Grace hugged her mother tenderly.  “Don’t worry, mother.  I’m all right.  What are all these people standing around for?”

“They came to see you, of course.  The news is all over town.  Everyone is devoured with curiosity to hear your story.”

“It looks as though I had become a celebrity at last,” laughed Grace.

She was obliged to tell the story of her adventure over and over again that night to her eager listeners.  Her chums hung about her adoringly.  Hippy, Reddy and David were fairly beside themselves.

“Oh, you lunatic snatcher,” cried Hippy, throwing up his hat to express his feelings.

“You never dreamed that the little key you gave me would prove my salvation,” said Grace to David, as her friends bade her good night.  “It surely must have been fate.”

CHAPTER XXIV

COMMENCEMENT

Examinations had ceased to be bug-bears and kill joys to the young idea of Oakdale.  The last paper had been looked over, and the anxious hearts of the majority of the High School pupils had been set at rest.  In most cases there was general rejoicing over the results of the final test.  Marks were compared and plans for the next year’s course of study discussed.

The juniors were about to come into their own.  When the present seniors had been handed their diplomas, and Miss Thompson and Mr. Cole had wished them god-speed, the present juniors would start on the home stretch that ended in commencement, and a vague awakening to the real duties of life.

The senior class stood for the time being in the limelight of public attention.  It was the observed of all observers.  Teas were given in honor of its various members, and bevies of young girls in dainty summer apparel brightened the streets of Oakdale, during the long sunny afternoons.

It was truly an eventful week.  Grace Harlowe gave a tea in honor of Ethel Post, which was a marked social success.  The two girls had become thoroughly well acquainted over their golf and had received great benefit from each other’s society.  Miss Post’s calm philosophical view of life had a quieting effect on impulsive Grace, while Grace’s energy and whole-hearted way of diving into things proved a stimulus to the older girl.

It was Tuesday afternoon and class day.  High School girls in gala attire were seen hurrying up the broad walk leading to the main door of the school building.

It was the day of all days, to those about to graduate.  Of course, receiving one’s diploma was the most important feature, but class day lay nearest the heart.

The exercises were to be held in the gymnasium.

The junior and senior classes had brought in half the woods to beautify the big room, and Oakdale gardens had been ruthlessly forced to give up their wealth of bud and bloom in honor of the occasion.

It was customary for the seniors to invite the junior class, who always sat in a body at one side of the gymnasium; while the seniors sat on the opposite side.  The rest of the space was given up to the families of the seniors and their friends.  Lucky, indeed, were those who could obtain an invitation to this most characteristic of class functions.