The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-11-18

ten and | got sixty-six. Daddy
And Mamie wasn't cross but Olga
was. Oh. isn't ii wonderful :"
"Valedictorian, My little Lydia
Scholarship and popular vote!
wish your mother was here. I'll
write to Levine tonight. He'll have
to be here for the exercises"
"And Kent Is saIutatorian. He
won by just two votes. I've got to
begin to plan about my dress"
Now. I'm going to buy that
dress. Lydia, If have to borrow
money. You aren't going to begin
any talk about earning it,"
ooh. all right said Lydia. hast
lily. you won't have to borrow.
White goods is always cheap and
I'll get ii right away so I can put
lots of hard work on IT,"
"What's your speech going TO be
about?" asked Amos. as they turned
in the gate.
81 haven't had time to think
about that. I'll plan it all out while
I'm sewing"
Billy did not congratulate Lydia.
He passed her Just as he had dur
ing all the months. with a curt lit
tie Hello" To tell the truth. Ly-
dia was heartily ashamed Of her
self for her shabby reception OF
Billy's plea. She knew she had
been unkind and she missed the
desultory companionship she had
had with Billy.
The preparation OF the dress
went on amazingly well. The
speechmaking was less simple. As
was customary. Lydia chose the
class motto. "Ducit Amor Patriae,'
for her subject and sweated inOr-
dinately TO find something 10 say.
She complained bitterly because
during the four years at high school
nothing at all was taught about
love of country. or patriotism. or
anything that would make the mot
TO suggestive.
Amos answered her plant indig-
nantly. "Well, for heavens sake
And you a descendant of the Puri-
tansl Lord, what's become Of the
old stock! No, I won't help you at
all. Think 1t out for Yourself"
And think 1t out Lydia did. sit
ting on the front steps with her
sewing and listening TO the signing
Of the pine by the gate.
There was but one flaw in Ly-
dia's happiness. Nobody asked her
70 attend the senior ball that was
to take place on graduation night.
To be sure. II was not an invita-
ton affair. The class was supposed
to attend in a body, but there was,
nevertheless, the usual two-ing and
only q very few Of the girls who
had no invitation from boys would
go. Lydia, herself, would have cut
off her hand rather than appear AT
her own senior ball without a young
man.
Mortified and unhappy. she avoid
ed her mates during the last weee
of school, fearing the inevitable
question, "Who is going TO take
you. Lyd?'
The tenth dawned a lovely June
day. The exercises began at ten
and by half-past eight Lydia was
buttoned into her pretty little or
candle, Lizzie was putting in her
black alpaca and Amos was stand
ing about Ia his black Sunday suit.
which dated back to his early mar
ried days. BY nine-thlrty they had
reached the Methodist church and
Amos and Lizzie were established
in the middle of the front row of
the balcony, while Lydia vas shiv-
ering with fright in the choir
room. where the class was gath
cred.
Somebody began to play the or
gan and somebody else, who looked
like Miss Towne, showed Lydia to
ward the door and she led the long
line Of her mates into the front
pews. A college professor spoke
at length. then Kent appeared on
the platform.
Good old Kent. even II he
wouldn't take Lydia to parties
Kent. with his black eyes and hair.
his rudy skin and broad shoulders.
was good to look on and was giving
his speech easily and well, but Ly-
dia was seeing him in a red bath.
ing suit as he hung Florence Dom
hey from a yard arm of the willow.
What a dear he had been! Now 1t
all was different. They were grown
M and Kent didn't want to take
her to parties.
Kent bowed and took his seat.
The quartette sang and somebody
prodded Lydia smartly in the back.
She made her way up 10 the plat
form and began to speak auto
%matically.
Amos with tight clenched fists
and Lizzie with her lips a thin
seam of nervous compression. We're
swelled with vanity and torn with.
fear lest she forget her lines.
But John Levine, who had dashed
in late and stood unnoticed IN the
crowd under the gallery listened
intently, while he yearned over Ly-
dia's immature beauty like a
mother.
and So" she ended. when we
say go0d-by. you all must remem-
Der that we 90 out into the world
resolved to live up to u motto.
That we believe with u forefa-
theirs that governments derive their
just powers from the consent OF
the governed. That all men are en-
dowed by their Creator with GER
tain inalienable rights, among
which are life, liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness, And that be
cn11cn liz Nom Ennlnnd nennln In