The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-05-01

! went to my storehouse again, and this
time pulled out an old fre-cscape. 1t
was long piece Of webbing that would
reach to the ground, with piece of iron
in one end. Now l thought ! could
surely make some body SEQ. dragged it
to the edge of the roof at the back, flung
the end over, hoping that father would
see 1t dangle before the parlor window.
This had an effect, but it was on row
OF tenement houses on the street behind
us. Women began to be interested in
my proceedings. First one woman APP
peared at her window. hands resting on
the sill, sleeves rolled up. and frouzy
head stuck out, staring wonderingly at
me. Then another window blossomed
out with another frouzy head, and so it
went on till l had as many as half a
dozen staring at me in dumb amazement
at least | suppose it was dumb,
couldn't hear any thing. Then began
TO wave my arms and beckon to them.
They only stared the harder, and now
and then one would look back in the
room and then another head or two
would appear beside her; but the idea
that ! was trying to communicate with
them never seemed to occur to them.
Then new thought struck me, and l
began to walk back and forth and saw
my fre-escape across the house.
thought il father saw something moving
before the windows he must notice it.
But not word did hear from that.
Then l tried the front, though /
dreaded exposing my plight to the
street. / might have spared myself the
anxiety, for no one noticed me except
some little boys playing in the street.
called. but could not make them
hear; l made motions TO them, and now
and then one would see me and point
up. and two or three would stare q
minute and then return to their pay. l
couldn't make them understand that
wanted any thing.
Up to this time had been too excited
to get cold; but now began to suffer.
Once more returned to my attic, and
pulled out piece Of carpet 1t was
dusty and not oyer-nice for covering,
but could do no better, SO wrapped it
around my shivering shoulders, and l
must have looked more like crazy crca-
ture than before.
Time was passing, too; it was already
late; was getting desperate. Should /
have to stay here till Biddy came up to
bed? pounded more vigorously than
ever. l shouted down the attic till
was hoarse. and at intervals / walked
back and forth and sawed my fire.
escape. till at last flung it over, think
ing Biddy must see it then.
All this time had been rejecting; /
was now much too late for Aunt Dur
gins, and my mothers manner had i'm
pressed me with the Importance OF it.
Whatever might be the consequences,
had no one to blame but myself; that
| was the hardest to bear.
1t was growing dark: began to be
frightened. Suppose should not be
able to make them hear at all! Suppose
had to stay there all night! The Thought
was terror. The house was in block;
other doors opened from attics; people
sometimes came out. even, as l know to
my cost, burglar once entered through
an empty house and went down through
several scuttle-doors
began to feel . real panic; the
thought Of flinging myself over began
to haunt me. That may seem foolish to
you. perhaps; but try it once yourself,
and If you can realize the hopelessness
OF making yourself heard by any thing
YOU can do, you will not be surprised
that one gets nervous over it.
| Whe got wrought up to that pitch
CHANGED to notice three little boys in
| the yard Of the tenement houses, look
| ing up at me. beckoncd to them
eagerly. They were gamins; theil
street education had sharpened their
wits; they comprehended that wanted
them. As one boy they nodded, and
started on run around the block.
Hope entered my heart once more.
went to the front. There they were
and with them-O, blessed relief two
| policemen.
| They saw me, and then they and the
three boys, and sundry others who had
collected, disappeared in our area. Their
long time passed, parleying with Biddy
suppose. trying to make her let them
in.
was in agony. Ten minutes, which
| seemed like an hour, passed, and then
with a JOY ! never could have believed
such vision could inspire, saw the
head Of a policeman above the garre
roof.
| But let me 20 back little and tel
how things went on in the house. Abou
two hours after l had gone-as ever,
one supposed-Biddy went up to he
room to dress. She was startled b.
mysterious sounding knocks and voices
as she thought. She knew no one wa
in the house except my father down
stairs. She was superstitious; she raj
down with a wild face, and met m
mother in the hall. She declared tina
there were ''spirits" up stairs. whisper
ing, and knocking, and groaning.
My mother laughed at her, and wen
up to the third story. She too hear
mufied knocks. and what sounded lik
voices, which she could not account 70
or loca te. She went into all the rooms
she looked in every closet; she saw tn
spring door closed, and she neve
thought of any one being up there.
Suo NdS d llGtlc StdTIleu ucE6Oll
though she did not think it was spirits
and she got father up there. He wen
to please her, though he poohed an
said it was nonsense, etc. Whe
he got there the noises had stopped
probably that was when ! was coaxin
the street boys. So he said Nor
sense" more emphatically than evel
; and came down.
When the two policemen with thei
clubs pounded on the door and d,
manded admittance. and Biddy went
the door, she was scared again; and the
walked right In.
"What do you want ?" asked m
father, meeting them in the hall.
! 1--WE want the mad woman on YOU
roof" they said,
j ''Good heavens cried my mothe