seat all through his
college course How could be be promi
nent when he never had any money
TO subscribe for the different affairs
of his class or his college that must be
paid for by subscription? Besides. be
was working at something all the
while. During the winter months ht
worked at odd jobs. though he was
obliged to contine himself to such a.
he could do at certain times. for moi
being smart he was obliged TO study
hard in order to get through college
And even then he took rather a low
stand in his class.
While John was in college l. was liv
ing at home, and when he had time III
used to come toy see me, for we haC
been brought up in the same town anC
had always known each other. knew
very well what his mother was doinl
for him. how she pinched and saved
u and worked to get money to help he
J boy to get an education.
, Somehow | took it into my head tina
! I was an object of more than especia
J interest to John. 1t did not trouble m
no woman is troubled at a supertIuit,
of lovers-but felt sorry that 1 coul'
not reciprocate. John was not m
ideal at all. That ideal was Fred Sum
ner. No two men could have bee
more different. Summers clothes wer
. cut in the height of fashion. and hi
manners were delightful. especiall
with women. toward whom he wa
charmingly deferential. John Ryerso
net only wore his bat ON all occasions
but 1t was very shabby. Moreover h
had no fraternity badge 10 pin on hi
waistcoat. In other words. he was no
considered of enough importance TO b
elected member Of n fraternity.
And yet there was something abou
John that liked. ! suppose ii was hi
integrity. The world. especially the sc
>.iai world. takes no account OF intee
rity. Those who are on top are Their
=. because they are there. and so long q
they have the wherewithai to sta
=