The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-06

the grip. We're fearful OF pneu.
Sylvia's heart tfuTnped violently.
I'm SO sorry" she said sympathet-
ically. rs he delirious?"
The nurse looked at her curiously
NO, not exactly. He talks In hia
sleep sometimes. Are you a friend of
Mr.. Laurison's?"
II know him slightly" stammer-
ed Sylvia. Then, after a moment she
added timidly: 'Is Mr. Laurison con-
scious?"
"Oh. yes; he's conscious"
Then please give him this" begged
Sylvia, extracting little crumpled
PAPER from a mysterious hiding place.
Don't let him read 1t till he's better.
He'll know who sent It," Then Sylvia
made one Of her characteristically dra-
matte exits.
The days that followed stretched
solernnly on into weeks. Occasionally
Sylvia inquired of the elevator boy
how Mr. Laurison was getting on. 1t
seemed an eternity before his lugu-
brious About the same, miss"
changed to the cheerful '"They saw he's
No more counselings now with Dame
Grundy as to the propriety OF trips to
the roof. Sylvia went every day-twice
day. She knew that some time she
would find him there. When at length
she did, she almost ran to him for joy,
but remembered. suddenly that they
had met only once before So she CALI
ed to him from the distance.
How do you do, Mr.. Laurison?"
Paul started up in his steamer
chair and gazed at her in glad sur
prise.
why, how do you do AGAIN." he
called cheerily. won't you come over
and shake hands?"
Sylvia came toward him quickly and
extended her little white hand.
II suppose this is Miss s. r. have
the pleasure of greeting" said Paul.
with cordial informally.
Yes, Sylvia Randall" she answered
IT like the queens name" Paul COM
mented, land wish 1 could ask her to
stay a while, but have no throne to
offer her."
without further ceremony, Sylvia
sat down on the roof and declared her
self comfortable.
ct want to thank you, Miss Sylvia"
began Paul slowly, for your message
while was i'll. 1t did me a world of
good"
was making fun of her, but Paul lay
back against the cushions, his eyes APP
parently closed. From beneath those
closed lids. however he was reveling
in the glory of sylvia's hair in the
color that came and went in her
cheeks.
'1 wrote it." explained Sylvia, hum
bly,, before knew you were Ill and
before I found out that you are a real
author"
And how did you discover that?"
inquired Paul.
''In a magazine" answered Sylvia
tersely. 1T was good story-much
better stuff than your rhymes
well, you see, writing poetry isn't
exactly in my line" said Paul, laugh
ing. 81 never did 1t till I met you.
But like 1t just the same same. My
two favoritc lines are these:
''P. L. was a poet-P. L. was a thief.
P. L. came to my house and stole a
handkerchief"
Sylvia hung her head, whether from
modestry or amusement, Paul couldn't
tell.
1.-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 cryei1 You had my
handkerchief"
After this suspicious beginning, tho
chimney postof1ce was a wonderfully
busy institution, and the old roof woke
up all of a'sudden to its many roman
tic possibilities.
tits truly a garden, isn't t?'' wllis-
pered Sylvia one night, stealing about
in the moonlight with Paul beside her.
In6 queens SdTQen, answered
Paul, and Sylvia didn't dispute him.
Then, after minute of silence. he
added: "aark! I hear some one try
ing to get over the garden WALL
"oh. dear! By the fire escape7"
gasped Sylvia. Paul shook his head.
''Liste7!'' he urged. You can hear
his wings
"Oh," laughed Sylvia shyly. ''I know
now"
Shall we help him over?" asked
Paul. drawing Sylvia gently to him.
HE doesn't seem 10 need much
help" niurmured Sylvia. so softly that
Paul could hardly hear the words
Copyrighted, 1907, by Jessie Nor
gan.)