The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-02-03
An Unfortunate
Situation
BY JOHN TURNLEE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.
BY JOHN TURNLEE

Nhaht thNJ NCiC ~ hOt 40
ther. Mothers are less apt to take
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
/ ther. Mind you, l 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 to me. This matter of love Is
usually considered as something that
comes suddenly, turning couple
| from Indifference to n 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 | 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. If there Is anything needed
to bring about love affair 1t is some
thing clandestlne. 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,
1t opened the bud Of love. For the
first time in my life l put some
warmth into my worCs and bearing
toward her and received a correspond
ing response. When | left her | felt
Ntnt hnI 10 haar f,,r~ t,. =,
new relationship.
Mr.. Constant kept large dog on
his premises which was unclaimed
every night ut 10 o'clock. Not wish
Ing to make my presence during Mr.
Constants absence especially known
among the servants, did not suggest
any delay I'm enchanting the dog, in
tending to leave Just before 10 o'clock.
At five minutes before 10 said good
night to Phoebe-no kiss; I hadn't got
that far. only a pressure Of the hand
and started down the walk leading to
the gate. hadn't gone more than
half way before | saw black mass
moving in another part of the yard
and knew 1t for the dog. | 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 IL 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,
along which Mr.. Constant would pass
when he came home. If the dog had
barked Phoebe would have heard him
and suspected that i was In trouble.
But he did not utter single growl.
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-
sidered. When he found he couldn't
reach me he simply lay down and
waited.
My position was unpleasant In more
respects than one. That first sweet
passion of love which had entered by
blood | found delicious. knew that
d young woman about to enter upon q
love affair Is very sensitive to any no.
BILE or ignoble attitude the man In the
case may occupy. / dreaded to be
caught by her father upon tree like
a thief, guarded by watchdog. 1t
was contemplate position for me
and would place Phoebe In an un-
enviable attitude with regard to her
father, indicating that she had re-
ceived me clandestinely during his alb
sence.
If | could only think Of some In
genious way to escape the dog or. bet
ter yet, some daring stroke to over
come him l might not only avoid los
Ing prestige. but gain 1t. looked
about me for means of escape. The
trees were very thick. but toward the
gate not thick enough to adrnlt of my
passing from one to the other and out
Of the grounds. Toward the house the
prospect looked more favorable.
determined to try 1t. Better be caught
like burglar than sneak thief.
BY climbing from branch to branch
and making some desperate leaps, the
dog following me, finally gained the
roof Of the house. When got there
l couldn't get back, for the limb from
which 1 dropped, relieved of my
weight, sprang upward beyond my
reach. found myself In sort of
roof pocket directly in front of win.
dow.
1t seemed to me that 1 had not i'm
proved the situation. l had got rid of
the dog, but had been cornered on the
roof. In any event must stay where
was till relieved by human help.
heard n train come In at the station
half milo away, and In about twenty
minutes Mr. Constant came In at the
gate and spoke to the dog. ] rejoiced
that dogs can't talk and this one
couldn't give me away. Then the
front door closed. and the next devel-
opment was bright light In the win
dow before which l was standing and
from which could not move. And
what was my horror to see Mr.. Con-
slant beginning to disrobe.
He advanced at once to draw down
the shade and, seeing man on the
narrow ledge of the roof outside the
window, was about to turn for some
weapon for defense when, placing my