Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-10-09
ON THE ROOF.
He Didn't Want to Seize the 0p-
portunity, but She Did.
BY HARRIET LuMMls SMITH.

look at the city from the top OF the Sc
curlties 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
eloquencq 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 aud urged her to
make the most of II.
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
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-
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 II were all
mine
you mean the whole town! What
she laughed.
so that l could give 1t all to you"
THANK you. but I'm not ambitious
to be n plutocrat OF course one must
have the things one is used to. Pow
erty is the worst of ALL"
SIS 1T? His eyes challenged hers.
"Oh. don't! You make 1t so hard for
me.'
You make 1t hard for yourself when
you fight against your heart"
"Oh, you don't understand. Phil. Ii
isn't as II had only myself to think
Of"
"Do you ever give thou. hit to me:"
She put her hands over her ears in
sudden tremor If she listened longer
she was lost. II must GO" she said
hurriedly. 1--WE stayed longer than |
should. but II was so pleasant" She
turned In a panic and fled across the
roof, and he followed slowly. When lie
overlook her her eyes We're dilated.
They're gone!" she gasped.
"Who?"
"Why, Leonard and Bessie. What
could have induced them TO go without
us"
II 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 a 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 cne's attention"
Half an hour later. flushed and drip.
ping with perspiration as n result Of
his fruitless exertion. he acknowledge
III Ills ullSlHke. tbuE tOuSllS must
have thought we had gone down be-
fore them. But after they get home
and we fail to make our appearance II
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.
her appearance was 10 him
a matter OF complete Indifference. lie
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 sayY"
II have plenty to say. but / can't
say 1t without taking advantage Of the
A long silence: then Raymond felt
the slipping Of small hand down his
sleeve. II rather think, Phil" said a