Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-02-06
scarcely above . whisper:

! scarcely above y whisper:
| "Young man, you're a prisoner"
| 81 surrender at discretion,' he answer
I'd IN a singularly low and quiet tone. 1t
was the same voice I had heard in the
| arden.
"Willy you submit TO our terms if ! let
you out?"
81 will"
f.! First, then, you are to move as quietly
as possible. You are to answer all ques-
lions we propose; and when you speak,
speak in a very low voice. Now let him
up, girls.'
! We all took our seats in a row, Vestella
in the center. and lit the lamp. The young
man arose, and we had full view Of his
! face. There were the same laughing blue
eyes L had seen in the garden. They
were not laughing now, however-they
were east down, and the whole expression
of his face was decidedly sheepish.
Upon your knees, young man." said
Vestella sternly, putting on an awful
! frown.
He knelt at the distance of about three
PAGES from Vestella's feet. with such un-
studied grace, that could think of moth
ing but Raleigh receiving knighthood from
Queen Elizabeth.
"Give US your name, sir. and your his
tory. Tell US for what purpose you came
| here, and how you did it There are four
| stories here, you know"
He started as it bullet had struck him.
| He glanced nervously at each of us. turn
ed red, then pale, then redeemed again,
then hung his head; but at length found his
! voice, told us his name, his history, his
connections, and ended by assuring US
that his object was merely frolic; that
ne meant no harm to any one.
You were to take faithful note of every
thing in the room, particularly the fea
lures of the occupant'-he STATED again
-"you have an opportunity now.''
He remained silent.
Can you remember how we all look, or
would you like our photographer" He was
still silent, blushing deeper and deeper.
alt is my duty to hand you over to Mad
anne c., that you mag be dealt with ac-
cording to law. What have you to say
why sentence should not be pronounced
upon you?''
"Oh, ladies, do entreat you to spare
me exposure. will submit to any terms
you impose. 1 should be expelled from
the institute; my mothers heart would be
broken by the disgrace; should lose al
my friends-."
Listen. then, to the sentence of the
COURT Vestella whispered to us, and
each TOOK her stand in separate corner
of the room. "In co lsideration of your
extreme youth and the distress which
knowledge Of your foolish freak would
bring upon friends, this court-the Court
of Independent and Honorable Misses
has determined not to make public your
misdemeanol; but do hereby adjudge
you to kneel before each CT these ladies
separately. ask their forgiveness, and give
them your promise that you will never at
tempt anything of the kind during your
whole life. Then return to me and sign
d
which shall be left with the court for your
future good behavior. After which you
must have cupful of cold water poured
over your head. This you can show your
comrades as evidence that you won the
bet. Now, sir"
He arose from his knees, and, walking
straight up to Anna Vessey, knelt before
her, and executed that part of his sem
tence. Then to Florilla, and 50 on to all
of us, using different terms to every one,
such apparent sincerity. that we were
secretly enraptured with, and forgave him
readily, though Lone of us spoke.
Then came the water ceremony. Yes
tella filed large cut glass pitcher with
water, and, making him stoop with his
face over the washstand, poured it over
his head. Then we each filled it in turn
and poured it over his head and down his
neck. until his cttftfll urls We're all Strengthened
out, and no two hairs we're lying in the
same direction.
Nov, SIR" said Vestelia, ''you can
sign this confession. and then 60 down the
way you came up. You are g a good path.
hnder," and hope you will not get caught
again. Tell your comrades that you found
the tall fierce one wide awake"
He crept to the window. We followed
him to the balustrade, saw him reach the
ground and run nimbly down the lawn
The whole scene had occupied but little
more than an hour. Having assisted
Vestella to arrange her bed. we scuttled
back to our own.
So ended the "Midnight Invasion"