New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-04
LOST ON THE ROOF.
BY GEORGE MACDONALD.
lFrom Scrihner,s Monthly.

The moment Mrs. Wilson was gone, ex
pected to see Clara peep out from behint
the tapestry in the corner. but as she die
not appear, lifted 1t and looked in Their,
was nothing behind but closet almost filled
with books, not upon shelves, but heapeG
up from floor to ceiling. There had beer
just room and no more for Clara to stand
between the tapestry and the books. II
was of no use attempting to look for her
at least said so to myself, for as yet the
attraction of an old book was equal to that
of young girl. Besides, / always enjoyed
waiting up to certain point, Therefore,
resumed my place on the floor, with the
'Seven Companions" in one hand and my
chamber candlestick in the other.
L had for the moment forgotten Clara in
the adventure of st. Andrew of Scotland,
when the "silking" of her frock aroused me.
She was at my side.
"Well, you've had your dinner! Did she
give you any DESERT"
This is my DESSERT" | said, holding up
the book. Its far more than -"
Far more than your desert she pursued,
elf you prefer it to me-"
Il looked for you first" l said defen-
sively.
Where ?"
"ln the closet there"
"You didn't think l was going to wait
there, did you! Why, the very spiders are
But here's some dessert for you-if you're
as fond of apples as most boys" she added,
taking small, rosy-cheeked beauty from
her pocket.
| accepted it, but somehow did not oui e
relish being Jumped up with boys in that
fashion. As ate it, which | should have
felt bound to do, even had it been less ac-
ceptable in itself, she resumed
''Wouldn't you like to see the company
arrival That's what / came for I II
gong to ask Goody Wilson"
Yes, | should" | answered, "but Mrs.
Wilson told me to keep here, and not get in
their way"
"Oh, I'll take care of that We shan't
go near them. l know every corner of the
place-a good deal better than Mrs. Wilson.
Come along, Wilfred-that's your name,
isn't it :"
''Yes, it is. Am l to call you Clara p
eyes, if you are good-that is, if you
like. don't care what you call me. Come
along"
followed. A great clang of the bell in
the paved court fell upon our ears.
Don't you hear the music e. she said,
half Indignantly.
Il hear it now" | answered.
Come along she interrupted, eagerly.
ave shall just be in time to see them 90
across from the drawingroom to the ball
room. Come, come. Leave your candle"
l put down my book with some reluc-
lance. She led me into the armory, and
from the armory out on the gallery half
encompassing the great hall, which was
lighted up and full of servants. Opening
another door in the gallery, she conducted
me down a stair which led almost into the
hall, but, ascending again behind it, landed
us in a little lobby, on one side of which
was the drawingroom, and on the other the
ballroom, on another level, reached by
few high semicircular steps.
'Quick quick :" said Clara, and turn
ing sharply round she opened another door,
disclosing a square-built stone staircase
She pushed the door carefully against the
wall, ran up a few steps, L following in
some trepidation, turned abruptly and sat
down. | did as she did. questioning
nothing had committed myself to her
superior knowledge.
In a few minutes thereafter the door of
the drawingrOom opened; when, pair after
pair, the company, to the number of over
hundred and fifty, l should guess, walked
past the foot of the stair ON which we were
seated, and assembled the steps into the ball
room. The lobby was dimly lighted, ex-
cept from the two open doors, and there was
little danger of our being seen.
Last of all came Lady Brotherton, Sir
Giles wife, a pale, delicate looking woman,
leaning on the arm of a tall, lOng-necked,
would be-stately, yet insignificant looking
man. She gave shiver as up the steps
from the warm drawingroom she came at
once opposite our open door.
What draft there is here" she
said, adjusting her rose colOred scarf about
her shoulders. 1T feels quite wintry.
Will you oblige me, Mr. Mollet, by shutting
that door9 Sir Giles will not allow me to
have it built up. / am sure there are
plenty of ways to the leads beside that
EsThis dnor NV ladv ~ Mr
Mollet.
l trembled lest he should see us.
Eyes. Just throw it to-. There's spring
lock ON it. | can't think
The slam and echoing bang of the clos
ing door cut off the end of the sentence.
Even Clara was a little frightened, for her
hand stole into mine for a moment before
she burst ont laughing.
Hush hash 4" l said. "They will hear
you"
II almost wish they would" she said
"What goose | was to be frightened
and not speak. Do you know where we
are?
NO" 1 answered. How should L!
Where are WEI"
My fancy of knowing the place had van
ished utterly by this time. All my mental
charts of it had got thoroughly confused,
and do not believe l could have even
found my way back to the library.
"Shut out the leads" she answered
@'Come along. We may as well go and
meet our fate"
| confess to a little palpitatiOn of the
heart as she spoke, for l was not yet old
enough to feel that Claras companionship
made the doom light one. Up the. stairs
we went-here no twisting corkscrew, but
a broad fight enough, with square turn
ings; at the top was a door, fastened only
with a bolt inside-against no worse house
breakers than the winds and rains. When
we emerged, we found ourselves i'll the
open night.
Here we are in the moons drawing
room " SAID Clara.
The scene was lovely. The sky was all
now-the earth only a background or pc
destal for the heavens. The river far below
shone here and there in answer to the
moon, while the meadows and fields lay in
the oblivion of sleep, and the wooded hills
were only dark. formless masses. But the
sky was the dwelling place of the moon,
before whose radiance, penetratingly still.
the stars shrunk as if they would hide in
the flowing skirts of her garments. There
was scarce a cloud to be seen, and the
whiteness of the moon made the blue thin.
l could hardly believe in what l saw. 1t
was as if had come awake without getting
out of the dream.