The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-10-20

were witnesses to the whole affair.".
Shaking with rage aud modification, as
he instantly comprehended the whole
thing, he strobe forward with uplifled
hand, to strike her to the earth, but with
one bound she sprang to the door, and
was pulled in by the screaming girls and
the door locked. They did not attempt to
restrain themselves, but clapped then
hands, and made the whole place resound
with peal after peal of laughter.
30, Zoe that kne'Uea was the death of
me-"
'Hu'h," said Fanny, che never noticed.
She did it glorious. Why, girl, you'd
make your fortune on the sage.'
"Aud that mo, no, NOT and that kiss
ing! Mercy, girls, I believe Tn dead p
"You are right lively for dead girl,
Miss Ne'lie, any way" suggested Eye,
and they all laughed again, so long aud
loud, that they were forced to cease from
utter exhaustion.
Pity-pat pity-pat! came footstep
down. the stairs, and a light glimmered
and shone under the door.
"Police! sure as you're born to die
Fan, what's to be done ?"
"Never mind leave it all to me. am
equal to any emergency.
The door opened, and "Sister Vinegar"
in her night clothes and holding lamp
in her hand, stalked in upon them.
"Powers in heaven - she exclaimed, as
her eye took in the extraordinary scene,
"are you mad, or what is the meaning of
this ?"
Fanny walked up to her, with face
from which all the laugh was smootbed
and Strengthened out, and looking her full
in the eye, replied: cit will take too long
tonight, Miss Jones, to explain all this,
but will say that l have been insulted
by certain individual, and have tonight
paid him off by way of practical joking"
"You are putting bold face on it.
Miss Audacity. suppose you think to
get off as easily this time as you did the
last. This, then, accounts for that extra
ordinary Philosophy lesson this morning,
and--what, ,0hat have you been doing
with my curls ?" she shrieked, as her eye
fell on the false locks which had been
taken off Zoe and thoughtlcssly left lying
on chair. "Serpen,s! bow dare you lay
your vile clutches Oh anything belonging
to me? o, you shall pay dearly for this!"
"Miss Jones, your curls are not injured
in the least, as you will see if you take the
trouble to examine them. l merely Dor
rowed them for an hour this evening, aud
am much obliged to you. Should you
ever want mine, and | can possibly &C
commodate you without cutting them off,
| will gladly do so. Come, girls, let's
go-Tm tired. Zoe, I'll make you
pallet on my room floor; 1 cannot trust
you out tonight alone-come % She
''spoke like one having authority" and
they obeyed, leaving poor Miss Jones,
with her desecrated treasure, alone in the
hall. Wearied out with the over excite
ment the girls made hasty preparations
for bed, where they slept soundly until
morning.
1t must be confessed that it was not
without some little trepidation that they
next day were summoned to report in the
lecture room but Fans undaunted face
and encouraging words did much to reas.
sure them. That little lady felt proudly
secure, In her consciousness of right and
justice, In bringing the slanderer of her
name and sex to punishment and upon
being commanded, related the whole thing
without any attempt at concealment.
The preceptress was amazed. 1t was
extraordinary beyond anything she ever
knew; it baf1ed her means of treatment,
and she would summon her husband, the
Rev. Mr.. Champion.
Fanny again became narrator, and rela.
ted the affair with droll righteousness
that was truly amusing. The old gentle
man coughed and sneezed, and blew his
nose, and wiped his eyes, and adjusted his
spectacles, aud at last gave it up and
broke out in hearty fit of laughter
The girls saw their advantage, and joined
10 the laugh, while Fan flew to his side
and got her arms over his broad shoulders.
exclaiming-
"You are not very angry, dear, dear
sir! am sorry, (the little hypocrite,)
and if you will forgive ME, l will never
90 SO again.
"No, reckon not" whispered Nettie
to some one near her, "but she'll do some
thing as bad as soon as she gets chance"
So kind of compromise was effected,
pardon being offered on the terms of
amendment and promises of future refor-
nation, merciful privilege, the reverend
gentleman declared, which was free for
all repeDtant sinners.
Mrs. Champion did not interfere, though
she may have thought that she could have
managed it as well as that; but Miss Jones
was wrathful-they ought each to have
nine-and-thirty lashes apiece, and be ex-
PEELED, besides.
Perhaps there was just the least bit of
triumph in Fans black eyes, as she met
her grim teacher in the recitation room
but Fan was magnanimous little con-
uuerOr and would not strike n foe when