The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-17


decided to take the risk. Accordingly he
Inscribed his rhymes TO S. r" and.
that he might not be accused Of Unfair
ness. signed his own initials. He then
fastened the Jingle with clotheSpin 20
the TOP Of a lace collar The monogram
handkerchief he appropriated.
Later in the afternoon "A shower devcl-
opcd unexpectedly and Sylvia rushed I'D
70 the roof. There was no stopping be-
tween drops 10 read nonsense rhymes so
she gathered them in with her washing
and hurried downstairs
Sillier, was her only comment when
/ she read them in the privacy OF her
room. Then, the loss of her handkerchief
dawning suddenly upon her, she pro-
nounced p. i. not only a bold, bad
poet but a sneakthief. and for days
stunned the roof religiously.
Finally, however, curiously got the bet
ter Of her and she ventured TO go I'D
just once more and see what would hap
pen. The prospect wasn't promising. The
only person in sight was a trained nurse
hanging out blankets.
Il hope no one is very ill.," remarked
Sylvia.
Wen, he's pretty sick" replied the
nurse, He took cold staying up here on
the roof too long after getting over the
grip. We're fearful Of pneumonia"
Sylvia heart thumped violently
I'm so sorry she said sympatheti-
cally. rs he delrious?"
The nurse looked at her curiously. mo,
not exactly. He talks in his sleep some
times. Are you a friend Of Mr.. Lauri-
son's?"
II know him slightly" stammered
/ Sylvia. Then, after moment. she add
ed tlmidly. as Mr. Laurison conscious? ."
"Oh, yes; he's conscious"
Then please give him this" begged
Sylvia, extracting a little crumpled paper
| from a mysterious hiding place Don't
! let him read il TIN he's better He'll
! know who sent it Then Sylvia made
/ one Of her characteristically dramatic
/ exits.
/ The days that followed stretched SOL
EMMY on into weeks. Occasionally Syl-
via inquired Of the elevator boy how Mr.
/ Laurison was getting on. II seemed an
eternity before his lugubrious About the
same. miss changed 10 the cheerful
| "rhey say he's much better miss"
/ No more cOunselings now with Dame
| Grundy as to the propriety of trips to the
roof. Sylvia went every day-twice a day
( She knew that some time she would ind
/ him there When at length she did she
/ almost ran 10 him for JOY. but remem-
/ bered. suddenly. that they had met only
/ once before. So she called to him from
/ the distance.
| How do you do Mr. Laurison7''
! Paul started up in his steamer chair and
gazed at her in glad surprise.
/ why, how do you do again?" he called
cheerily. Won't you come over and
shake hands?'
! Sylvia came toward him quickly and ex-
/ tended her little white hand
! Il suppose this is Miss S. r have the
pleasure of greeting2" said Paul, with
| cordial informaiity.
Yes, Sylvia Randall" she answered.
/ I Ike the queens name" Paul cons
mented, 'and wish I could ask her TO stay
while, but I have no throne to offer
( her"
Without further ceremony Sylvia sat
down on the roof and declared herself
! comfortable.
I want to thank you. Miss Sylvia" be
/ gan Paul slowly. for your message while
/ I was III. 1t did me world of good"
/ Sylvia looked up al him TO see II he was
making fun of her. but Paul lay back
! against the cushions, his eyes apparently
/ closed From beneath those closed lids.
/ however, he was reyeling in the glory Of
| Sylvia's hair and in the color that came
and went in her cheeks
L wrote It," explained Sylvia. humbly.
| before I knew you were I'll and before I
found out that you are real author"
And how did you discover that?'' in
quired Paul.
In magazine" answered Sylvia terse-
". 1T was good story-much better
stuff than your rhymes"
We'll, you see, writing poetry isn't ex-
actly in my line" said Paul, laughing. II
never did it till I met you. But 1 like IT
Just the same. My two favorite lines are
these:
/ F. l. was a poet-P. l. was thief
r. L. came to my house and stole a handkerchief.
/ Sylvia hung her head, whether from
modesty or amusement Paul couldn't
tell.
The paper they were written on was
suspiciously water-marked," he observed
You didn't really cry, did your"
Rain vets things answered Sylvia
/ laconically. Besides, what good would
1t have done to cry? You had my hand
kerchief"
After this suspicious beginning. the
chimney post-ofiice was a wonderfully
: busy institution. and the old roof woke
up all of a sudden to its many romantic
possibilities.
IT'S truly a garden, isn't it?" whis-
pered Sylvia one night, stealing about in
the moonlight with Paul beside her.
The queens garden" answered Paul
and Sylvia didn't dispute him
Then, after a minute Of silence he
added: 'Hark! hear some one trying 10
get over the garden WALL
"Oh, dear! By the fire escape?" gasped
| Sylvia. Paul shook his head
Listen" he urged. You can hear his
wings"
"Oh," laughed Sylvia shyly. Il know
now"
Shall we help him over?" asked Paul.
drawing Sylvia gently to him.
He doesn't seem to need much help. e
murmured Sylvia, so softly that Paul
could hardly hear the words