The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-12-09
Caught on
The Roof
He Didn't Want to Seize the
Opportunity, but She Did.
By HARRIET LUMMIs SMITH.

Securities building. It's worth see
ing, you know"
Prudence should have vetoed tn
suggestion. For the longer half 0
the blissful afternoon Viola ha,
been aware that Raymond's eye
were saying more than they shout,
and that their mute eloquence wa
singularly sweet and satisfying
Considering the fact that she wa
as good as engaged to another man
discretion counseled flight. A voic'
within, an authoritative voice, criet
out that at the best the day woull
soon be over and urged her to make
the most Of it.
Viola compromised. "Mr. Ray.
mond suggests our getting view
OF the city from the top Of one Of
the skyscrapers," she said, turning
to her out Of town guests. eff you
are not too tired And her heart
leaped at the promptness Of Their
protests.
She walked beside Raymond ST.
lently, glad that he, too, seemed to
have nothing to say. She was
frightened to find herself clinging
SO fiercely to the joy of that after
noon 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 leapcd 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 a drive
along the boulevards. Viola's coun-
try cousins had had the time Of
their lives. And now the western
sky was red, and the time for say
ing 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 anything. As for Viola,
she had no eyes for the crawling
streets between the steep cliffs Of
brick and stone nor for the crawl
ing creatures far below. Brazenly
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 together in an angle Of
the roof, sheltered from the view Of
their companions. The noise Of
the city below them seemed far
away.
Raymond broke the spell by a.
downward gesture. 81 wish it were
all nine"
You mean the whole town? 2
What greediness' she laughed.
$50 that | could give it all to
you"
S'Thank you, but I'm not ambi-
tious to be plutocrat. OF course
one must have the things one is
used to. Poverty is the worst Of
all.o
'Ts it2' His eyes challenged
hers.
ooh, don't! You make it so
hard for mew
'sYou make it hard for yourself
when you fight against your heart"
sOh, you don't understand, Phil
It isn't as if ! had only myself to
think Of"
do you ever give thought to
me?"
She put her hands over her ears
in sudden tremor. If she listened
longer she was lost. 81 must go,7
she said hurriedly. "I've stayed
longer than | should, but it was so
pleasant" She turned in panic
and fled across the roof, and he fol-
lowed slowly. When he overlook
her her eyes were dilated.
They're gone" she gasped.
"Who p
sWhy, Leonard and Bessie. What
could have induced them to go
us
81 don't know, I'm sure. But
they will be waiting for us below
doubt"
He tried the door, ratified the
knob sharply and met her question
ing gaze with a blank stare. "We're
locked up herep' he exclaimed.
Then as Viola laughed Historically
he added in haste: s'Don't be fright
sned. 1t will be very easy to- at
tract some ones attention"
Half an hour later, flushed and |
tripping with perspiration as re-
suit Of his fruitless. exertion, he ac-
znowledged his mistake. 'Your
cousins must have thought we had
zone down before them. But after
hey get home and we fail to make |
our appearance it viii Of course oc-