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

! 1S AO''iI pCIt So, Idncleu tney must
hear 1t, for L began to have some idea
OF their intentions.
Yes, there are four; but just look
at IT. Here, you see," as he pointed
towards the tower, sis broad piazza
under each row of windows good rest
ng-placeS-and the pillars are Just the
right size to climb, But | was telling
you about Cleth. He bet with Paul
Fakes, real savage jealous-tempered
fellow, Just as l bet with you now He
got IN, and got out, and no one in the
school ever knew it. He took faithful
note OF everything, particularly the
features of the occupant. He cut off
one OF her curls and carried it to Paul.
He had no idea that Paul had the re-
mOtest acquaintance with anv OF the
girls. But knew all the time that
Paul had been introduced to one of
them, and had been flirting desperately
with her for six months. Now, it hap
pened that her chamber was the very
one. Cleth found photograph npon
her table, and carried it to Paul along
with the curl, to prove that he had won
| the bet. But he showed il to three or
fonr of fellows first. 1t was a pho
! tograph of Paul himself. How we
laughed at Paul about it; and oh, how
enraged he was! He challenged poor
| Cleth and shot him; and now if you--"
''1ou needn't fear me. for l have not
| been flirting with any of them; least
| of all with that tall, fierce oneup there.
If she should happen to wake up"
Il won't wake her up, | assure you"
'tBut you never can get down again
without being caught"
Cant l, though? I'm q good path
| finder, and never get lost"
You will try it tonight, you say?"
Tonight at two o'clock"
And they walked off.
l was petrified with astonishment for
a few moments. As soon as [ could
collect my scattered senses, / fled to
the house, and rushed up to Vestella.
All the society members were with her.
l burst upon them with the terrible
news had heard.
Nellie de Lisle fell at. once into
swoon. Anna Vesey Screamed and
wrung her hands in terror. while Flor
| lila Carter and myself insisted upon re-
porting all to madame.
No, no, girls, do nothing of the
kind" said Vestella, as she calmly
| sprinkled water upon Nellie's face, and
tried other means to restore her. ''We
will arrange it better than that Come
up here, all of you," she continued,
after a pause, as she saw Nellie begin
ming to revive. Come up here, after
Mdlle. Westron has been through, and
l will show you Il trick that will aston
ish you"
The hall-teacher went her rounds
every night at ten clock, to see that
the lights were all out, and the girls in
order, And that night, after she had
retired, we noiselessly slipped up to the
appointed place.
Vestella had closed all the blinds,
and dropped the curtains, fastening the
two side windows, and leaving the sash
of the front window up. She waited
for about an hour, to be sure that all
in the house were asleep, then cau-
tiously lighted lamp and proposed
her plan.
1t was adopted, with many sugges-
tions and improvements, and much sup
pressed laughter from the rest of us,
who had now lost all fear, and We're
| ripe for fun.
| We took the mattress from the bed
it was a new one, very thick and heavy
and set it up edgewise, Just the dis
1 tdHCC vi Ilo hlutH Guc nlnUOW-
Then having taken out the bed-rope,
| we made slip-noose in one end, and
spread it open under the window, rais-
ing it little from The floor by means
of a circle of thick books. Vestella
took the other end in her hand, and,
having eXtinguished the light, stationed
herself in the darkest corner, beside the
mattress, ready to push it over at sig
nal from her.
1t was now one o'clock, and we wait
ed in breathless suspense. The clock
struck two, and we were ready to drop
with fatigue and drowsiness; but soon
after, light rustling, away down be-
low, reused us to high pitch OF expec-
tation. He was coming. How could
he get along with so little noise? He
must have been experienced in such I'M
dertakings.
In few seconds we heard his hands
creak, as he grasped the balustrade,
and Immediately his head and shoul-
ders were thrust through the window
The mattress seemed to startle him.
He looked around, listened, then
seemingly impressed with the necessity
of greater caution, he gently set one
foot upon the floor, then the other, then
stood erect, and looked and listened
again.
Vestella pulled the cord with all her
strength, and down he went.
Down went the mattress upon him,
smothering his eNclamations, if he ut
tered any.
Each of us flew to a corner, and held
it down with all the force we could
muster in our trepidatiOn.
| Mo hnan1 M SnllnH from him and
felt no struggles.
He evidently felt himself in a scrape,
and had shrewdness enough to perceive
that the more quietly he took it, the
more easily he would get through.
What little noise there was, occa-
stoned hustle in the room below; the
hall-teacher raped at the door.
"Now," / thought, 'all is over with
u.s."
''Miss Raymond"
"Wel, mademoiselle, replied Yes
tella drowsily, as if just awakened
from a sound sleep.
''Is all quiet in your room?"
Perfectly, mademoiselle.
Il heard a noise as of some one fall
ing"
80 did i, mademoiselle. 1T must
have been in the street. / will open
the door directly"
'Oh no; l would not disturb you.
Goodnight"
After all had become quiet, Vestella
knelt down beside the mattress, and
putting her lips to the edge, said in a
voice scarcely above whisper:
Young man, you're prisoner"
Il surrender at discretion" he an
swered in a singularly low and quiet
tone.
1t was the same voice had heard in
the garden.
"Will you submit to our terms if 1
let you out?"
II will"
"First, then, you are to move as
quietly as possible. You are to answer
all questions we propose; and when you
speak, speak in a very low voice. Now
let him up, girls"
We all took our seats in row, YES
tella in the center, and lit the lamp.
The Young man arose, and we had a