The Colfax chronicle., 1890-06-28

unlock the trap-door from the third
story into this attic, on which we had
put spring lock after burglar had
scared us by coming down that way,
there came into my mind, with almost
ominous distinctness, my fathers eau
rion:
snow remember" he said, necer go
into the attic without putting something
under the door, SO that it can't fall and
lock you out, whatever happens"
paused. / had nothing to put under.
glanced around the attic--nothing was
there. should have to go downstairs,
and / had no time to spare.
I'm be careful" l said to myself,
land it'll be all right. Fathers fussy."
Thus thoughtless I settled my own
fate, for heedlessness was my fault.
Was, / say, for that night taught me
something. But to go on.
l opened the door tit stood straight
up,) went out, and after good look at
the world from that elevated point col
lected little basketful of stones, and
rejecting that it was cooler than l
thought, and / should have to wear a
wrap to Aunt Durgin's, went back to
the trap-door.
don't know how 1t happened; sup
pose had not opened the spring-door
quite wide, and my jarring the roof
started it-but suddenly it fell with a
bang, pushing down the step-ladder by
which / reached the roof. could have
jumped down into the attic, but could
not get back; and thought it safer to
lie on the roof where / could attract
somebody's attention.
My first thought was: 'Dear me! If 1
should be late to Aunt Durgin'sr' but
the second was more serious: How was
l going to arouse anybody? The only
persons in the house were my father
giving q music lesson in the back-parlor,
and our one maid busy with her work in
the kitchen. Every one knew was go
ing out to tea, and so no one would be
surprised at my absence.
There was an old chair on the roof, for
we sometimes went up there in warm
evenings, and sat down on it to think
the matter over.
Then began to find that it was very
cool, and every little cold 1 took had a
most annoying trick of settling in one
tooth, ulcerating, and putting up my face
like pumpkin. took off my white
apron and tied it over my head.
Then / went to work to rouse the
household. In the attic, nearly under
the trap door, was shelf, on which
were packed away many things. laid
down on the roof, leaned over, and
found could reach it. First l pulled
out curtain stick, and then ! thought
I was safe; could surely make noise
enough with that. Igot up and pounded
on the roof, and even on the skylight,
hoping to attract somebody; though /
knew Biddy wouldn't come up for hours
and my father was SO absent-minded
that l hadn't much hopes he would no
tice it.
When grew tired of that amusement
l went to my storehouse again, and this
time pulled out an old fre-escape. 1t
was long piece Of webbing that would
reach to the ground, with piece Of iron
in one end. Now / thought l could
surely make some body see. dragged it
to the edge of the roof at the back, flung
the end over, hoping that father would
see it 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 ap-
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 / had as many as half a
dozen staring at me in dumb amazement
: at least l suppose it was dumb, 1
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 l was trying to communicate with
them never seemed to occur to them.
Then a new thought struck me, and l
began to walk back and forth and saw
my fire-escape across the house. 1
thought II 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 play. /
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 I returned to my attic, and
pulled out piece of carpet. 1t was
dusty and not over-nice for q covering,
but could do no better, SO wrapped it
around my shivering shoulders, and
must have looked more like crazy crea-
f,,r than hofo~o