up of
graduates, listening with shining eyes, but by Barbara Lee, sitting with
a rapt expression that seemed to separate herself and him from the
others and bring them very close.

"Loyalty" was his theme; "loyalty to God, loyalty to one's highest
ideals, loyalty to one's country, to one's fellowmen."

After he had finished there was the stir which always marks, in a
gathering of people, a high pitch of feeling. Then someone sang, clear,
soprano notes that drifted through the room and mingled with the spring
gladness. The air was fragrant with the sweetness of the blossoms which
decked the big room; through the long windows came the freshness of the
June world outside. It was a day, an hour, sacred to the rites of youth.
More than one man and woman, worn a little with living, sat there with
reverence in their hearts for these young people who, strong with the
promise of their day, stood at the start----

Then the school sang their Alma Mater--the undergraduates singing the
first two verses, the graduates singing the last. The dear, familiar
notes rang with a truer, braver cadence--one voice, clearer than the
others, broke suddenly with feeling.

"Wasn't it all perfectly _beautiful_?" cried Gyp as the audience moved
slowly after the files of graduates. "You couldn't _tell_ which was best
of the program and it _was_ sad, wasn't it? Wasn't Uncle Johnny
_splendid_? And didn't the girls look fine? You know Sheila Quinn was
just sick over her dress--it was so plain--and she looked as lovely as
_any_ of the others. Oh, goodness, _think_ how you'd feel if we were
graduating. But I hope our Commencement will be just as nice! There's
Barbara Lee, let's _hug_ her--think how _dreadful_ to have her go away.
And Dana King's just waiting for you, Jerry----" Gyp ended her outburst
by rushing to Miss Lee and throwing her long arms about her shoulders.

John Westley advanced upon them--with the strange new look still in his
eyes.

"Gyp--you're wrinkling Miss Lee's pinkness." He tried to make his tone
light. "Will you come into the library for a moment, Miss Lee? There's a
book I want you to find for me." His eyes pleaded. Wondering a little,
Barbara Lee walked away with him.

"Well, I never----" declared Gyp, disgusted. Then, in the stress of
saying good-by to some of her schoolmates, she forgot Uncle Johnny and
Barbara Lee.

John Westley had felt that the library would be quite deserted. Standing
in the embrasure of the window