The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-12-11
A MIDNIGHT INVASION.


Avis Gray, Chicago, Ill.
-
A MIDNIGHT INVASION.
Madame Carrelle's school was a re-
was q remarkable woman. | was of,
what Byron calls, the bread-and-butter
age, and therefore, did not appreciate
these thing much; but did appreciate
the four lovely girls who were my init
mates. Vestella Raymond was my fav-
Orite.
shall never forget an incident re-
lated by her brother.
She and her mother lived alone on
their estate, and were one day alone in
the house-the servants being all out
a struggling ruffian entered the parlor
where they sat, and demanded their
money and jewels.
Mrs. Raymond was paralyzed with
fear. Vestella feigned excessive terror,
and taking a small box from her pock-
ct, she handed it to him with the key,
saying:-
1--WE were preparing for a journey
and had packed up our jewels. | be-
lieve this box contains them; will you
open it and see? My fingers tremble
so / cannot unlock il"
The man laid his pistols on the sofa
for the purpose of unlocking the box,
when Vestella snatched them up; and
commanded him not to stir hand or
foot.
1t was his turn to be appalled,, for
there was no mistaking the will flash
ing from those eyes, and there was no
trembling in the finger that pressed the
trigger.
He remained motionless.
In few moments the servants en-
tered, and he was secured.
This was Vestella's style, and she
manifested it in various ways among
us. But the steely vigor of her char
acter was softened and rendered lus-
trous by the glittering polish OF mirth-
fulness and frolic.
Her merry conversation was our un-
failing antidote for homesickness. So
cheerful and aifectionate, SO warm
hearted and contiding. And what sar-
castle observations she would make, not
exactly ''upon men and things" but
upon things in general, and the madame
in particular.
At her instigation we five formed our
selves into society '.for the mutual
discussion and preservation of all such
secrets as it seemed unadvisable to
communicate to our many friends
among the other young ladies in the
school"
Our rules provided that there should
be no reserve upon any subject between
the members; that any interview with
a gentleman should be faithfully re-
ported, and all that transpired at said
interview; and that any member guilty
OF falling in love should have her hair
cut short, and woven into bracelets for
the other four.
Vestella was a rogue, mischief, a
very Amazon. She could skate, ride,
swim, and oh dear, l cannot mention
half her exploits. Yet when L remem-
bered how she hung over me through
the long nights, when l was racked
with fever, away from home and friends,
how nearly she filled the place of a
mother to me, felt persuaded that, ii
the members of our society had an OPP
p0rtunity to fall in love, she would be
the first one to improve it.
The house was built in style I'M
common in this country. Its peculiar
ity consisted in two square towers upon
the front-one upon each corner-giv-
ing it the appearance of an Episcopal
church.
Vestella called it the double-barrelled
schoOl-honse. The house proper was
three stories in height. and the towers
rose one story above the roof. The
windows in each story opened upon q
broad veranda, extending across the
front of the house, and quite around
each tower, and these piaZzas were sup
ported one above the other by slender
pillars.
The upper story in each tower had
formerly been used as deposit for old
furniture and other rubbish, but when
Yestella entered the school, her ram
bling disposition led her into one OF
these rooms, and nothing would do but
it must be fitted up for her occupation.
She had such a taking way with her,
and the increasing popularity of ma,
DANES establishment had so often
forced upon her mind the propriety Of
shortly enlarging her buildings, that
Vestella carried her point. and was in
stalled in the .'tower-top."
It suited the society, for we cOulC
discuss our secrets without danger o
being overheard. and could vent the ex
plosions of mirth which they otter
elected, without risk of visit from the
/ hall-tcacher.
The lawns and gardens extended il
front of the house for a great distance
with great slope, terminating in ;
circular pond, surrounded by an artifi
cial grove. Ii was my delight in thu
afternoons, at such hours rs we weri
not required to be in our rooms, or a
recitation, to take my book or fancy
work, and slip away to a cunning LITTLE
seat had constructed in the shade o
the grape-vines.
l was sitting here one afternoon
when 1 was startled by mems voices ol
the other side of the paling.
My first impulse was to run; but
thought, perhaps, might gather some
thing to report to the society. eau
tioaasly parted the vine leaves ant
pesped through crack in the boards
There were two young men, whom
recognized as members of the COlleg
late Institute. One of them, a tai
gracefully-formed young fellow, witt
laughing blue eye, was conversin!
and gesticulating with great animation
L can do it-1 tell you can do it;
will wager dozen baskets of cham
pagne that can do it,
"Done!" exclaimed the other, grasp
ing his hand. But how on earth ar
you to get up thereP''
just as Cleth Hyles got into tn
chamber at Miss Kings. He climbe
up the pillars to the balustrade in iron
of the second story, then he had to tax
the water-pipe to the third. There wa
a little projection there; he crept alon
that. and got into the window. Nov
this is nothing to that"