Evening star., 1928-06-10

day was anything but springlike. but
their pride and excitement warmed
them somewhat
The wind and rain do give us
marvellous color" Mary remarked con-
solingly. Yours looks like the original
schoolgirl complexion. Pat
What do you suppose our brass but
toned friends win be hke?" demanded
Patricia.
TSiey ought to be quite slick because
efh is an old peach. There. see
MIN now" Mary hailed slim. straight
young cadet who came toward them
engesoped in the military greatcoat
with its jaunty cape and brass buttons
With MIN were two other young men.
clad IN ike manner.
There aren't enough Of them. /:
would be just my luck to have had
mine fall and break leg or some
thing" whispered Patricia.
"Mr. GraySo2l and Mr.. Langdon are
70 take Miss Darwin and Miss Davis To
the ball" Tom explained after the pre-
iinlnary formaIities had been gore
through. Harry Cantrell, who is TO be
Miss Hollingshead's escort. is on duty
until $50. He asked me TO present lis
apologies for not being here TO meet
you"
eWeii. am most relieved" laughed
Patricia When / saw only three Of
you coming told Mary mine had prob
ably turned UP missing. ] always GO
play in hard luck"
mot the slightest danger Of that.
] could always find plenty of others
who would be only too delighted 70 take
his place" Tom regarded Patricia 8
flushed and smiling face appraisingly.
Come on, let's get these bags on the
bus and find places for ourselves before
II fills up. Wen 60 on up 70 the hotel
first and then, IL 1t ever stops raining,
we can walk around and let you see the
place.
were quite accustomed to busses, "
claattered Mary. THE good old station
wagon at Miss Stannope's has seen good
service for, 10, these many months"
They cIambered in and were soon
tcined by groups Of attractive girls and
trim young cadets. with the chaperons
floTering watchfuIly on the outskirts.
Tom was apparently popular and was
greeted cordially from all sides. BY the
time they reached the hotel the con-
yeTsation was being tossed from one "
another, and they all felt like old
friends.
Il got you two double rooms which
Hope that is satisfactory" said Tom 10
Mary. Its pretty hard 10 be cboosy
about accommodations, as this ls the
largest hop Of the year with the ezcep-
ton Of commencement"
1T VIII be perfectly fine. won't II
gass2" Nary answered, and the rest
agreed
This is the most marvellous place. -
sighed Patricia an she peered from the
window 70 see as much aA she could of
the stately old gray buildings "Eone
q these places lock ike old fortresses.
J suppose that big open space Ia where
you drill"
! eee you know your movies" laughed
Tom. you are quite right There VII
be dress parade tomorrow morning .
'Doe8n't this place sound just like q
pink tea with every one talking al
0Ece1" exclaimed Mary why don't
We 20 and stla2 thai couch before the
FIRE and get warm. We can stay here
and talk until II stops raining, Every
Cae else seems ~ have the same ides "
Yes, let's" aeqglesced Louise u
think IL II such fun ~ Mt and watch
peoDle and wonder Wllo they are and
where they coDae from. All these look
~ interesting never SAW 10 mans
pretty girls and uicevi00king men"
brass buttons are going W your head
What would the faithful Robert gay7"
II Was pleasant befoFe the FIRE Tea
was produced and the talk went % nner,
rsiy, with Ihe rain quite forgotten.
Al length the conversation Was inter,
Falpted ky hearty yoice, We'll Tom
y9siEe fine one I've been looking aI
ever the place t0r y0u The last half hour
Thought you were coming around n
get me-
"Ey al that IL w0n6erfnil II IL ISM
Harry himself, Thought you WeTen't "
De on until $50"
"Wllat tiE0e did you think II was1'
asked Harry, producing his wsteh, which
Ea0wed d quarter ~ y,
"Ayfully sorry, 0id man ptif etefn
many hss been 30 charming we iiaa ~
ides N the time. But you must meet VI
these people" .....a
Patricia was watching the tlFWe9tle
with tIae attention NJ one VINO ffgafa
. new possession and finds u satlhtae
tory Harry wss flne~looklng Soslnl
n.an with a clear. rlldny cpb9F sha I'm