The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-02-07

darkness below. AS ne was about to
utter an assuring remark the sharp
rays of an electric light pierced the
gloom, and be caught sight of her just
turning the corner at the first landing,
where she let the current in the arc
Of another electric light. Thus she
ran on flooding the stairs with bril-
lance, and when at last she came to q
halt it was before the door of closet,
which was open when he reached her
side.
The step-ladder was heavy, and HI
staggered under its weight. Compass
sionately, yet with feeling of slight
contempt for his strength, she took
hold Of one end and helped him to
carry the ladder to the gate and put It
up. It reached near the top, and 10 6
moment he had cleared the gate.
Thank you," he said, when he
reached the pavement. 81 wish
could help you take the ladder to its
place. Good night.
He started across the street. Atthe
opposite curb he paused and marked
his hberator's progress back to the
roof by the shadow rising from story
to story as she turned off the electric
current at each lamp when she reached
t.
Henderson Meigs was light hearted
young man, whose salary was sufficient
TO enable him to occupy a top hall
room in fashionable boarding house,
and to dress in a style BETTING a
young gentleman with social ambl'
tions. He was also jealous in business,
with an eye to an increase Of pay and
q possible partnership. So the morn
ing after his adventure at the gate he
WIS prompt at his desk, where his
duties occupied his attention SO fully
that he had 10 time for thoughts Of
his visit to the roof the night before,
further than to observe mentally that
it would be very pleasant to smoke a
cigar up there after lunch. This idea
recurred to him on his way home, and
he determined to cultivate friendly
relations with the janitor-
His easy, off-hand manners won thai
Official, and when at last he broached
the subject of occasional visits to the
roof he was somewhat taken aback by
the heartiness of the invitation.
"Cone 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
;he 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
breezes Of the roof.
5s-==EsI love to suetf fa7get5od a. c1gE., Georgy-
smokes such strong old pipe" she
said, when at her request he had Lighted
r. cigar. "No, don't move; / said ]
loved it. ;"
Henderson looked at her askance
and mentally asked:
SIS she artless, or is this candoi
merely plain statement that George
S only friend OF the family?"
She was soon interested in his chat
ter, and before he was ready to go his
cigar was burning his fingers. AS aa
excuse to prolong nis visit be said he
would like to look over the edge OF the
roof into the court below. She rose
and went with him, cautioning him not
to lean over too far. Down in the
courtyard fountain was throwing up
tiny streams that broke into drops,
which fell glistening in sunbeam re-
fected from a window several stories
above the tagging. Themotion OF the
water was pleasing, and Henderson
looked steadily at it. Suddenly the
fountain seemed to leap toward him,
and before his eyes there was dens'
darkness.
When he could next distinguish OBJ
iects he was some distance from the
roofs edge and before him stood Caro-
line, her face white and strained. She
was trembling and her lips were shut
as if they could not part, so firmly had
she closed them when making the
supreme effort Of her life. In an IN.
stant he realized that he had grown
dizzy and would have fallen to the
stones in the court yard had she not
prevented it. That be had fallen he
knew from the bruised feeling on his
arm and shoulder, but he had come IN
contact with the pebbied surface OF the
fat roof. He put out his hands toward
her and strove to speak IS he moved
forward. She made a deprecatory
gesture and took step backward,
then turned and fed. Supplied by
her action be groped his way like a
blind man after her into the kitchen.
Not finding her there, ne sought the
main stairs and staggered down TO his
,ffice. There he threw himself on
lounge, and in explanation of ths
shudders that convuIsed him at inter
rails he said he had chill
1t was several days before he wen
20 the roof again To find Caroline at
home both embarrassed him and gave
MIN pleasure. He was glad to see her,
vet was embarrassed by the feeling
that no words could adequately ex-
press his sense of obligation to her.
She endeavored to put him at his ease.
81 didn't tell anybody but George,
and he said it wasn't so hard to do Il
person was only quick"
eyes, but you did it, and l came tt
tell you how deeply grateful I am to
you." :,
aOh, it wasn't anything, really !
did only my duty to try to keep yor
from falling that awful distance.
Almost every work-day after that he
smoked cigar on the roof, and fre-
quently he met and chatted with Car,
cline, whose interest in him amounted
to friendship. Sometimes George
Dunwen joined them, and though he
voc not rn1a to Henderson, 1t was