Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-02-17

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q the girls who had no invitation
from boys would sc. Lydia, herself.
would have cut or her hand rather
than appear at her own senior ball
without q young man.
Mortified and unhappy, she avoided
her mates during the last week Of
school, fearing the inevitable ques-
don, "who IL going to take you, Lydr
The. tenth dawned lovely June
day. The exercises began at ten and
BY half-past eight Lydia was but
toned into her pretty little organdie.
Lizzie was pufing In her black alpaca
and Amos was standing about In his
black Sunday suit, which dated back
to his early married days. By nine
thirty they had reached the Methodist
church and Amos and Lizzie were es-
tablished In the middle Of the front
row Of the balcony, while Lydia was
shivering with fright In the choir
room, where the class was gathered.
Somebody began to play the organ
and somebody else, who looked like
Miss Towne, showed Lydia toward 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 IL 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 Lydia was seeing him
In q red bathing suit as he hung Flor
ence Dombey from yard arm Of the
willow. What dear he had been!
Now 1t all was different. They were
grown up. This day marked their
growing up 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 to the platform and be-
gan to speak automatically.
Amos with tight clenched fists and
Lizzie with her lips q thin seam Of
nervous compression, were 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 Lydia's imma-
ture beauty like mother.
"And So" she ended, when we say
good-by, you all must remember that
we 60 out into the world resolved to
live up to our motto. That we believe
with our forefathers that governments
derive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed. That all men
are endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable rights, among
which are life, liberty and the pursuit
Of happiness. And that because the
New England people in the Middle
West are far from the cradle Of lib
erty where these ideas were born, liv-
ing among foreigners it behooves the
members of our class to carry our
motto into their daily life. Love Of
country leads US, and so farewell! !"
It was q foolish, sentimental little
speech with one or two real thoughts
In It and John Levine smiled even
while the tears filled his eyes. He
told himself that no one, least Of all
probably Lydia herself, realized the
cynical application Of the class motto
to Lake City conditions.
The diplomas were distributed. The
great morning was over.
After dinner Amos rushed back to
the factory. Lydia hung the gradua-
ton gown away In her closet and she