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.