Evening star., 1928-06-17
CHAPTER xxXII.


The four girls and their chaperon re
Nlrned to school on Sunday evening
filled with a medley of impressions
The scbriety of the Easter services il
the fag-hung chapel, the brilliance o
the military dress parade. the visit Il
the balconies of Cullum hall once NOR,
by daylight. which dispelled the CLAM
our of the previous evening somewhat
the carefree strolling in the warm sun,
shine of perfect Spring day-all com
bined to fill their minds with kaIeido.
scopic memories of a week end wholly
satisfactory to youth
Well, it's all over" sighed Patricis
as they stood on the rear platform oi
the observation car waving good-by
70 the group Of cadets who stood or
the platform. Haven't we had the
most heavenly time?"
There was still a week of vacation
before them. 1t seemed strange tc
spend it AT the school. which was al
most deserted. The usual duties which
occupied them were banished for thc
holiday period. and the girls were al
lowed to 30 and come at will, always
accompanied by the inevitable chap
eron, who still remained to guard them
on their expeditions afield.
Under her watchful supervision they
made trip to New York for a lunch
con and matinee. They fingered along
Fifth avenue, enraptured by the shop
windows, gay with their showing OF
Spring finery; enjoying to the full the
spectacle of the city which was the
more fascinating in its novelty to them
They were undisturbed by the ioStling
of the crowds That was all part OF
the fun.
THE people here are so different,
somehow" observed Patricia.
Plenty Of them have the same noses
that you would find in Jerusalem, "
grinned Mary.
Il love to look at the women's feet, "
Eloise remarked. Their shoes always
look brand new. no matter what the
weather They never seem TO consider
wearing rubbers. and yet they never
look a bit wet How do they do it?"
Years Of experience have taught
them the way, infant" Mary explained
helpfully.
The days passed more quickly than
basktng cortentedly In the Spring sun
shine. dried slificiently for play. Alfred
phlegmatically rolled the tennis court
and marked 1t with fresh lime, pausing
now and then to mop his brow with a
Etupendous red handkerchief and TO
drink deep breaths of the air that was
fragrant with the odor Of moist earth
and growing things.
Smells like Sweden" he said. And
the girls giggied appreciatively. partly
because 1t was fun TO be alive, partly
o.. Alfred's ridiculous appearance.
One day they made q great batch OF
fudge and sent It on In boxes TO the
boys who had been their hosts at West
Point. They saved enough to form the
nucleus Of q spread that night in Pa
txicia's room, where. gathered about the
piano, they feaSted and sang and chat
tered as is the way with boarding house
girls. Always there Is a fund Of weighty
B1o3ects TO be discussed. from plans for
new clothes 70 the pulling mysteries Of
life II general These last are never
quite Fettled.
Then came the return Of their school
mates. II was necessary for all to talk
a. once in the effort each one made 70
prove that her own vacation had been
TIE most successful
Hot Springt-very gay-most stun
ming thing thai ever walked-brass but
ton$--to little inn in Connecticut
Oh. marvellous"
It was all most confusing. One never
knew whether the s1rass buttons walked
~ @~AtAADNa%AA&Si Va tS49b WIZ VI W1AHA B0k
marvellous II was difficult to decide
what II was sl about. But 1t was al
very important ard exciting. It was fun
10 be alive! There was 50 much In the
world. And Spring was pleasant. The
tulips were In gay uniforms. In mass
formation as II for drill, the wssteria
hung its clusters Of buds TO sun on the
porch, Ike great punches Of fat grapes.
Already there was talk Of commence
nnent The seniors we're poring over
fashion books discussing the important
topic Of graduation dresses. Miss Stan
hope issued the edict that no dress was
10 expose the knee-cap. The class song
was IN process Of rehearsal On all sides,
the class prophet and historian were
cioSeEed with closely scribbIed sheets
Of paper which they guarded with the
utmost secrecy.
Already more than one girl was feel
ing that queer little catch Of the throat