Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-09-01

hhhk you, he SAID, when ne
reached the pavement. al wish
could help you take the ladder To IT.
place. Good night a."
He started across the street Atthe
opposite curb he paused and marked
his liherator's progress back to the
roof by the shadow rising from story
to story as she turned or the electri,
current at each lamp when she reached
| it,
Henderson Meigs was n light hearted
young man, whose salary was sufficient
to enable him to occupy top hall
room in fashionable boarding house,
and to dress i'll style BETTING u
young gentleman with social amhi.
tions. He was also Jealous in business,
with an eye to an increase of pay and
a possible partnership. So the morn
ing after his adventure at the gate he
was prompt at his desk, where his
duties occupied his attention SO fully
that he had no time for thoughts OF
his visit to tho roof the night before,
further than to observe mentally that
it would he very pleasant to smoke a
cigar up there after lunch. This idea
REQUIRED to him on his way home, and
he determined to cultivate friendly
relations with the janitor.
His easy, hand manners won that
official. and when ut last he preached
the subject of occasional visits to the
roof he was somewhat taken aback by
the hcartiness of the invitation.
"Come up whenever you feel like it.
There's always breeze up there, and
you'll find the family sociable "
At his first visit Henderson found
the family absent, but at the second
he was more fortunate. He was cor
daily welcomed by Caroline, whom he
found in cool attire enjoying the
brcezes of the roof
Il love to smell good cigar. George
smokes such strong old pipe she
said, when Mt hcrrequest he had lighted
n cigar. ''No, don't move; / sad /
loved it"
Henderson looked Mt her askancc,
and mentally asked:
''ls she artless, or is this csndor
merely plain statement that George
is only friend OF the family?"
She was soon interested III his chat
ter, and before he was ready to go his
cigar wns burning his fingers. As an
excuse to prolong his visit he said he
would like to look over the edge OF the
,,,tA a., I.l,,,. Che
and went with him, cautioning him not
to lean over too far. Down in the
courtyard IL fountain was throwing up
tiny streams that broke into drops,
which fell glistcnlng III sunbeam re-
Elected from window several stories
above the tagging. The motion of the
water was pleasing, and Henderson
looked steadily Mt it. Suddenly the
fountain seemed to leap toward him,
and before his eyes there WAS dense
darkness.
When he could next distinguish OBJ
jects he was some distance from the
roofs edge and before him stood Caro-
line, her fncc white and strained. She
WINS trembling and her lips were shut
rs if they could not part, SO firmly had
she closed them wncu making the
supreme effort Of her life. In m in
slant he realized that he had grown
dizzy and would have fallen to the
stones in the court yHrd had she not
prevented it, That he had fallen he
knew from the bruised feeling on his
arm and shoulder, but Ii" Ind come in
contact with the pehhled surface of the
hut roof. He put out his hands toward
her and strovc to speak M he moved
forward. She mrde deprecatory
gesture and took step backward,
then turned and fled Supplied by
her action he CROPPED his way like IA
blind man after her into the kitchen,
Not finding her there, he sought the
main stairs and staggered down to his
office. There he threw himself ON
lounge, and i'll explanation Of the
shuddcrI that convulsed him at inter
walls he said he had chill.
1t was several days before he went
to the roof again. To find Caroline at
homo both embarrassed him and gave
him pleasure. He was glad to see her,
yet was embarrassed by the feeling
that no words could adequately eX-
press his sense of obligation to her.
She endcnvorcd to put him Mt his ease.
II didn't tell anybody but George,
and he said it wasn't SO hard to do ii
II person was only quick.
Eyes, but you did it, and came to
tell you how deeply grateful | am to
you
"Oh, it wasn't anything, really! l
did only my duty to try to keep you
from falling that awful distance
Almost every work-day after that he
smoked cigar on the roof, and fire.
quently he met and chnttcd with Car
oline, whose interest i'll him amounted
to friendship. Sometimes George
Dunwcll joined them, and though he
was not rude to Henderson, it was
patent that he had no liking for him
At his next visit Henderson found
Caroline and her father and George on
the roof, and was cordially received by
the janitor and his daughter, but
George did not look Mt him. He sat
in silence all the while refusing to nc
knowledge any word addressed to him.
Henderson remained until he had
his cigar, and when he went
away the ianitor accompanied him to
the elevator. On returning to the
roof Mr.. Graham found Caroline and
George holding an earnest CONVERSE
ton. He looked surly and defiant,
and she was mad, but very much in
earnest. The janitor turned away,
but Caroline called to him: "Comc
here, father, and hear what | said to
George"
"You had better fight it out your
selves, Mr.. Graham said, uneasily, as
he drew near them.