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

fEOm me ulnGu AOOt d SlOI y u1SAe VI
steps, communicating with the main
stairs, led to thejanitor's rooms. He
preferred to live at that altitude rathe,
than to have a suburban home. The
wide, graveled, fat roof WAS to him
yard, where, in boxes, his wife raised
flowers, and where he could at almost
any hour of the day-no matter how
high the temperature in which the
pedestrians on the pavements below
were sweltering-fnd breeze, which
he was wont to enjoy while, protected
from the sun by canvas stretched
above him like tent, he sat anc
moked his pipe.
Being so far from the din of tn,
city, Caroline felt untrammeled, her
natural exunerance was unchecked by
a consciousness that she was not OBJ
served, and when she tripped over the
-oof to take in the wash, or to water
the flowers, or in the performance OF
some other household duty, her song
WAS as unrestrained as if she were
mountain girl enjoying the freedom O.
forest.
Though she was usually gay she hat
Simes Of reverie, and one evening"
while following vein Of serious
thought es she sat under the tent and
watched the darkness deepen on the
bay, she heard footsteps on the gravel
behind her. Supposing that George
Duuwell, the engineer, had got over,
his pout and was coming to chat with
her, she did not turn her head.
The newcomer repeated his 81 beg
pardon" before she was aware that
there was stranger on the roof. She
started to her feet and faced about. 4
tremor shook her, and she ieit chok'
ing sensation when she saw tall man.
with full beard, standing near her.
Remembering that she was alone with
him on the top of that high building,
and that the big iron gate was lowered
before the main entrance, she wa'
afraid, yet she gasped:
''What do you want?"
81 want to get out, please" " he said
s'What are you doing in?" she in
quired, her courage returning at the
,ound of his pleasant voice.
ST worked too long, forgetting tha
the big gate would be closed 81 SIX.
Indeed, ! never thought of it at all till
it began to get too dark Tor me to see
the lines. Then, knowing I was
prisoner, I lit the gas and finished a
statement Of an account was making.
When it was done came up here tc
get the ianitor TO let me out.
s'He and mother and the children
are absent; he took the key to tie
side hall door with him. So you viii
have to wait till he comes back.
els there no way can get ont? ]
have an engagement for the evening
and want to keep 1t.
There is the fire escape" she re-
piled with smile.
''But that reaches to the second
foor only" he said, with no little i'm
patience.
Her smile disappeared, and, as if te
stone for her levity, she said:
81 will ring for George; he may be
down in the engine roo1n."
It was with struggle that she forced
herself to make this resolution, and
the effort was visible to the stranger,
but his anxiety to get away from the
building was such that he did not
demonstrate when she passed him on
her way ta the kitchen. Slowly She
went stairs, and he, moving
neaiisso . szssss11o e, gould see her hesi'
tate before pressing tle button OF an
electric bell. The light from an electric
lamp fell over her, defining the grace
full lines of hex slender figure, and as,
listening for reply to the signal, she
held her ear to the tube, he watched
with some compunction her expression
OF expectation gradually yield to one
vi disappointment.
..He's gone" she said, presently.
and the stranger fancied he heard he!
ugh.
''Do you think could climb the
gate?" he asked, pleasantly, hoping to
make her smile
''You might" she answered ser
iously. s'There's tall step-ladder on
the second floor; it would help yor
reach the top"
ssPlease show me the way to it, be
requested, coming into the kitchen.
Without word she took bunch o
KEYS from hook near the button she
had pressed so hard when signaling
20 the engine-room, and led the way