The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-04-13
An Unfortunate
Situation
By JOHN TURNLEE
Copyright BY American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.
B. JOHN TURNLEE

definite ground with regard to their
daughters. especially men friends, and
the only opposition to my being de-
voted TO Phoebe came from her IA
Their Mind you. was not engaged to
her. / was not sure that / wished to
be engaged to her, and she had not
Indicated that she wished to be en-
gagged 70 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
one Of that kind
One day Phoebe wrote me a note
suggesting that II l 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 IL
O'Clock. II there Is anything needed
to 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 1t inspired me with a
more tender feeling for her Indeed.
It opened the bud Of love. For the
first time in my life put some
warmth into my words and bearing
toward her and received a 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 to leave just before 10 o'clock.
At five minutes before 10 1 said good
night to PhOebe-no kiss; hadn't got
that far, only a pressure Of the hand
and started down the walk leading 70
the gate. l hadn't gone more than
half way before saw a black mass
moving in another part Of the yard
and knew IT for the dog. was about
ten steps from a tree. which I reached
in five long ones and. making the jump
Of my life. caught a branch and drew
myself up to a safe place.
Either my watch was wrong OF the
dog had been let out ahead OF time /
It did not matter which was the case,
I was a prisoner in a tree near walk
along which Mr.. Constant would pass
when he came home. II the dog had
barked Phoebe would have heard him
and suspected that 1 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. II was not to be con-
sidered- When he found he couldn't
reach me he simply lay down and
waited.
Ny position was unpleasant In more
respects than one That first sweet
passion Of love which had entered by
Hood I found delicious. l knew that
young woman about to enter upon a
owe affair IS very sensitive 10 any no
lie or ignOble attitude the man in the
ase may occupy. / dreaded to be
aught by her father upon a tree like
thief. guarded by a watchdog. It
Tas a contemplate position for me
nd would place Phoebe in an I'M
attitude with regard TO her
ather. indicating that she had re-
eived me elandestiEely during his abb
nee
II / could only think Of some In
eniOus way to escape the dog or, bet
T yet, some daring stroke to over 5
)me him might not only avoid los
q prestige, but gain it. 1 looked v
bout me for a means Of escape. The a
ees were very thick, but toward the
tie not thick enough 10 admit Of my
lssing from one to the other and out y
the grounds. Toward the house the i
'ospect looked more favorable. / i
'termined to try II. Better be caught b
re burglar than a sneak thief Il
By climbing from branch to branch Z,
ID making some desperate leaps, the :,
g following me, finally gained the Z
Of Of the house. When got there a.
couldn't get back, for the limb from v
lich 1 dropped, relieved Of my
light, sprang upward beyond my
lch. found myself in a sort Of
If pocket directly in front Of a win r,
". :;
{ seemed to me that had not i'm
oved the situation. had got rid Of
: dog, but had been cornered on the III
II. In any event must stay where m
vas till relieved by human help. ] je
ard a train come In at the station "
4 mile away, and in about twenty {,
nutes Mr. Constant came in at the ~
e and spoke to the dog. I rejoiced " y
It dogs can't talk and this one 81
Ildn't give me away. Then the nc
Mt door closed, and the next deveI- &c
nent was a bright light in the win an
' before which was standing and y;
m which could not move. And
at was my horror to see Mr.. Con
ut beginning to disrobc. OF
Ie advanced at once TO draw down
shade and, seeing a man on the
row ledge Of the roof outside the
dow, was about to turn for some
lpon for defense when. placing my
E against a pane. I impIored him
my expression 70 desist. The light
ne on my features. and he recog-
ID me.