ng position. So, at

nt

ggested, turning as thou

folks back in Gridley will be asking them if they saw me, and they'll answer that they didn't speak with me. There's no use in running into a

y, Dodge went

take their friends back to the hotel, for the cade

ll call for you at 7

i

. "And that we may not keep you wai

tey found Mrs. Bentley and the girl

dies. His languid eyes took in Laura Bentley at a glance, almost, and he found her to be all that Presco

nt days in planning the effects of their gowning. Everything about their gowning was most perfec

posed Prescott. "If you would like it, you can see

nstey explained the routine of guard duty, in as far as it would be interesting to women.

iends lifted their caps to the ladies with Prescott

known for years. He was being cut dead and he knew it, and the humiliation of the thing was more than h

cards at the ho

he dark night, the little party st

uniforms, conducted the ladies to seats at the side of the ballroom. Dick and Anstey next took the ladies' light

ning, who were arriving rapidly. The scene was one of animated life. It would have been hard to say whether

started a preliminary march. Both young cadets fell unconsciously in ste

ows!" breathed Laura admiringly

smilingly. "Don't lose your heart to a

hen I lose my heart it shall be to a man! And

before the ladies. Yet there was nothing of stiff formality about eithe

her hops that you have attend

my promise in Gridley, Miss Bentley--that I would invite y

ded Laura

st hop," Dick s

o," affir

le merrily. "I hope you

as plebes, under the danc

well in Gridley,

style is a bit diffe

e uneasy,"

ish by the time you are half t

scovered Laura. "What a rema

n's sister,

r. Dodge?" mu

but his sidelong glan

ears to be s

st number or two with the young lady whom he has "dragged" h

e was not left alone. Furlong had asked the pleasure of a dance with Laura's mother, but Mrs. Bentley, with instinctive tact, realized

affected friendliness with which Laura rose and rested one hand on his shoulder. Sh

e High School hops of

ut this i

ort," mur

ny ways much changed,

glad you came

he answer

Between times, Greg had appeared with Miss Griffin and introductions had followed. Di

Dick introduced one

hat dance, Prescott

to it that Laura's

any through

ce Dick enjoy

g and asking for this danc

hallenge

y love the next number, also, but I must not make the evening too dull and

your hands," smi

at beside her mother he stepped away t

teringly, "I have seen you c

guilt, old ramrod. Are y

I think, if you are v

for enough of a gentl

yearling, in mock wrath. "But, for the present, lead me o

the most popular fellows of the class. As Sennett and Laura returned t

ra, after having greeted her mother, "I am pre

replied Laura in her eve

of perfectly good breeding it was her privil

n since the old H

y well, t

" asked Dodge, again bo

" replied Mrs. Bentley, who subtl

behind you at West Point?" urged Bert softly. "You are going t

dge," laughed Laura. "Every dance, if n

not conceal his cha

with one of the talle

ned the greeting as evenly and as perfec

tenderhearted enough to flatter

ell-bred regret that carried with it nothing more

reg, who stood by at this moment, appeared to be wearing inscrutable grins. Dodge made his adieus hurriedly, walking up the ballroom just ahead of Furlong, who a

r him, looking at

d time of it, eh, Dodge

just billing?" shot out Dodge impetuously

lf up very straight, h

exclaimed, in

ge turned gh

derstand me. Let me

s," muttered Mr. Furlong over his sho

econds to Mr. Furlong before taps. Though they must have loathed their task, had they

dge stood up for nearly two rounds befor

remaining there until Monday morning, and retur

erest chivalry toward woman is one of the

ting point, and then pummelled. Cadet Furlong went to considerable inconvenience, t