t class rose and marched out, amid cheers and
hand-clapping, to be followed by the other classes.

Five minutes later the young graduates were laying aside the gray
uniform for good and all. Cit. clothes now went on, and each
grad. surveyed himself with some wonder in attire which was so
unfamiliar.

Out in the quadrangle, for the last time, the grads. met. There,
too, were the members of the classes remaining, but these latter
were still in the cadet gray, and would be until the close of their
own grad. days.

Hurried good-byes were said. Warm handclasps sounded on all sides.
Few words were said, but there were many wet eyes.

Then some of the grads. raced for the station to board the next
city-bound train.

Greg remained behind with Dick. After quitting the quadrangle,
they bent swift steps toward the hotel, where awaited Mrs. Prescott,
Mrs. Bentley, Laura and Belle.

Something else waited, too---a carriage, or rather, a small bus, for
Dick and Greg were no longer cadets and might ride over the post
in a carriage if they chose.

"It was beautifully impressive, dear," whispered Laura, referring
to the graduating exercises.

"But, thank goodness, it's over, and I have my diploma in this
suit case," murmured Dick grimly. "No more fearful grind, such
as we've been going through for more than four years. No more
tortured doubts as to whether we'll ever grad. and get our commissions
in the Army. That is settled, now. And think, Laura, if I hear
a bugle in the city to-morrow morning, I can simply turn over
and take another nap."

"You lazy boy!" laughed Laura half chidingly.

"You spend four years and three months here, and see if you don't
feel the same way about it," smiled Dick. "But I love every gray
stone in these grand old buildings, just the same. West Point
shall be ever dear in my memory!"

Greg's mother now came out and joined the ladies on the porch.
A moment or two later Mr. Prescott and Mr. Holmes stepped out
and grasped their sons' hands.

"We haven't a heap of time left if we want to catch the down-river
steamboat," suggested Dick, with a glance at his watch.

So this happy little home party entered the bus, and the drive
to the dock began.

They passed scores of cadets, who carefully saluted these grads.

Everyone in the party knew of the betrothal of Dick and Laura.
Greg had had to stand a good deal of good-natured chaffing from
his parents because he had not fared as well.