CHAPTER XXVCONCLUSION
Thatnight a crowd gathered in the big assembly room of the Columbia High School to see Roderic Seymour and his gallant boys receive the splendid flag which the girls of Columbia High had purchased to fly upon the staff at the athletic grounds whenever a game of any sort was in progress.
Helen Allen had been chosen to make the presentation address, because she was known to be the best speaker among Columbia’s fair ones. And both Paul Bird and Ralph West thought her the prettiest girl in the wide world as, with rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes, she told what pride the sisters of the Columbia boys took in their sterling fight for the baseball pennant.
If there was one disgruntled fellow in that big hall it must have been Lef Seller, who had seen so many of his schemes for getting even with his rival, Frank Allen, go astray of late. He had come because somehow he could not keep away; but duringthe exercises, while everybody else seemed to be filled with delight, Lef could only grit his teeth, and mutter low threats to himself, still cherishing the hope that the day would come when fortune might once more shine upon him, to the confusion of his enemies.
Although the school term was nearly ended that seemed to be no reason for Columbia High losing all interest in outdoor sports. There were other days to come, and that not far distant, when these sturdy lads of the banner high school would meet again in friendly struggles with their student rivals of Bellport and Clifford. Something of the nature of these contests may be gleaned from the title of the next volume in this series, to be called, “The Boys of Columbia High on the River; or, The Boat Race Plot That Failed.” It will be found crammed full of the further doings of these wideawake lads, in whose fortunes we have found ourselves so deeply concerned.
While the yearly examinations were being conducted as usual, Ralph found it exceedingly difficult to concentrate his mind on his work. He knew that Judge Allen had taken passage for Europe, in order to follow up the mysterious travelers, who had last been heard from in Italy.
So the school year closed in a blaze of glory. Principal Parke declared they had never known amore successful season, and with the percentage so high. The graduation exercises passed off without a hitch; nor was the electric current cut off on this occasion, as had happened once before, when mischief-makers severed the wires, and lamps had to be brought in so that Lanky Wallace could complete his declamation.
Ralph was frequently in consultation with his good friend Frank, while he waited to hear from abroad.
“What would I do without you, Frank?” he said, as they sat under the apple tree on that July morning just a day or two before the Glorious Fourth.
“Oh, you’d manage to get on all right,” returned the other, quickly. “Cheer up, old fellow. It’s always darkest just before dawn. You’ll get a letter any day now, and perhaps written by the one you are longing to hear from most. Try and put it out of your mind for a bit, and think of the great times we expect to have on the river.”
“That’s always the way with you, Frank. You manage to chase away the blues better than any medicine made. I’m going to laugh, and try to forget my troubles for a little while. Yes, the letter is on the way now, I don’t doubt; but oh! how the days drag along, waiting for news,” sighed Ralph.
“Here comes Helen. Now we’ll go inside and have her give us some music that is bound to livenus up. I just feel like singing, and it will do you good,” cried Frank.
Ralph was nothing loath. There was an attraction about Frank’s charming sister that always appealed to the homeless lad. So they were soon gathered about the piano, and joining voices in such old favorites as “Tenting To-night,” “I Know a Bank,” “Upidee,” and many others.
“Now, let’s wind up with the ‘Red, White and Blue,’” said Frank, when Ralph had declared he must be going.
So, as on many a hard fought athletic field, the familiar words of the grand old tune rolled out—always a favorite with these students of the famous high school bearing the same cherished name:
“O, Columbia, the gem of the ocean,The home of the brave and the free,The shrine of each patriot’s devotion,A world offers homage to thee!”
“O, Columbia, the gem of the ocean,The home of the brave and the free,The shrine of each patriot’s devotion,A world offers homage to thee!”
“O, Columbia, the gem of the ocean,
The home of the brave and the free,
The shrine of each patriot’s devotion,
A world offers homage to thee!”
THE END