New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-17

BY FRANCES POWELL
Copyright 1908. BY chari.. serisn.r. sons,

Cray fastened her 70 the great safe BY Pnflip's
door. and her thud OF contented settling down
for the night. then. once more. silence
lay unotiouless thinking. thinking;-some-
times remern boring stories OF others who. hks
ne. innocent OF crime. had endured what was
enduring-and inhuman treatment besides
Then. resolutely turning away from history's
teachings. striving 10 forget the miseries OF
those who had died IN prison. OF those whose
sufferings made mine as nothing. I set to re-
planning every detail OF my Fight, until the
nervous strain OF waiting became too great. and
I drove my thoughts backward into the past.
for time successfully. reliving hours OF my
childhood forgetting NY danger. my present
Surroundings. in the JOY Of recalling scenes
passed with my parents-rer1enberins their
every gesture. every word Then. with a sick
ening pang in my heart. my mind would swing
back With redoubled terror I stared az the
familiar objects surrounding me-the silken
curtains garlanded with lilies. the articles De
luxe on the dressing table. the weight OF lux
ury everywhere. and. on the lounge. the sleep
ing sentry So the night On-I2. half past.
I O'clock
I crawled steaIthiIy from the bed. drew rs
coverings to the pillows. that IL might bs
thought occupied. took from chair my cash
mere dressing gown and stole softly past Ma
thilde. I reached my dressing room. closed the
a sound from the room I had left, I put
few clothes-I dared not attempt dressing thor
Oughly-slipped into the dressing gown, drew
on a pair OF stockings. extinguished the night
lamp. and. opening the great French window.
crept out upon the veranda roof
The night was intensely dark Once on TIA
shed pail OF fog thick 10 fell Ike rain. en-
veloped ne The drawn blinds inside the closed
shutters OF my room prevented ray OF ught
N-r,- b.
feeling each inch Of the way. I crawled slowly
10 the edge OF the wet. slippery roof. Thai
reached. lay fat and stretched my arm over
and under. feeling for one OF the iron trelliseS
\ which must serve as ladder once down. I
meant 70 go 20 Mr.. Beverley and demand his
protection. He would help me reach the
/ Welborns in safety-defend me from Philip
/ felt had night TO ask this at his hands that
| any gentleman. knowing what threatened.
/ would hasten gladly TO my aid
| The open air restored my cornposurs- Ths
need OF muscular exertion steadied ny nerves.
/ The knowledge that FAR below lay the brick
/ pavement OF the kitchen area. that losing my
: balance and falling meant death. gave ne com
/ fort The roof. covered with stuff that felt Ike
/ canvas made no sound. The tin lined gutter
at its edge half fun OF water. deadening its
/ crackings.
/ Ny long peignofr wound about ny feet i'm
/
/ Shiny moisture from the roof. began TO slip
/ dangerously Suddenly my clamny fingers
! touched a spray OF dripping leaves / had
. found trellis. Twisting about. fattened NY
! self. batike. on the root. and backing cautious
/ ~. began to lower myself over the edge Inch
/ BY inch. every muscle strained and tense I de-
/ scended into space my feet fumbling for the
/ trellis- Presently I hung by my hands alone
4 one slipped, aha great effOrt-swingfng for
i ward I caught with both hands and feet ths
< twisted iron It creaked beneath my weight.
| its vines shOwering down wet leaves. great
| drops I chung. and held NY breath-liste1ing
| I thought 1 heard a faint sound below the
| veranda I waited. my heart filed the universe
| with the noise Of It's thrObbing BY and by I
| grew calmer. ventured 20 descend I had been
| mistaken no one was near
| This certainty sent thrill Of rapture. OF ex-
| u.tation tingling through ne. I tried not 20
| injure the vine that shared its support 90 gsn-
! erouslv. thrusting my feet. in Their drenched
| stockings. carefully among its delicate branches.
It's tendriIs caught ny bralds. / freed them gen
| tIy. At last my foot touched the veranda-
swung myself around 20 the inside Of the trellis-
! was free,
/ I turned-two strong arms closed around ne.
/ The cry OF despair that rose 10 ny lips was
I srnothered against a mans breast-PhiIips,
TO be continued)