The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-15
Vrginian Page for Each Member Of the Family
SOMEBODY ON THE ROOF

dressed herself and gone up through
the scuttle to the roof and remained
there for an hour. She said IL was
for fresh air; tattietale said that IA
determined young man could reacn
the roof by climbing the big oak tree
growing SD near the wall
Miss Wells compressed her lips;
she would see To il, she did see to IT.
old Thomas was set to watch a,
night but he suoozed the hours away
/ His old watch dog took his place
and was found dead of old age the
very next morning.
All, she had II at last, She wouio
go upon the roof herself and catca
the criminals red-hended She was Il
little old 10 be eating around on
house roofs at night, but the homo.
Of the Wells school was at stake. i
The second night after tattle-tale
had given things away was beauu-
full summers night. 1t was a night
for cats and lovers 10 prowl. An
hour before midnight found Miss
Wells stealing up the scuttle iadueI
and out on the roof. She was there
to watch that tree. Yes, one of its
limbs actually overhung the roof. 1t
would be no feat at all for deter
mined young man. Miss Wells was
scantily dressed Her scant hair was
hanging down around her neck ana
she vas barefooted in her slippers
1 The watcher had been at her post
nearly an hour when something hap
pened, She thought she heard some
! one in the three, and in shifting her
position she lost her grip and went
rolling down -tha-steep-se ef--s4F4+tti
chimney brought her up. She was
safe from "a further fall, but she must
I get back to her place. A cat could
Z have done IL al nat st.
I cat. Shc was only an ola maid with
/ shaky nerves. She wouldn't have
| tried that climb for "a thousand dol
! lars. II she called ont who would
hear her? II she waited uneil day
J light--heaYens!
| And then she looked up to see the
! figure OF man above her. Some
! thing told her that 1t was the deter
/ mined young man with tho scar on
/ his chin In addition, he told her Sc
/ himself He WAS very cool about 1t.
| After gazing down at her for three
/ or four minutes. he asked:
How are you going to get up
again"
Young man, III have you arrest
| ed for burglary"
You can't. There's no breaking
and entering in climbing a tree"
! What are you here for?"
4 AZ SAb Sbu Jul vi Il otEdDt, IL you
are sensible. If not, you'il be left fer
people 10 gaze at in the morning
About six hundred hands in the shoe
! factory can overlook this roof, and
you are not dressed for company
"Pu scream for help"
And have II in the papers that
YOU were sueaking around on the
roof at midnight! Nc. my dear Miss
( Wells: your way Is the quiet way
Imagine a reporter sitting here in
my place and interviewing you, I'M
aeine the headlines In the papers.
( Imagine him taking Il snapshot at
you by tiashlight'"
Are you the young man Miss Kelly
wanted to marry
she wanted to, and site wants to
vet. I'm here Tonight TO help her
down the tree. We are going to
elope. have tt rope here. and /
have proposal to make
YES ."
Let her seemingly start for home
in the morning with her trunk. III
take care of the rest. IF you won't
agree down the tree we 20, and YOU
are left right where you are
Miss Wells gasped out never
and added That she would perish hrst,
br1t when the young man started to
slide the scuttle and signal to Miss
LEAN. things changed She gaze her
solemn word and was pulled up to
keen It. She started her pupil off on
pretense of sickness at home. and as
the girl was ready to depart she whis-
, pered in her ear;
: III you never. never. never say
! ANYTHING about this IN always say
that If 1 ever marry, any man II viii
he a determined young man who
/ knows what he wants."