The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-07-06
An Unfortunate
Situation
By JOHN TURNLEE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911
BY JOHN TURNLEE


u Their. Mothers are less apt to tax,
I definite ground with regard 70 thei
daughters, especially men friends, an(
= the only opposition to my being de
voted to Phoebe came from her fla
, Their Mind you, l was not engaged t
her. i was not sure that / wished t.
y De engaged TO her, and she had not
Indicated that she wished to be en-
5 gagged to me- This matter OF love is
+ usually considered as something that
comes suddenly, turning a couple
from indifference to a wild passion
for each other. | admit that there are
many such cases, but mine was not
)ne Of that kind.
One day Phoebe wrote me a note
suggesting that if had nothing spe-
cial on hand for the evening I'd bet
ter come to see her. / did so and
found that her father had gone on
business to a neighboring town and
would not be at home before II
o'clock. II there is anything needed
70 bring about love affair it Is some
thing Clandestine. The fact that
Phoebe had sent for me To be with
her while her father would know
nothing about it inspired me with
more tender feeling for her Indeed,
It opened the bud of love. For the
drst time in my life / put some
warmth into my words and bearing
toward her and received correspond
Ing response When / left her felt
that we had made a beginning in a
new relationship.
Mr.. Constant kept a large dog on
his premises which was unclaimed
every night at 10 o'clock. Not wish
Ing to make my presence during Mr..
Constants absence especially known
among the servants, did not suggest
any delay In Enchanting the dog, in
tending 10 leave Just before 10 o'clock.
AT five minutes before 10 / said good
night to PhOebe-no kiss; hadn't got
that far, only pressure Of the hand
and started down the walk leading to
the gate. l hadn't gone more than
half way before | saw a black mass
moving in another part of the yard
and knew 1t for the dog. I was about
ten steps from tree, which reached
In five long ones and, making the jump
OF my life, caught branch and drew
myself up to a safe place.
Either my watch was wrong or the
dog had been let out ahead of time.
1t did not matter which was the case.
was a prisoner in tree near a walk
along which Mr.. Constant would pass
when he came home. If the dog had
parked Phoebe would have heard him
and suspected that was in trouble. |
But he did not utter single growl. I
saw no way to attract the attention of |
any one In the house, and, as to COM
ing down into the jaws Of the fierce
brute below me, 1t was not to be con-
'idered. When he found he couldn't
each me he simply lay down and
waited.
My position was unpleasant in more
aspects than one. That first sweet
'assion OF love which had entered by
Hood / found delicious. l knew that
young woman about to enter upon a
owe affair is very sensitive to any no.
lie or fgnoble attitude the man In the
ase may occupy. / dreaded to be
aught by her father upon a tree like
thief. guarded by a watchdog. 1t
vas a contemplate position for me
nd would place Phoebe in an IN {
nyiable attitude with regard to her
atber, indicating that she had re- ,
eiyed me clandestinely during his alb
,nce.
Ii l could only think Of some in /,
enlous way to escape the dog or, bet 4
n yet, some daring stroke to over
ome him i might not only avoid los \
lg prestige, but gain it. l looked
bout me for a means Of escape The
ees were very thick, but toward the
ate not thick enough to admit of my
assing from one to the other and out
the grounds. Toward the house the
respect looked more favorable. l
etermined to try it. Better be caught
he burglar than a sneak thief. q
BY climbing from branch to branch
Id making some desperate leaps, the d
'g following me, finally gained the
or OF the house. When l got there Of
couldn't get back. for the limb from az
hich dropped, relieved of INV pl
eight, sprang upward beyond my W
ach. / found myself In a sort of %
OF pocket directly in front of a win By
W. ni
&c seemed to me that 1 had not i'm yc
owed the situation. 1 had got rid of
dog, but had been cornered on the eli
II. In any event / must stay where hr
was till relieved by human help. I
ard train come in at the station 10
II mile away, and in about twenty b,
nutes Mr.. Constant came In at the Al
q and spoke to the dog. I rejoiced Co
It dogs can't talk and this one ar
lldn't give me away. Then the re,
MT door closed, and the next deyel-
nent was bright light in the win. n
before which 1 was standing and ey
m which 1 could not move. And
at was my horror to see Mr.. Con. Ut
Mt beginning to disrobe. Me
lie advanced at once to draw down bal
shade and, seeing man on the I '
row ledge Of the roof outside the I
ldow, was about to turn for some We,
apon Tor defense when, placing nv for