Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-09-18
ON THE ROOF.
He Didn't Want to Seize the O1-
 portunlty, but She Did.
By HARRIET LUMMIs SMITH.


 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 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 said, turning to her out of town guests. If you are not too tired And her heart leapcd at the promptness of their protests.
 She walked beside Raymond silently, glad that he. too. seemed to have noth- Ing to say. She was frightened to find herself clinging so tiercely 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 lcaped 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 a drive along the boulevards. Niola'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 tue 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 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, shel tered from the view of their compan- ions. The noise of the city below them seemed far away.
 Raymond broke tue spell by a down. ward gesture. T wish it were i'll mine
 You mean the whole town? What greediness.' she laughed.
 'So that could give 1t all to you.''
 '"Thank you, but I'm not ambitious to be a plutocrat. Of course one must have the things one is used to. Pov- erty is the worst of all"
 ''Is 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. lt isn't as if had only myself to think of"
 "po you ever give q thought to ne?'
 She put her hands over her ears in sudden tremor If she listened longer she was lest. II must go,' she said hurriedly. I've stayed longer than ! should, but it was so pleasant" She turned in a panic and fled across .Ee y. overlook her her eyes were dilated.
 "They'rc @one!' she gaspcd,
 "Who:"
 "Why, Leonard and Bessie What could have induced them to go witbou: us?'
 II don't know. I'm sure. But they will be waiting for us below without doubt'
 He tried the door, rattlcd the knob sharply and met questioning her gaze with a blank stare. Were locked up here" he exclaimed. Then as Viola laughed hySterically he added i'll haste: Don't be frightened. It will be very easy to attract some Cne'S attention
 Half an hour later, flushed and drip ping with precipitation as result of his fruitless exertion, he knowledg- ed his mistake. Your cousins must have thought we had gone down be- fore them. But after they get home and we fail to make OUT appearance it 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 responsibility. but he did not meet her eyes He sat some distance from her. staring moodi- ly at the roof. Furtive!y 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 at last. Are you going to sit here in absolute silence? Haven't you any thing to say?"
 Il have plenty 10 say, but l can't say it without taking advantage of the situation"
 A long silence; then Raymond felt the slipping of a small hand down his syeava .I raIher think Phil' said