A MODERN DIOGENES

"Half-past nine. Sh! Yes, down in the old laundry."

"Who's coming?"

"The whole club. No end of fun."

This whispered conversation took place in the upper corridor. Many of the girls had come from schools where frolics were looked upon as an almost heinous crime, and strict rules and surveillance had made their lives a burden to them.

It was about ten o'clock when ghostly figures began to slip through the dark halls. Lights had been extinguished at nine-thirty and all was now silent.

Miss Preston was in her room in a remote part of the house, and most of the other teachers had rooms in the adjoining building. The laundry in this house was never used, and stout blinds shut out--and in--all light.

Tap, tap, tap.

"Who's there?" was whispered from within.

"C. C. C., open for me."

The door opened, and in skipped a figure arrayed like the six already a.s.sembled, in a warm dressing-gown and a high peaked paper cap, with white tissue mask and spy-holes.

All spoke in whispers, so it was almost impossible to recognize any one.

But this only added to the fun and mystery. "Spread the feast, girls; the others will soon be here. Let's see, how many are there? Seven! Why don't the other five hurry? I wonder which ones here aren't here?" one girl laughingly whispered.

"They'll come, never fear, but their rooms are nearer 'headquarters,'"

said another.

"What luck! Miss Preston doesn't suspect a thing. I met her in the hall just before 'lights' bell, and she said as innocently as could be, 'You look as though you were quite ready for the "land o' dreams," Elsie, but so long as you do not take a gallop on a "night mare" all will be well,'

and I could hardly help laughing when I thought how soon I might be equipped for one."

"This fudge is my contribution," said another.

"Hold on, girls! I've a brilliant idea," said Toinette. "Who's got a long hairpin? Good! that's fine. Now prepare for something delectable," and, straightening out the pin, she stuck a marsh mallow on it and held the white lump of lusciousness over the one candle until it was toasted a golden if rather smoky brown.

Tap, tap, tap.

"It's the others. Quick! let them in, for it's half-past ten already."

The signals were exchanged, and in walked not five but nine more figures.

"Oh, girls, such luck! Just as I came out of my room I ran right into Maud Hans...o...b..s arms, and she _wouldn't_ let me go till I'd told her what was up and promised to let her and the other girls share our fun. She said they suspected something was up, and they were bound to share it. And such a spread! Land knows how they got it! Just look."

The tubs were now groaning under their burden of king apples, cookies, which bore a striking resemblance to those served at dinner; crackers, which had surely rested in the housekeeper's pantry, and, joy of joys, a huge tub of ice cream, to say nothing of what the original five brought.

"Now, girls, come on! Let's eat our cream and make sure of it in case of accidents," said the stout red ghost, in red cap and mask, who presided over the tub. "No time to get plates, so hand over anything you've got, and excuse the elegance of my spoon. It's cook's soup spoon, and may give the cream an oniony flavor, but that will add to the novelty," she said as she served it.

"Who is she, anyhow?" asked one girl, who sat eating cream from a soap dish.

"Haven't the least idea. One of the old girls, I dare say, but who cares when she can conjure up such delicacies?"

As midnight struck appet.i.tes and feast came to an end.

"I vote," whispered one girl, "that we all take off our masks and have a good look at each other, so we'll know who's who when we meet in public."

"It's a go," whispered several others, and off they all came.

"Let's have more light," said the donor of the cream, and reached up and touched the electric b.u.t.ton.

"Oh! Oh! Oh! Don't! Miss Preston will catch us!" cried dismayed voices, but Miss Preston herself stood before them, a red mask in one hand and a great spoon in the other.

"This isn't the first spread I've attended," she said, "and I hope it won't be the last. I've had too good a time. I had an idea the old laundry would prove an inviting place to-night, but I never attend a feast without my tub and candle--or electric light in this twentieth century--for, like another mortal who had a fancy for tubs and a candle, I am in search of honest folk.

"Your spread was a great success, girls. Only next time let me know beforehand. I may not be able to be present in person, but I can still furnish the tub and light, and it will be a comfort to me to know the menu in order to guard against future ills. Good-night. I'm ready for my bed, and I shouldn't wonder if you were, too," and, with a flourish of her red cap and big spoon, Miss Preston slipped through the door.

Some very wise ghosts sped away through the dark corridors, and whispered conversations were held far into the "wee, sma' hours."

The next day the story was all over the school, and met with various comments. One of Miss Preston's combined torments and blessings was the teacher of chemistry, a thoroughly conscientious woman, and exceptionally capable, but a woman who took life very seriously. Miss Preston used to say that Mrs. Stone must have been forty years old when she was born, and consequently had missed all her child and girlhood. She was kind and just to the girls, but could not for the life of her understand why they _must_ have fun, and that fun in secret was twice the fun that everybody knew about.

Well Miss Preston knew that Mrs. Stone would take advantage of her privilege as an old friend, as well as one of the oldest teachers, and come in her solemn way to discuss the latest escapade, pro and con, so she was not in the least surprised when there came a light tap upon her door that afternoon, and Mrs. Stone entered. "'Save me from my friends,'"

quoted Miss Preston, under her breath.

CHAPTER X

"THEY COULD NEVER DECEIVE ME"

"Well, Mrs. Stone, what can I do for you, and why such a serious expression?"

"My dear Marion," said Mrs. Stone, using Miss Preston's Christian name, as she sometimes did when more than usually solicitous of her welfare, "I've come to have a little talk with you regarding what happened last night, and I'm sure you will not take it amiss from one who has known you since your childhood."

"Do I often take it amiss?" asked Miss Preston, with an odd smile.

"Indeed, no; you are most considerate of my feelings, and I fully appreciate it, considering our business relations. Of course, I have not the slightest right to dictate to you, nor would I care to have you regard it in the light of dictation. It is only my extreme interest in your welfare that prompts me to speak at all."

"And is my welfare in serious peril now?" asked Miss Preston, half laughing as she recalled the previous evening's prank and her own very thorough enjoyment of the fun.

"No, my dear, not in peril, but I fear that you will never grow to look upon your position in the world with sufficient seriousness, for, I a.s.sure you, your responsibility is enormous."

"Would I could forget that mighty fact for one little fleeting moment,"

thought Miss Preston, but, aloud, she asked:

"And do you think that I am not fully conscious of it, Mrs. Stone?"

"Oh, most conscious! most conscious! You could not be more conscientious, I am sure, but you sometimes let a misdemeanor, such as occurred last night, go unpunished, and it establishes an unfortunate precedent, I fear."