The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-24
DOLLY RIVERS.
A BOarding school story.

The malicious grin on Nina Jansen's
face as she informed Dolly Rivers that
Miss Tabitha Primrose wanted TO see her
at once told Dolly plainly as words thar
Nina had been telling ta.es
Edna and the other ten members of the
Alpha Secret Society" had also jumped
to a similar conclusion, and they were an
anxious lot of young ladies' as they waited
for Dolly's return from that "star cham
Der" the Misses Primrose study.
They had not long to wait Dolly reap
peared in ten minutes, bright red spot
in either cheek and a naughty poise to
her head which told of righteous indigna-
ton The dinner bell rang just at that
moment. and as the Misses Primrose were
Veritab.e martinets in the matter of punct-
uality the AlDhas had to curb their burn
ing curiosity tia the evening meal was
over
As the saucers of canned cherries (each
supplemented with thin slab of sawdustv
sponge cake were passed around there
was a quick exchange of glances among
me plotters, which, luckily, no one noticed
The meal over, the ten Alphas, as if by
concerted signal, made straight for Dolly's
room. Then the door was locked, the key
hole was stuffed, while all conversation
was carried on in a whisper
well, said Edna, as they all huddle4
together, well, tel us all about il.
suppose that red-headed thing, Nina has
been telling tales as USUAL
Yes replied Dolly, I'm afraid she
has for Miss Tabitha said that it had
Just come to her that secret society had
been formed which seemed TO be making
it its chief business to find fault with The
management of the school. She saws she
mas never approved of school societies
ana OF course after what she has lust
heard she must insist that our society be
Immediately done away with If she finds
our mat we are holding secret meetings
she will suspend all the members for a
month. There added Dolly, that's what
We nave to thank Miss Nina forr
Eloquent silence reigned for half a min
ute; then Edna spoke up.
Does Miss Tabitha forbid our VISITING
you in your room, Dolly?''
No replied that young lady. AT
least nothing was said about it,"
Good" calculated Edna, IN a stage
whisper Then l propose we go right On
with our plan 10 confiscate the canned
cherries Remember. each girl is to get
rid of two cans. The empty cans are 10
be hid in Doly's bookcase till we have A
good opportunity to get them out of The
house without notice. 1 have already a
half plan for getting revenge on Miss Ia
bltha and teaching Nina a lesson at tha
same time" 5.
The girls besought Edna to tell Thorn
about her great plan, but she only smiled
and shook her head. Wait" was ali she
would say.
That night just before bedtime one A,pba
after another stole down to the storeroom
and carried off two cans of cherries. As
they were Kept on a top shelf by them
selves, and, as the next evening was their
ntSht of, steWed plunes appearing in
stead, the girls rather thought their alb
sence would not be noticed for at least
twenty-four hours. And very likely such
would have been the case but for that
prying Nina, who felt that something was
going on and made it her business to fled
out all about it,
Nina Jansen was the daughter of a poor
country clergyman, and as SUCH the Misses
Primrose took her at a reduced rate And
these excellent ladies did not let Nina for
get the fact. Nina was toady by nature
and in her efforts to curry favor with the
teachers had made herself very unpopular
with the other girls. Nor was she by any
means a favorite with the Misses Primrose.
For, though they often found her useful
they did not like her.
Buto to return to Ednas great plan
That very afternoon she had overheard
Nina remark to another girl that she ex-
pected big box of goodies from home on
Friday. was then Tuesday. Now Nina
knew just as well as anybody that mid
night spreads were strictly forbidden. The
Misses Primrose always insisted that when
a box of edibles came from home they
should he brought down to the table and
shared by the others. The punishmen5
for disobeying was the confscation of the
contents of the box. III mr. muttered Ed
ma to herself. "Ninas box is to arrive on
Friday. l wonder if it will hold-but dear
me! How can ! get the box before Nina
sees it! All, l think | know how / can