COMMENCEMENT
Examinations had ceased to be bug-bears and kill joys to the young idea of
Oakdale. The last paper had been looked over, and the anxious hearts of
the majority of the High School pupils had been set at rest. In most cases
there was general rejoicing over the results of the final test. Marks were
compared and plans for the next year's course of study discussed.

The juniors were about to come into their own. When the present seniors
had been handed their diplomas, and Miss Thompson and Mr. Cole had wished
them god-speed, the present juniors would start on the home stretch that
ended in commencement, and a vague awakening to the real duties of life.

The senior class stood for the time being in the limelight of public
attention. It was the observed of all observers. Teas were given in honor
of its various members, and bevies of young girls in dainty summer apparel
brightened the streets of Oakdale, during the long sunny afternoons.

It was truly an eventful week. Grace Harlowe gave a tea in honor of Ethel
Post, which was a marked social success. The two girls had become
thoroughly well acquainted over their golf and had received great benefit
from each other's society. Miss Post's calm philosophical view of life had
a quieting effect on impulsive Grace, while Grace's energy and
whole-hearted way of diving into things proved a stimulus to the older
girl.

It was Tuesday afternoon and class day. High School girls in gala attire
were seen hurrying up the broad walk leading to the main door of the
school building.

It was the day of all days, to those about to graduate. Of course,
receiving one's diploma was the most important feature, but class day lay
nearest the heart.

The exercises were to be held in the gymnasium.

The junior and senior classes had brought in half the woods to beautify
the big room, and Oakdale gardens had been ruthlessly forced to give up
their wealth of bud and bloom in honor of the occasion.

It was customary for the seniors to invite the junior class, who always
sat in a body at one side of the gymnasium; while the seniors sat on the
opposite side. The rest of the space was given up to the families of the
seniors and their friends. Lucky, indeed, were those who could obtain an
invitation to this most characteristic of class functions.

The four girl chums had been among the fortunate recipients of
invitations. A very pretty picture they made as they followed the usher,
one of the junior class, to their seats.

Grace wore a gown of pale blue organdie that was a marvel of sheer
daintiness. Jessica, a fetching little affair of white silk muslin
sprinkled with tiny pink rosebuds; while Anne and Nora were resplendent in
white lingerie gowns. Anne's frock was particularly beautiful and the
girls had exclaimed with delight over it when they first caught sight of
her.

It was a present from Mrs. Gray, Anne told them. She had fully expected to
wear her little white muslin, but the latter had grown rather shabby and
she felt ashamed of it. Then a boy appeared with a big box addressed to
her. Wrapped in fold after fold of tissue paper lay the exquisite new
gown. Pinned to one sleeve was a note from Mrs. Gray, asking her to accept
the gift in memory of the other Anne--Mrs. Gray's young daughter--who had
passed away years ago. There were tears in Anne's eyes as she told them
about it, the girls agreeing with her that there was no one in the world
quite so utterly dear as Mrs. Gray.

"I'm glad we're early," whispered Nora. "We can watch the classes come in.
See, that place is for the juniors. It is roped off with their colors and
the other side belongs to the seniors."

"How fine the gym. looks," remarked Anne. "They certainly must have worked
hard to fix it up so beautifully."

"Julia Crosby is largely responsible for it," answered Grace. "She has the
most original ideas about decorations and things. You know the juniors
always decorate for the seniors. It's a sacred duty."

"Did you know that Julia was elected president of her class?" asked
Jessica.

"Oh, yes," said Grace, "she told me about it the other day. Oh, girls,
here they come! Doesn't Ethel Post look sweet? There's Julia at the head
of her class."

"It is certainly great to be a graduate," sighed Nora.

"Speaking of graduation," said Grace, "did you know that David has put off
his graduation for another year! He wished to finish school with Hippy and
Reddy. They have planned to enter the same college. So our little crowd
will be together for one more year."

"How nice of him," cried the girls.

"Yes, isn't it! I'll be awfully sorry when my turn comes," responded
Grace. "I'm sure I shall never care for college as I do for this dear old
school."

"You can't tell until you've tried it," said Nora wisely.

The two classes had now seated themselves, and an expectant hush fell upon
those assembled. The first number on the program was a song by the senior
glee club. This was followed by the salutatory address, given by a tall
dignified senior. The class poem came next, and was received with
enthusiasm. The other numbers followed in rapid succession, each being
applauded to the echo. The class grinds were hailed with keen relish. Each
girl solemnly rose to take her medicine in the form of mild ridicule over
some past harmless folly.

The class prophecy provoked ripples of merriment from the audience.

Grace chuckled with glee at the idea of exclusive Ethel Post becoming the
proprietor of a moving-picture show at Coney Island. The futures
prophesied for the other members of the class were equally remarkable for
their impossibility.

At last nothing remained but the senior charge and the junior reply. The
president of the senior class rose, and facing the juniors poured forth
her final words of advice and counsel. She likened them to a baby in
swaddling clothes, and cautioned them to be careful about standing on
their feet too early. It was the usual patronizing speech so necessary to
class day.

Julia Crosby smiled a little as the senior exhorted her hearers to never
forget the dignity of their station. She was thinking of the day she
crashed into that young woman, in the corridor The senior president had
manifested the dignity of her station then.

Julia straightened her face and stepped forward to make her reply. She
thanked the president for her solicitude and tender counsel. She humbly
acknowledged that the juniors were helpless infants, entirely innocent of
the wicked world. They realized that they needed proper nourishment and
exercise. There was one consolation however, they were daily growing
larger and wiser, and their lungs were strong. If all went well they hoped
to be healthy, well-grown seniors, capable of giving sage advice to those
who would follow them.

Grace's face was full of eager appreciation as she listened to Julia's
clever speech. How greatly she had changed, and what a power she would be
in her class during the senior year. Grace felt that her sophomore year,
though dark in the beginning, was about to end in a blaze of glory.

Julia sat down amid demonstrations of approval. Then the first notes of
"Auld Lang Syne" sounded on the piano, and the entire audience, led by the
senior glee club, rose to their feet to join in that sweetest of old songs
whose plaintive melody causes heart strings to tighten and eyes to fill.

The four chums silently joined hands as they sang, and mentally resolved
that with them "auld acquaintance" should never "be forgot."

There was a second's pause after the song was done. Then clear on the air
rose the senior class yell. That broke the spell. Those who had felt lumps
rising in their throats at the music, laughed. A buzz of conversation
began, and soon the graduates were surrounded by their families and
friends.

The gymnasium gradually cleared. The seniors hurried off to their banquet
on the lawn and one more class day glided off to find its place with those
of the past.

"Wasn't it perfectly lovely?" sighed Jessica, as they made their way out.

"I think commencement week has even more thrills in it than Christmas,"
Nora replied. "Wait till we have our class day. You shall write the class
poem, Anne, and Jessica the song."

"I speak for the class prophecy," said Grace.

"That leaves nothing for me but the grinds. But that job would be greatly
to my taste," said Nora.

"What about the rest of the class?" inquired Anne, smiling at this
monopoly of class honors. "Are we to carry off all the glory!"

"Without a doubt," Jessica answered. "After us there are no more."

"Be sure to come to my house for supper Thursday evening," said Grace. "We
are to go to commencement together, you know. The boys are coming, too."

The chums parted with many expressions of satisfaction over the pleasant
afternoon's entertainment.

Thursday evening found them impatiently awaiting the boys.

"I suppose they all stopped to fuss and prink," said Nora, as she peered
through the vines that screened the porch. "Men are, truly, vainer than
girls. There they come around the corner, now. I really believe Hippy is
growing fatter. He looks awfully nice to-night, though," she hastily
added.

Hippy had a friend in Nora.

"Did you know that Tom Gray is in town?" asked David, as he took his place
beside Anne and Grace. The latter carried an immense bouquet of red roses
to give to Ethel Post.

"Oh, how nice!" exclaimed Grace. "I suppose he'll be there to-night with
dear Mrs. Gray."

"Yes, they are going," said David. "I don't believe Mrs. Gray has missed a
commencement for the last twenty years."

"I wonder who'll get the freshman prize this year?" mused Grace. "I hope
it goes to some girl who really needs it. I know one thing; there will be
no claimant for the hundred dollar prize this year. Anne broke the
record."

"Indeed she did," said David, looking fondly at Anne. "To be in company
with Oakdale's star prize winner is a great honor."

"Oh, don't," said Anne who hated compliments.

"Very well, if you spurn the truth," replied David. "By the way, I have an
invitation to deliver. Miriam wants all of you to come up to our house the
minute the exercises are over to-night. Never mind if it is late.
Commencement comes but once a year."

"De-lighted," chorused the chums.

"Hush," said Hippy. "Make no uproar. We are about to enter the sacred
precincts of Assembly Hall. I feel that on account of my years of
experience I must make myself responsible for the behavior of you
children. Smother that giggle, Nora O'Malley," he commanded, looking at
Nora with an expression of severity that set oddly on his fat,
good-natured face.

This made the whole party laugh, and Hippy declared, disgustedly, that he
considered them quite ignorant of the first principles of good behavior.

They were seated in the hall at last, and for the next two hours listened
with serious attention to the essays and addresses of the graduates.

Grace had sent Ethel Post her roses as soon as she entered the hall, and
had the pleasure of seeing them in her friend's hands.

The diplomas were presented, and the freshman prize given out. It was won
by a shy-looking little girl with big, pleading, brown eyes. Grace watched
her closely as she walked up to receive it and resolved to find out more
about her.

"She looks as though she needed friends," was her mental comment.

Anne, too, felt drawn toward the slender little girl. She recalled her
freshman commencement and her total collapse after the race had been won.

"I hope that little girl has friends as good and true as mine," she
whispered to Grace.

"Don't you think she looks lonely?" Grace asked.

"She surely does," returned Anne. "Let's find out all about her."

"Done," Grace replied.

As soon as the exercises were over the young people hurried over to where
Tom Gray and his aunt stood talking with friends.

"Well, well," sighed the old lady joyously, "here are all my own children.
I am so glad to see you. I understand that I am too late with my
invitation for an after gathering. Miriam has forestalled me," she added,
placing her arm around Miriam, whose face glowed with pleasure at the
caress.

"She has invited me, too, so I am not to complain. As many as there are
room can ride in my carriage. The rest will have go in Tom's."

"Tom's?" was the cry, "When did he acquire a carriage?"

"Come and see it," was Tom's reply.

They all trooped out, Hippy leading the van.

"I wish to be the first to look upon the miracle," he cried.

"It's a peach," he shouted, as the others came up, and he was right.

"O Tom, isn't it great?" Grace exclaimed.

Directly in front of Mrs. Gray's carriage stood a handsome Packard car.

"Aunt Rose gave it to me, to-day," he explained, his face glowing. "It
has been waiting a week for me. Come on, everybody, and we'll get up steam
and fly to Nesbit's."

Of course every one wanted to ride in the new car. David and Anne decided,
however, to go with Mrs. Gray, and with a honk! honk! the automobile was
off.

The Nesbit home was ablaze with light. Mrs. Nesbit stood in the wide hall
waiting to receive Miriam's guests.

"The first thing to do is to find food," declared David, leading the way
to the dining room.

The whole party exclaimed with admiration at the tastefully decorated
table. A huge favor pie in the shape of a deep red rose ornamented the
center, the ribbons reaching to each one's place. There were pretty,
hand-painted place cards, too, tied with red and gold, the sophomore
colors.

Mrs. Gray occupied the place of honor at the head of the table. She was
fairly overflowing with happiness and good cheer, as she beamed on first
one and then another of her children.

The young people did ample justice to the delicious repast served them.
The favor pie created much amusement, as the favors were chosen to suit
the particular personality of each guest. After every one had finished
eating, a season of toasts followed.

"Here's to dear Mrs. Gray," said David, raising his glass of fruit punch,
"May she live to be one hundred years old, and grow younger every day.
Drink her down."

Mrs. Gray proposed a toast to Mrs. Nesbit, which was drunk with
enthusiasm. Presently every one had been toasted, then Miriam rose and
begged permission to speak.

It was unanimously granted.

"I suppose you all think I invited you here to-night for the express
purpose of having a good time," she said. "So I did. But now that you are
here, I want to talk to you about a plan that I hope you will like. It
rests with you whether or not it materializes. You know that we have a
cottage at Lake George, although we do not always spend our summers there.
But I want to go there this year, and you can make it possible for me to
do so."

"We'll carry your luggage and put you on the train, if that will help you
out any," volunteered Hippy.

Miriam laughed. "That isn't enough," she said. "I want every one of you to
go, too, Now don't say a word until I'm through. Mother has given her
consent to a house party, and will chaperon us. Don't one of you refuse,
for I shall pay no attention to you. You simply must come. We are to
start next Tuesday, and stay as long as we like. So you'll have to make
your preparations in a hurry. We'll meet at the station next Tuesday
morning at 9.30. That's all."

Then what a babble arose. Grace and Nora were in high glee over the
proposed trip. They were sure of going. Anne was rather dubious at first,
but Grace overruled her objections, and made fun of Jessica for saying she
had promised to visit her aunt.

"Go and visit your aunt afterwards, Jessica. Remember, she is a secondary
matter when compared to us," she said laughingly.

"I shall take my car," said Tom. "That will help things along."

"Mother has promised me one," remarked David, "so we'll have plenty of
means of conveyance.

"How sorry I am that you can't go, too, Aunt Rose," exclaimed Tom
regretfully.

"Nonsense," replied his aunt, "you don't want an old woman at your heels
all the time. Besides, I must visit my brother in California this summer.
I haven't seen him for several years."

"Let's drink to the success of the house party," cried Reddy, "and pledge
ourselves to be on time next Tuesday morning. Drink her down."

When next we meet our Oakdale boys and girls, they will have returned to
their books after a long happy summer. In "GRACE HARLOWE'S JUNIOR YEAR AT
HIGH SCHOOL"; Or, "FAST FRIENDS IN THE SORORITIES," the girl chums will
appear as members of a High School sorority. Here the reader will make the
acquaintance of Eleanor Savell, a clever but exceedingly wilful girl,
whose advent in Oakdale High School brings about a series of happenings
that make the story one of absorbing interest. The doings of a rival
sorority, organized by Eleanor, the contest for dramatic honors between
Eleanor and Anne Pierson and the mischievous plot against the latter
originated by the former and frustrated by Grace Harlowe, are among the
features that will hold the attention and cement the reader's friendship
for the girl chums.


THE END

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