The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-09-21
A Mid-Air Compromise.

Not many years ago, and not far from
the city of Elmira, at a locality known as
1.-The Female College," the circumstances
we are about to relate took place. 1t
seems that the Principal of the college
overheard plan among number of his
young lady students for drawing young
gentlemen up to one of the third story
rooms ''in basket, at night" as no gen.
tlemen suitors were permitted to visit their
college lady loves, and see them alone,
under the strict rules of the institution.
The Principal acted accordingly and at
the appointed time was on the designated
spot, and when the basket was let down,
took the lovers place, gave the ''signal
witch and commenced going up, to-
wards heaven, drawn by a trinity or two
of angels When two-thirds up, the angel
expectant, on looking down from the win
dow, discovered to her terror and dismay,
that instead of her lover, she had another
man in the basket! and, nearly frightened
out of her wits, made the facts known to
her fair helpers in mischief, with the per-
tnent inquiry of "What shall we do?
What shall we do Oh! girls what shall
we do ?" Whereupon one of their numder
noted for her GOODNESS and presence Of
mind in trying emergencies, said:
"Here! you hold on to this chord, now,
the man, no matter who he is, nor where
he comes from.
Then, taking out her pocket knife and
opening it she leanded out of the window
and in a low but firm voice said, "who
are you there in that basket?'
No response.
81 say, who are you there in that basket
Do you hear. l have knife in my hand,
and unless you answer this in less than ten
seconds will cut this rope"'
why it's your principal; don't you
know me? DON'T. for mgrcy's sake, cut
the rope! Keep your knife further away
from it"'
"Well, you are in pretty fix, professor,
a pretty fix, indeed, and hanging between
heaven and earth. between life and death.
What do you think ought to be done with
you? principle of a female college, who
thus endeavors at night to clandestinely
reach the room of lady student, ought to
be severely punished, and also exposed"
''Oh! beg of you not to harm me nor
expose me; but let me down again care
fully, and don't let the rope slip.'
"Professer, said the shrewd beauty, con
one condition only, will we comply with
your request"
Name it! name itn'
"You must solemnly promise that none
of us who have been engaged in this little
romance shall be disciplined for it, and that
you will make no mention of it to living
soul while we are inmates of the college,
with the understanding that we are to
observe the same solemn promise. What
say you?'
81 promise, solemnly PROMISE
Very we'll. Hold up your right hand.
You do solemnly swear that you will faith
fully keep aud observe that promise, so
help you Godr'
81 dor'
Enough, girls. He has taken the oath.
Lower away"'
"The professor" was soon carefully
and safely landed once more on terra firma,
greatly to his own relief and greatly to the
joy, no doubt, of the other party to the
compromise; and he lived up to his oath.
In after years, however, when time had
absolved him from it, and the lover whose
basket he ''monoplized' on that eventful
night, had, as the story goes, married the
girl-who on that occasion was so "far a.
bove' the professor used to tell the ad-
venture to his paticular friends, and laugh
over it till the tears ran down his cheeks,
as the most ludicroua scrape he ever got
into in all his college life; and as the only
one he was let off under an oath admins
tered.-Sehuyler County Democrat.