The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1907-09-19


risk. Accordingly he Inscribed his
rhymes TO :. NJ" ana that he might
not be accused of unfai:neSs signed
his own initials He then fastened the
Jingle with clothespin To the top o:
lace collar. Tile monogram hand
kerchief he appropriated.
Later in the afternoon II shower de
veioped Unexpectedly. and Sylvia
rushed up to the roof. There was no
stopping between drops To read non.
sense rhymes. so she gathered them in
with her washing and hurried down
stairs
''Sillier." WAS her only comment
when she read them In the privacy of
her room. Then. the loss of her hand
kerchief dawning suddenly upon her
she pronounced ~. L." not only
bold. bad poet but n sneak thief. and
for days stunned the roof reigously.
Finally. however. curiosity got the
better of her. and she ventured to go
up just once more and see what would
happen. The prospect wasn't promis-
ing The only person in sight was
trained nurse hanging out blankets.
Il hope no one is very ILL., remarked
Sylvia.
well. 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"
Sylvias heart thumped violently.
I'm so sorry" she said sympathetic.
ally. rs he delirious?'
The nurse looked at her curOusly
"No, not exactly. He talks In his sleep
LaurisOn's?''
II know him slightly" stammercd
Sylvia. Then. after a moment, she
added timidly. rs Mr. Laurison con
scious?"
"Oh. yes; he's conscious"
"Then please give him this" begged
Sylvia, extracting little crumpled pa
per from "A mysterious hiding place.
Don't let him read ii till he's better.
He'll know who sent it," Then Sylvia
made one OF her Enthusiastically dra-
matte exits.
The days that followed stretched sol
EMMY on into weeks. Occasionally Syl-
via inquired Of the elevator boy how
Mr. I.aurison was getting on. 1t seem
Ell an eternity before his lugubriOus
about the same. MISS" changed to
the cheerful They say he's much bet
ter, miss
No more counselings now with Dame
L., ,r;A ~ trty To
the roof Sylvia went every day-twice
day. She knew that some time she
would find him there. When ut length
she did she almost ran to him for JOY,
but remembered suddenly that they
had met only once before. SO she call
ed to him from the distance.
"How do you do. Mr.. LaurisonT'
Paul started up in his steamer chair
and gazed at her in glad surprise.
"Why. how do you do again?' he
called checrily. won't you come over
and shake hands"
Sylvia came toward him quickly and
extended her little white hand.
Il suppose this is Miss :. II. ! have
the pleasure of greeting" said Paul,
with cordial informality.
"Yes-Sylyia Randall" She answered.
Il like the queens name" Paul COM
mentei, "and wish I could ask her to
stay awhile. bat | have no throne to
offer her"
Without further ceremony Sylvia sat
down on the roof and declared herself
comfortable.
II want to thank you, Miss Sylvia"
began Paul slowly. for your message
while was IL 1t did ne a world OF
good"
Sylvia looked up at him 10 see If he
was making fun Of her, but Paul lay
back against the cushions. hi eyes ap-
parently closed From beneath those
closed ids, however, he WAS revelnS
in the glory of Sylvia's hair and In the
color that came and went in her
cheeks.
~ wrote It," explained Sylvia hum
bly,, "before knew you were Ill and
before found ont that you are real
author"
And how dii you discover that in
CURED Paul
In magazine" answered Sylvia
tersely 1T was a good story-mnch
better than your rhymes
well. you see. writing poetry isn't
exactly In my line" said Paul. laugh
ing ~ never did it till met you.
But Ike II Just the same. My two
favorite lines are these:
"P L. was a poet: p l.. was thief;
p L. came 10 my house and stole a hand
kerchief
Sylvia hung her head, whether from
modesty or amusement Paul couldn't
tell
The paper they were written on
was suspiciously watermarked," he OBJ
served You didn't really cry, did
you"
Rain vets things" answered Sylvia
IacOnically. Besides, what good would
!t have done to cry? You had my
handkerchief"
After this auspiciouS beginning the
chimney postoiiice was wonderfully
busy institution. and the Old roof woke
up all Of "A sudden to its many roman
tic possibilities.
ITS truly d garden. isn't it?' whis-