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About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 1908)
0 THE MORNING ASTORIAN, ASTORIA, OREGON. SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 'OS $ J5he Valedictorian A Commencement Day Story By FRANK H. SWEET. Copyright, 17, by Frank H. Sweet fTE no patience with your sky II scrapln' notions about cducatin' 1 up girls!" As Silas loosened the baked earth about the strawber ry Tines with his trowel he gave that emphatic Jerk of the head that Eliza beth called nodding his chin. "'Stead of galllvantln' off to college. Kit had a tight better stayed at home bclptu' you." Elizabeth packed away a sigh among the red berries that her quick fingers were laying In precise little rows In their square boxes. "Some girls Is spry with their hands. Si. and some with their minds." She looked up, smiling. the glow on her thin cheeks other than that of the sun parching the thirsty "KIT HAD A 8IOHT BETTER STATED HOME HSLPEiO XOtT." ground. "Think of the child keeping books summers, taking only a skimpy two weeks' rest, and yet standing at the head of her class why, Si, she de serves the handsomest white frock we can buy her!" "Shucks! I'd like to meet the fool woman I bet a round silver dollar It was a woman that Invented gradu- atln'. Now Kit's got her le'rnin' why can't she come home peaceable without makin' a brass band circus of herself?" The chin nodded excitedly. "I know them graduatin' shows! They squeeze you into a hotbed crowded with chairs. and there you sit shut up tight in a boiled shirt, your best clothes smellln' rt tho mnth hallo finf fiarci haim In 'em since the last funeral, the sweat streamin' down your face like the creeks in a freshet" "Perhnns." stairi ril7.qhf.tJi ahriv "'tisn't the uds and downs that make life, but the way you take them-the thin ears of corn along with the full." She placed the last filled box In the waiting space of the drawer and slow ly straightened her stiff, aching body, 'I know it's been a bad year, Si, but fixings for her commencement means so much to a girl, and Kitty couldn't save up for them. It was hard enough to make both ends meet anyway. If you could just strain a point for the frock, if"- "I told you," interrupted Silas, "I hadn't the money to spend on any such foolishness, and that ends it" The chin wagged vehemently. "I'll not be pestered to death about it, neither you understand?" Elizabeth turned to the house In si lence. She did understand. She had been Silas' wife thirty years. But the tightly closed lips were not closed In meekness, and the faded gray eyes flashed. The child should have her fixings somehow yes, even if her mother had to take Elizabeth sank into a kitchen chair, the corners of her mouth quivering, her hands dropped helplessly in her lap. Then, as though ashamed of a weakness, she sprang to her feet and resolutely hastened up stairs Into her bedchamber. She gave a swift, stealthy glance over her shoulder as she knelt before her opened bureau drawer, pulling out from the toe of a knitted slipper a small wad wrapped In an old glove. Breath lessly she emptied her treasure trove, pennies, nickels and dimes falling soft ly upon the bills that her proud fingers had counted out on the floor. Nine dollars and eighty-seven cents was the measure of her opportunity for self de nial, the means to fulfill her heart's desire, for the radiant purpose to at tend Kitty's commencement had been a golden dream bridging in happiness the loneliness, toll and hardships of the past three years, and to that end she had industriously hoarded every cent that she could call her own, rising an hour earlier busy summer mornings to pick wild berries for the,doctor's wife, Bitting up winter nights to manufac ture tomato pincushions for the Christ mas trade at the Hillsboro store. She gathered the money in her hands, hug ging it to her breast. "Kitty's to speak a piece," she sobbed. "The child's go ing to speak a piece, and her mother won't be there." AT i xne nor, teuiou anys lengmeuea, buu Elhtabeth went through her routine of duties with the soulless precision of a machine. "Are you under the weather, moth er?" asked Silas an evening two weeks later as he snt absorlicd In the drowsy comfort of his pipe, his chair tilted back against the house, his slippered feet crossed upon the porch railing. "You seem sort of tuckered out." biizauetu looked away as she an swered. She dared not trust too much to the deepening twilight The next day would be that of Kltty'e gradua tion. "Shucks," ejaculated Silas, "that was the gate's click! Who can be comln this time of night? Why, if It ain't the doctor's wife."' "Mrs. Farland?" Self reproach mln gled with teuderness in the question ing. In the stress of her own unhnppl ness she had forgotten the anguish that her dear little friend must be suf fering as she looked forward to the morrow, for during the first years at college Ethel Farland had been Kit ty's classmate and only the preceding summer, one of typhoid at Hillsboro, had the sweet young life been called to a higher school. Elizabeth's bitter ness shriveled in shame, and. holding out her arms, she rau down the path Xo words passed between the two wo men. The unaccustomed kiss, the out stretching thoughts of each mother heart, was speech euough. "Don't disturb yourself. Silas." said Mrs. Farlaud gently as they came up to the porch. "Xo, Betty, dear, I can't stay." Her voice fluttered nervously. "I came only to give you-this." She slipped an envelope Into Elizabeth's astonished hand, pressing It with trembling fingers. "The express passes through nillsboro at C:15 and gets to Centervllle at 10. The commencement exercises don't begin till half past, you know. Its my own tlcket-the one I'd have bought for myself If-if thlugs had happened different. This is th jnly way you can help me bear to morrow, Betty." She turned from the spellbound wo man on the porch and darted up the path. The gate clicked. The dark si lence was broken by the hooting of an owl. In a patch of sky above the shad owing branches of the trees shone a star. Sleepless hours of happy planning. litful dreams of thrilling adventure and Elizabeth's night had slipped into dawn. For a moment of ecstasy she lingered at her window, eyes uplifted to the glory flushing the eastern sky; then she stole downstairs to a hundred little commonplace deeds of love, from Iving the chickens fresh water to cut ting a pie for Silas' lunch. After they had hurried through mraiiasi, jjiiiuoeiu cuaiienng so much that she forgot to eat, Silas glumly acquiescent in his wife's "fool bankerin after graduatin' shows." came the excitement of dressing Standing before her cracked mirror. uer Buumng uanus tying tne oiacK lace veil with its elaborate border about the dingy straw bonnet trimmed in purple ribbon and red currants, she proudly surveyed herself, glad that she had yielded to Silas five years ago and bought a cinnamon" brown alpaca In stead of the coveted gray, because it looked more "Partyfied" for the present oston. Sne who had for years experienced no m exhilarating motion than a lltInS ride in the farm wagon passe; lurouSh the whirl on the express in n trance. But a shock of awakening came when the express had left bor "I CAME ONLY TO GIVE YOU THIS." upon the Centervllle platform. She had supposed that Kitty, with the other graduates, would be at the station to see the train come in, and, not finding her, she stood bewildered, with the frightened eyes of a lost child. "Looking for some one, mother?" called a laughing voice. With a start she turned toward a nearby wagon, where a boy sat smiling at her. "I was sort of looking for Kitty, fhough she didn't know I was coming," she explained. "You see, it's Kitty's commencement, and" "Oh, you're one of the college crowd, are you? You'd better get a move on you! Your train's twenty minutes late, you know." "Late!" cried Elizabeth. "Why, we came flying! Is it very far to walk?" she asked, looking helplessly to right and left. "Kitty speaks a piece. I :an't miss that!" i The urchin's buuio broadened Into A grin. Then an impulse of chivalry stirred the thoughtless boy heart. "Say, you climb up besldo me, I'll drive you there lu a jiffy," The hall was crowded when Eliza beth entered, but a smiling usher with a rose lu his buttonhole found her a eat just as the band began to play and the graduating clasa trooped upo the stage. After much fumbling she threw back her veil and, putting on her "specs," gazed In delight and awe at the young girls seated there, all in n flutter of ex citement and fluffy white dresses. "It looks like the pear orchard abloom," she confided to the lady be Bide her. She leaned forward, her lips parted, her breath coming lu little gasps, "luats Kitty there In tbo mlddle-the one with the sunshiny hair. She's going to speak a piece." Her hand trembled upon the lady's arm. "Why have they hung those pink "MOTHEBl" CRIED KITTY. FRACBl" "ion CXAB sashes over the stage? And. see; there's a pink bow on every girl's chest!" "The class colors," was the smiling answer. "It looks like"- Elizabeth stopped abruptly. Again she stood at her win dow, eyes uplifted to the wonder and the beauty of the early morning. That was the meaning behind It all the commencement of a new day In the sky; the commencement of a new striving and achieving In these young lives; rose colored dreams and ambi tions, ribbons of dawn fluttering with hope and promise In every little grad uate's heart Kitty's "piece" came at last She had been elected valedictorian of her class. Elizabeth listened spellbound. To this idolizing Judge eery thought In it was inspired by genius, every sen tence a poem In prose, while through the whole reading ran flashlights of the child herself-Kitty with her first doll hugged in her fat little arms, Kit ty with her first medal won at the Hillsboro school fastened upon her proudly heaving breast, Kitty with her hair done up for the first time and the last tuck out of her Sunday dimity. And when the good natured house burst Into applause Elizabeth longed! to stand on her chair and shout "She's mine, all mine!" After the benediction's hush bubbled over a reaction of chatter and laughter. "Look at the. freak In front of you" the carelessly high voice drifted over Elizabeth's shoulder "red currants purple ribbons and a dress handed down from the ark! A country mother, I suppose, bobbing up at commence ment to humiliate a poor little gradu ate!" A crimson spot burned Elizabeth's cheek. There was a mist before her eyes, and an ache gripped her throat But so strong was her habit of unself ishness that she was scarcely con- bcIous of her pain. Her one thought was to slip away before humiliating Kitty. The opening of the nearby side door promised Instant escape, and she has tened toward It She did not know that the band was playing. She did not notice the graduates filing down to the same door. She did not hear the mut tered, protests of the people that she passed. "One moment, madam." At the door an usher laid a detaining hand upon her sleeve. She shrank back as though the daz zling white line approaching were an apparition of horror. There she stood. motionless, trapped In a crowd where Kitty could not fail to recognize her and be humiliated! And yet a sudden joy leaped in her heart as she felt Kitty's eyes upon her. It had been so many months since she had had the child in her arms! With these con flicting emotions she breathlessly wait ed. The white line flashed on un broken. Kitty had passed her by. "Madam, you may go now." Elizabeth stared vacantly at the ush er and tottered out of the hall. Life had ended. Kitty the pride, the prom ise of all past years no longer belong ed to her, but to this gay outside world where she was an intruder. "The child" was ashamed of her mother! She stumbled ou. There was a white blur upon her stinging eyes where the graduates flocked on the campus, then a detached white figure with out stretched arms darting toward her. "Mother!" cried Kitty. "You dear fraud, you pretending you couldn't come! When I discovered you I al- HL ACiCJIFIPn AnVFDTICFMFNTQ HELP WANTED $2.00 STARTS A FINE LOCAL business, daily profit $5 to $10; par ticulars free j write today. B. F. Loos Co,, Dos Moines, la." BOARD AND ROOM WANTED. WAX T li D JKKnr'AND HOARD with American family. l!o.x 873, Astoria, 6-4 4t. WANTED HOARD AND ROOM with private family, by a gentle man. Address "K" Astorian. LOST. LOST-1F TIIR PARTY TAKING the hat marked A. C. J. from the reading room probably by mistake, will kindly return same to the police station the owner will be greatly obliged, and wil return the one he had to take, FOR SAUC FOlT L "SALR-20 AUTOMATIC nickel in the slot weighing scales, 1 electric nickel in the slot piano, set up and in operation in different sa loons in the city; price $200 cah; will bring in over $100 a month. Address "B" Astorian. 6-4-tf. MISCELLANEOUS. WANTED BETWEEN JUNE 1ST and ISth, a furnished house for th summer; good, careful tenant. Ad dress H. G. Smith, care Warren Packing Co., city. FOR SALE-REAL ESTATE. FOR SALE LOCKSLEY HALL Hotel, Seaside, Or.; this beautiful spot under the pines and overlooking the ocean is for sale; best money making property in trie west; over 100 rooms; modern in every way For particulars apply to Mrs. L. A Carlisle on premises. ros SENT. FOR RENT-TWO FURNISHED housekeeping rooms. 425 Duane street. 5-31-tf, FOR RENT A LARGE SUNNY front room, bath, phone, electric light and gas. Address 450 Exchange street, cor. Tenth. 6-6 6t FOR RENT FURNISHED HOUSE keeping and single rooms. Apply 677 Exchange street. 6 6 6t CORNER NINTH AND DUANE Board $5.00 and up. 5-9 tf. HOUSE MOVERS. FREDR1CKSON BROS.-We make a specialty of house moving, car penters, contractors, general jobbing; prompt attention to all orders. Cor ner Tenth and Duane streets. .MISCELLANEOUS. ST ARRIVED Gold Fish 25c and 35c Each Hildebrand & Gor Old Bee Hive Bldg. Smith's Special Delivery Express and Baggage Leave Orders at Star Cigar Store Phone Black 2383 Res. Phone Red 2276 Stand Corner 11th and Commercial. most broke ranks and ruihea "the march!" "But-but, Kitty," faltered Eliza beth, "people are looking, and" "I don't care if the whole world sees me hugging you!" laughed Kitty, with a rapturous kiss. "Oh, muzzer,' guess what? I've got the Hillsboro school! I can live at home, and we'll have a servant, and and you need only twirl your thumbs for the rest of your Hfel But come, honey, I want to introduce you to all the girls." Pains in the back and side may come from the kidneys or liver. Lane'i Family Medicine, the tonic-laxative, and a great kidney and liver remedy, will give relief. PROFESSIONAL CARD. ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW CHARLES II. ADERCROMBIE Attorney-at-Law City Attorney OlVicei: City Hill JOHN C. McCUE Attcrney-at-Law Deputy District Attorney Page Building S ,'.te 4. HOWARD M. BROWNELL Attorney-at-Law Office with Mr. J. A. Eakln, i Cotumercal St, Astoria. "OSTEOPATHST DR. RHODA C. HICKS Osteopath Office Mansell Bldg. Phone Black 2065 573 Commercial St., Astoria, Ore. DENTISTS DR. VAUGHAN Dentist Pythian Building, Astoria, Oregon DR. W. C. LOGAN Dentist Commercial St. Shanahan Bldg. business directory. RESTAURANTS. TOKIO RESTAURANT. 351 Bond Street. Opposite Ross, Higgins & Co. Coffee with Pie or Cake 10 Cta. FIRST-CLASS MEALS Regular Meals IS Cta. and Up. Coffee with Pie or Cake, 10 Cta, First-Class Meili, IS Cta. FISH MARKET. 77 Ninth St., near Bond Fresh and Salted Fish. Game and Poultry. Groceries, Produce and Fruit Imported and Domestic Goods. P. Bakotitch & Feo, Proprs. Pkoae Red 2183 MISCELLANEOUS. Notice to Public. Work on the Young's Bay bridge will be commenced Wednesday, June 3, the bridge will be closed for travel every day from 7:30 a. m. until 5:30 p. m. except Wednesdays and Satur- lays, when bridge will be open for travel on the afternoons only. BIRCH &JACOBSON, 5-30 4t. Contractors. Do You Wear Shoes ? We sell the kind that wear longest and look the beat. i The Dr. A Reed Cushion Shoe We handle a special line of Loggers' Shoes Give ua a trial S. A. GIMRE GOOD SHOES. 543 Bond St., op. Ross, Higgins 4 Co. HOT OR COLD olden West Tea Just Right CLOSSET & DEVERS, PORTLAND, ORE. I 420 ' Seatte f.laitfi UNDERTAKERS. J. A, (lIUtAKlll t CO., Undn'tiiker iuuI Kiiiluilniora. Kxtrln'ot Luriv ANaUtiint W hen lonlml. mm C'uIIn Promptly Attended Day or Night. Tat ton I M jr. 1'JtliniKl iMinneHt ASTORIA, OJll'OON Phone Muliitiltl TRANSPORTATION. The "K" Line PASSENGERS FREIGHT Steamer - Lurline Night Boat for Portland and Way Landings. Leaves Astoria daily except Sunday at 7 p. m. ! Lcivet Portland Daily except SnnOay t 7 a. m. - Qulrk Service Excellent Meal Good Bertha Landing Astoria Flavel Wharf. Landing Portland Foot Taylor It J. J. DAY. Agent Phone Main 2761. MEDICAL Uoprecuat4 Suocm' f DR. t GEE 10 TBI CRXAT CBUflSI DOCTOl Who to kaowi inrongnont tne united ale wonderful eum. No poitoa or drugs used. Be gwna tea to cure catarrh, asthraa, lung tad throat trouble, rheumatism, Derroutoeat, atomaeh, liver and kidney, letnale com- plaints and all ohronlo dlaaee. SUCCESSFUL HOMI TRZATMZIT. If you cannot call write for symptom blank and circular, Inclosing 4 oeaU la stamp. THE C. GEE WO MEDICINE CO. ' 1K First Si, Corntr Morrison. PORTLAND, OREGON. Please mention the Astorian. LAUNDRIES. Those Pleated Boiom Shirti The kind knqwn by dressy men in the summer, are difficult article! to launder nicely. Unless you know just how to do it, the front pleats won't iron down smooth, and the shirt front will look mussy. Our New Press Ironer irons them without rolling or stretching. Try It TROY LAUNDRY, 1 Tenth and Duane. Phone Main 1991 PLUMBERS. J. PLUMBER Heating Contractor, Tinner . ; AND Sheet Iron Worker LL WORK GUARANTEED 42S Bond Street WINES AND LIQUORS. Eagle Concert Hall (320 Aetor Street) Rooms for rent by the day, week, or month. Best rates in town. P. A. PETERSON, Prop. ! i I h: Mr I frl'ijU''r-x Mill DAIRIES. ThcVcrmont Dairy I am prepared to furnish pure milk and cream. Satisfaction guaranteed. Phone 14 Farmers line. W. J. INGALLS.