The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-20
Our New Puuil.

pal, was informed by the. porter that a
grand lady, who came in carriage, was
waiting in the reception room. =
The visitors card bore the inscription:
"Hon. Mrs. John James Whitcom, Bev-
erly Square" .--
Miss Baswitt was no respector of per-
sons, especially married persons, but it
must be admitted when she beheld this
distinguished name, and perceived the
aristocratic quarter Of the city in which
the lady resided, that she did feel trife
upllfted with gratifed pride, for indeed
Miss Baswitt had labored diligently to
render the Minerva institute worthy the
patronage of the greatest in the land.
A moment later she was in the presence
Of portly dame in velvet robes, who
stood with raised eyeglass before an oil
painting of the Kit Cat club in full session,
with Sam johnson and Goldsmith in the
foreground.
The Hon. Mrs. John James Whitcom
was the relict of United States senator.
She desired to place her only daughter in
the Minerva institute. Mrs. Whitcom de-
tanned Miss Baswitt half Of the morning
relating highly sensational account of
Miss Whitcoms unparalleled escapades in
no less than seven different boarding
schools, and finally she brought the thrill
ing narrative to startling announcement
that Miss Victoria had killed her own
father, the Hon. James Whitcom.
Miss Baswitt had never been speechless
before, but now she was actually breath
less.
what! How! Whenl" at last escap-
ed from the amazed lady in gasping gut
turals. . tt'''3 I'm
When it trapspired that the honorable
senator's demise had been merely facilita-
ted and accelerated by the fagitious dep0rt-
ment of his only child and heir, Miss Bas-
witt was enormously relieved, and agreed
to attempt the education of this strange
girl, for Miss Whitcom imagined herself
in love, and stoutly refused to go to school
anywhere; nevertheless, she came the
next day. but was brought in I'm arms"
vociferating that mo voluntary act of her
should divide her from Arthur
The shades of evening had fallen upon
was thus ANONYMOUSLY dragged in. She
was Immediately conducted TO her apart
ment, where she was received by Miss
Baswitt herself. Everybody has heard o.
Miss Baswitt and her wonderful success II
subjugating refractory girls. Miss Whit
com quailed before the august spinster.--
No one would have suspected this tame
looking girl of being the heroine Of sucl
desperate adventures as her mama relates
the day before.
II am happy to receive you, my dear,
said Miss Baswitt seductively Il hop
you will improve the golden moments 0
your invaluable time; so that, when yol
depart from this institution. you will be al
honor and credit to its teachings
'Yesm d." dolorously replied Miss Vic
toria in faint voice, brushing the tear
from her eyes, She was tall, good size,
girl of seventeen, by no means either
fright or beauty, with plump red face
ard light brown hair. Her eyes. natural
small were almost concealed by her lid:
which were swollen with copious weeping
Miss Baswitt paid no attention to the faC
that the forlorn young lady had seate
herself upon her trunk, with her handkel
chief to her eyes, without removing eithe
hat or cape. Presently Miss Anna Nipp
the teacher of Latin grammar and NOR
science, entered the room with Miss Al
CELIA Bickerstow, who was to room wit
the new conner. | cant half describe A
CELIA Bickerstow, she was such a perfe
darling. She was about sixteen at Il
time Miss WhitcOm came to the institut
She had the loveliest blue eyes, brig
as CLASSY lakes, and great twist of yello
or golden hair, all her own; besides th
she was the smartest girl in school, and Fl
this reason she was selected for the diff
cult and somewhat perilous part of root
mate to the terrible Victoria. As soon
she was introduced she walked right up
Miss Whitcom, put her arms around Il
weeping damsel, and coaxed her not
cry.
Miss Baswitt went out after introducil
teacher and pupil, and Miss Nipps was le
in charge.
Now, had it been possible for Miss Ba
witt, with her wonderful energy, tact al
extraordinary presence of mind, to
present, both in the apartment of Mi
Whitcom and in the reception room
this moment all disaster would certain
have been prevented But no sooner hi
the firm, characteristic step of Miss b
Wits awe-inspiriBg, heelless boots died OF
than Miss Whitcom burst forth into v
hement torrent at complaints and denun
atoms. S-~
Miss Nipps washerself oyerawed, inste;
OF overawlng her charge, and excitedly p
cling the floor, implored invisible beings
tell her what on earth to do.
Perceiving the poor lady incapable
stemming the adverse current of affair
Miss Victoria augmented the violence
her emotions till the tumult in room l.
on the third floor back resembled a-smi
hurricane or whirlgig. Miss Nipps, t
much terrified to remember the bel, rush,
precipitately from the room in quest of I
Inducements, leaving only Angela Bicke
stow on guard. Thus abandoned, Mi
Victoria charged for window shriekir
wildly, 80 my God, come to Thee
heaven!" and before Angela could reaC
her, Miss Whitcom had leaped out o
ing, however, to the attraction of gravii
ton, she failed to 60 up, as she evident
expected, but instead, fell with gre
splash into the rain water cistern benea
the window; but fortunately, she was il
mediately rescued from a watery grave
old job, the gardener, who was thorough
indignant when he discovered it was on
zone of the misses" instead of bag
gold rained down for his benefit
Drenched through, Miss Whitcom W
conveyed to her apartment, and the meC
cal attache of the institute summone
The doctor, with a sly look, prescribed
mustard poultice, dose Of salts, al
water Cruel.
In two days, somewhat subdued, Nj
Whitcom was introduced into the scho