Oxford Democrat., 1909-10-05
ON THE ROOF,
He Didn't Want to Seize the 0p.
portunity, but She Did.
sv HARRIET LUMMls SMITH.

/
rurities building. It's worth seeing,
you know"
Prudence should have vetoed the sug-
gestion. For the longer half Of the
blissful afternoon Viola had been aware
that Raymond's eyes were saying more
than they should and that their mute
eloquence was singularly sweet and
satisfying. Considering the fact that
she was as good as engaged to another
man, discretion counseled flight. A
voice within, an authoritative voice,
cried out that at the best the day
would soon be over and urged her to
make the most Of it.
Viola compromised. "Mr. Raymond
suggests our getting view Of the city
from the top Of one Of the skyscrap-
ers," she said, turning to her out Of
town guests. "If you are not too
tired And her heart leaped at the
promptness of their protests.
She walked beside Raymond silently,
glad that he, too, seemed to have moth
ing to say. She was frightened to find
herself clinging so fiercely to the JOY
Of that afternoon together. He had
come upon them quite by accident, but
Viola knew that but for her he would
have lifted his hat and gone his way.
The gladness that leaped to her eyes
at the sight Of him, the tremOr in her
voice as she spoke his name, had
been his undoing-and hers. They had
lunched and taken drive along the
boulevards. Viola's country cousins
had had the time Of their lives. And
now the western sky was red. and the
time for saying goodby was near.
They stood looking down upon the
city. Raymond, as in duty bound,
pointed out the objects Of interest.
The country cousins hung upon his
words and declared that they would
not have missed the sight for any
thing. AS for Viola, she had no eyes
for the crawling streets between the
steep cliffs of brick and stone nor for
Tue CluN idi bVio"' Dho
zenly she feasted her eyes upon him.
He turned suddenly and looked into
her eyes, and his own caught fire. A
moment later they were standing to-
gether in an angle Of the roof, shell
tered from the view of their cOmpan-
ions. The noise of the city below them
seemed far away.
Raymond broke the spell by down.
ward gesture. II wish 1t were all
mine"
"You mean the whole town? What
greediness. she laughed.
$50 that l could give 1t all to YOU"
"Thank you, but I'm not ambitious
to be plutocrat. OF course one must
have the things one is used to. Pow
erty is the worst Of ALL"
as it," His eyes challenged hers.
"Oh, don't! You make it so hard for
me.'
"You make it hard for yourself when
you fight against Your heart"
"Oh, you don't understand, Phil. 1t
isn't as IL had only myself to think
Of"
do you ever give thought to me"
She put her hands over her ears in
sudden tremor. II she listened longer
she was lost. 81 must CO." she said
hurriedly. w've stayed longer than 1
should, but it was so pleasant" She
turned in a panic and fed across the
roof, and he followed slowly. When he
overlook her her eyes were dilated.
They're gOne!' she gasped.
"Who"
"Why, Leonard and Bessie. What
could have induced them to go without
us?"
81 don't know, I'm sure. But they
will be waiting for us below without
doubt"
He tried the door, ratified the knob
sharply and met questioning her gaze
with blank stare. We're locked up
here" he exclaimed. Then as Viola
laughed Historically he added In haste:
Don't be frightened. 1t will be very
easy to attract some Cne's attention"
Half an hour later, flushed and drip
ping with perspiration as result OF
his fruitless exertion, he acknowledg-
I'd his mistake. "YOur cousins must
have thought we had gone down be-
fore them. But after they get home
and we fail to make our appearance 1t
will Of course occur to somebody that
we're still up here. And the only
thing to do is to resign ourselves to
wait with what patience we can mus.
ter"
She looked at him reproachfully, but
he did not meet her eyes. He sat
some distance from her, staring moodi.
ly at the roof. Furtively Viola put
back her veil and smoothed her hair.
Apparently her appearance was to him
a matter of complete indifference. He
never turned his eyes.
Her sense Of resentment found voice
ut last. "Are you going to sit here in
absolute silence? Haven't you any.
thing to say?"
81 have plenty to say, but I can't
say 1t without taking advantage Of the
situation"
A long silence; then Raymond felt
the slipping Of small hand down his
sleeve. 81 rather think, Phil" said a
tremulous voice, "that l want you to
take advantage Of the situation"
Help was long in coming. AS the
darkness fell Viola drew closer. and
her hand stole into his Of its own &C.
cord.
1t was a night without star, and
for that reason it was the more star
tling when suddenly binding illumi-
nation lit up the space where they sat.
Viola shrieked and hid her face on her
lovers shoulder.
"Onlv searchlight dearest. Rather
startling on this pitch black night,
wasn't it?"
Viola blushed in his arms. Phil,
do you suppose anybody-saw?
The young man smiled. Perhaps"
he acknowledged. I'm fact, little girl,
l rather hope somebody did"
Fifteen or twenty minutes later the
sound Of approaching footsteps told
them that release was ut hand. Ray
mond shouted. There was sound of
key turning in the lock. A grinning
policeman and the watchman Of the
building confronted them. Explana-
tions were exchanged. The elevator
had stopped running at 6 o'clock, and
the two young people descended the
endless flights Of stairs rs blithely as
if thar ,uora xun nlkinQ ON mir