The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-03
Lost MinOla!
were unto my life as
A MIDNIGHT INVASION.

what Byron calls, the bread-and-buttel
are, and therefore, did not appreciate
these thing much; but | did appreciate
the four lovely girls who were my init
mates. Vestclla Raymond was my fay
orite.
shall never forget an incident re
lated by her brother.
She and her mother lived alone or
their estate, and were one day alone II
the house-the servants being all out
a struggling rufiian entered the parlol
where they sat, and demanded theiI
money and jewels.
Mrs. Raymond was paralyzed with
fear Vestella feigned excessive terror
and taking a small box from her peck
ct, she handed it to him with the key
saying:
eve were preparing for journey
and had packed up our jewels. 1 be
lieVe this box contains them; will you
open it and see? My fingers tremblt
so cannot unlock it.
The man laid his pistols on the sofs
for the purpose of unlocking the box
when Vestella snatchcd them up; anC
commanded him not to stir hand Oh
foot
1t was his turn to be appalled,, fol
there was no installing the will flash
ing from those eyes, and there was nj
trembling in the finger that pressed the
trigger.
He remained motionless.
In a 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 yigor of her char
acter was softened and rendered lus-
trous by the glittering polish of mirth,
fulness and frolic.
Her merry conversation was our I'M
falling antidote for homesiekness. So
cheerful and aflectionate, so warm
hearted and confding. 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 r.
selves into a society ''for the mu III
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.
Nestella was a rogue, a mischief, a
very Amazon. She could skate, ride,
swim, and oh dear, / cannot mention
half her exploits. Yet when / 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
mother to me, felt persuaded that, if
the members of our society had an OPP
portunity to fall in love, she would be
the first one to improve it.
The house was built in a style I'M
common in this country. It's peculiar
ity consisted in two square towers upon
the front-One upon each corner-giv-
ing it the appearance of an Episcopal
church.
Vestclla called it the double-barrelled
school-house. The house proper was
three stories in height, and the towers
rose one story above the roof. The
windows in each story opened upon
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
Vestella 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 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.n
Ii suited the society, for we could /
discuss our secrets without danger of
being overheard. and could vent the ex-
plosions of mirth which they often
elected, without risk of visit from the
hall-teacher.
The lawns and gardens extended in
front of the house for great distance.
with q great slope, terminating in 4
circular pond, surrounded by an artifi-
eial grove. 1t was my delight in the
afternoons, at such hours as we were
not required to be in our rooms, or at |
recitation, to take my book or fancy |
work. and slip away to a cunning little |
seat had constructed in the shade of |
the grape-vines.
/ was sitting here one afternoon,
when was startled BY mems voices on
the other side of the palmg.
Nv first impulse was to run; but ] |
thought, perhaps, might gather some
thing to report to the society. eau
tiouslY parted the vine leaves and |
peeped through crack in the boards. |
There We're two young men, whom ] /
recognized as members of the Colleg- /
late Institute. Ore of them, q tall /
gracefullv-formed young fellow, with
a laughing blue eye, was conversing
and gesticulating with great animation.
Il can. do It'll tell you can do It; /
will wager dozen baskets of cham
payne thai can do &c.
s.Done exclaimed the other. grasp
ing bis hand But how on earth are
YOU to get IS fheresss
..Just as Cleth Hyles got into the
chamber az Miss Kings. He climbed
up the pillars to the baIustrade in front
OF the second story, then he had to take
the waterlpipe to the third. There was
q little projection there, he crept along
that. and got into the window. Now,
this Is nothing to that. =
But hero there are four stories
A cold shudder crept over me. and
my heart beat 50, fancied they must
hear il, for began to have some idea
81 their intentions.
Yes, there are four, but Just look
1t It Here, You see, as be pointed
towards the tower. els broad piazza
under each row Of windows good rest
Ing-p places and the pillars arc lust the
hight size 70 Climb. But was telling I
ron about EIeth. He bet with Paul
fakes, real savage ieal0us-tempere9
elbow, just as ! bet with you now. He
rot ii. and cot out, and no one ID the
chool ever knew It. He took faithful (
tote Of everything. particularly the {
features Of the occupant He cat. Of
me Of her chris and carried il to Paul.
&c had no idea Thar Paul had the r. =
aoiest ac1utinlance win any o. The
.irIs But I knew eli tie time th1s
.Il|I lad been introduced to one Of
hem. and had been flirting speEately 2
Nth her for six months. Now, j. hap
aaed shat her of1fabeI paz re XeEE =
GO. CIelh found photograph upon
= table. 1nd csrfied i q Paul Si9R4 Z
..1h fHa curl. Is DfsFe that be had won Z
Sc ha H1' IS htHeH + = sI'fse e
.a[ q IS ~ |o# f1st Il Hef Pho 2.
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