The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-09-10
! on TIE ROOF.
He Didn't Want 10 Seize the 0p-
peftuaity, but She Did.
ey HARRIET luMMIs sMIrH.

look at the city from the top Of the Sc.
curities 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. mfr. Raymond
suggests our getting a view OF the city
from the top of one Of the skyscrap-
ers," she saidi 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
of 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
the crawling creatures far below Bra.
zenly she toasted her eyes upon him.
He turned suddenly and looked into
her eyes, and his own caught FIRE. A
moment later they were standing to.
getber 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 II we're all
mine"
''You mean the whole town. What
greedinessl' she laughed.
$50 that could give II all TO you"
"Thank you. but I'm not ambitious
to be a plutocrnt OF course one must
have the things one IL used TO. Pow
erty is the worst of ALL"
us itT' His eyes challenged hers.
"oh, don't! You make It so hard for
mer'
You make II hard for yourself when
you fight against your heart"
ooh, you don't understand, Phil. IL
isn't as If ! had only myself TO think
off,
do you ever give q thought TO meT
She put her hands over her ears In
sudden tramor II she listened longer
she was lost II must go" she said
hurriedly. "TVe stayed lotger than I
should, but II was so pleasant" Sha
turned In n pahlc and fled across the
roof, and he followed slowly When lie
overlook her her eyes were dllatcd
They're gone!' she gasped
"Who?"
why, Leonard and Bessie. What
could have induced them TO go without
usT"
Il don't know, I'm sure. But they
will be waiting for US below without
doubt"
lie tried the door, ratified the knob
sharply and met questioning her gaze
with blank stare. Were locked up
here" he exclaimed. Then as Viola
laughed Historically he added IN haste:
Don't be frightened. II Will be very
easy to attract some cnes attention."
Half an hour later, flushed and drip
ping with perspiration as result Of
his fruitless exertion, he acknowledge
Cd 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 It
will Of course occur 70 somebody that
we're still up here. And the only
thing to do Is to resign ourselves 10
wait with what patience we can mus
ter"
She looked at hiE 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 we'll 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
at last. "Are you going TO sit here in
absolute silence? Haven't you any.
thing to say?"
II have plenty to say, but l can't
say II without taking advantage of the
situation"
A long silence; then Raymond felt
the slipping Of small hand down his
sleeve. u rather think, Phil" said
tremulous voice, chat 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 ac-
cord.
1t was a night without star, and
for that reason 1t was the more star
ting when suddenly binding illumi-
nation lit up the space where they sat.
Viola shrieked and hid her face on her
lovers shoulder.
"only searchIight. dearest Rather
startling en- this pitch black night,
wasn't itT'
IS,viola 55iiashed In bis arms "phil