d now
become a matter of history only!

CHAPTER XXI

A CLOUD ON DICK'S HORIZON

Final exams. were passed! Not a member of the first class had
"fessed" himself down and out, so all were to be graduated.

The Board of Visitors---a committee of United States Senators and
Representatives appointed by the President from among the members
of the National Congress, arrived.

A detachment of cavalry and another of field artillery, both from
the Regular Army, rode to the railway station to aid in the reception
of the Board.

Also the entire Corps of Cadets, two battalions of them, in spick
and span full-dress uniform, and with all metal accoutrements
glistening, in the sun, stood drawn up as the visitors were escorted
to their carriages by waiting Army officers.

Now, the imposing procession started up the steep slope, at a little
past mid-afternoon.

Just as the head of the line reached the flat plain above, most
of the members of the Board of Visitors felt tempted to clap their
hands to their ears. For a second detachment of artillery, waiting
on the plain, now thundered forth the official artillery salute to
the visitors.

One of these visitors, a member of the national House of
Representatives, who had served with distinction in the Civil War,
having then risen to the grade of major general of volunteers,
looked out over the plain, then at the stalwart cadets behind,
with moist eyes. He had been a cadet here in the late fifties.
He was now too old to fight, but all the ardor of the soldier
still burned in his veins!

Yet only a moment did the line of carriages pause at the plain.
Then the members of the Board were carried on to the West Point
Hotel, where the best quarters had been reserved for such as were
not to be personal guests of officers on the post.

During the brief wait at the station, Cadet Captain Prescott,
standing before the company that he had commanded during this
year, caught a brief glimpse of a familiar figure---his mother.
By chance Mrs. Prescott had journeyed to West Point on the same
train.

Yet not a chance did Dick get for a word with his mother until
long after. He was almost frenzied with eagerness for word of
Laura, and this his mother would have, in some form, but he must
wait until all the duties of the day had been performed and leisure
had come to him.

Mrs. Prescott, on catching sight of her boy, felt a sudden, exultant
throb in her mother heart. Then she step