The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-01-21
A Romeo and.
Juliet Affair
By DONALD cHAMBERLIN

/ lived in q block of houses the rear
Of which formed a junction with the
rear of another similar block at a right
angle. My room vas IN. the third floor
back. There was a succession of fire
escapes by which one who was ambi-
tious to break his neck might get from
one house to another. .
In a window In real Of the other
block a pretty girl was used to sit,
sometimes sewing, sometimes reading.
sometimes watching what was going
on in the limited yard spaces below.
When at home 1 used to sit in my
window watching the pretty girl.
I have told quite enough to indicate
that trouble was brewing for the pref
ty girl and myself.
1t began by my looking admiringly
at the pretty girl and, being a bold
young man, following up my glances
by throwing a kiss. OF course the
young lady disappeared from the win
dow. The next time I saw her there
I poised a flower and, taking careful
aim, threw it so correctly that it fell
In her lap. She tried hard to look
offended, but gave way to a bit of a
smile. which was followed by an ex-
preston Of great severity.
To make q long story short, in the
course of a couple Of weeks 1 and the
pretty girl were holding up messages
written in large letters for each other
to read. This was followed by my TAX
ing advantage Of darkness one even
ing when l would not likely be OBJ
served by others to swing myself from
one fire escape to another to q plat
form directly beneath the pretty girls
abode. She was in her room at the
time and, hearing a tap on the win
dowpane, saw me without.
Self preservation is the first law Of
nature, and the girl, to prevent any one
seeing what was going on, turned off
the light. Then she came to the win
dow, put the sash up a few inches and
her mouth to the aperture, saying ex-
citedly:
For heavens sake, 60 away from
here"
Instead of obeying her 1 endeavored
to kiss her.
Police! Burglars!" came a cry.
ooh, heavens!" cried the pretty girl.
II hear some one coming up the fire
escape. What shall we do?"
For reply I threw up the sash as
far as it would go and climbed through
the window. The pretty girl, hearing
some one hurrying upstairs, locked the
door.
Well, there we were!
"This is dreadful!!' cried the girl.
wringing her hands.
I crawled under q lounge and told
her to unlock the door. She did so
just in time to prevent discovery Of its
having been locked. A woman came
into the room exclaiming:
There's q burglar trying to get in
somewhere"
"Good graciousw exclaimed the pref
ty girl, going to the window, pulling
down the sash and locking 1t.
There was a confusion Of sounds.
Some one knocked at the window and
called out, "All right here" The wom-
an who had entered replied, Yes" but
declined to open the window. Doubt
less she did not trust any one.
"Sure a man didn't go through this
room?' called the voice.
Certainly not" said the pretty girl.
''Then it was the next window" I
heard the voice say. Il saw him."
For some time l heard evidences
that a burglar was being hunted; then
gradually the commotion Quieted down.
Some one-I concluded that it was the
woman who had entered-left the
room. Then the pretty girl said to
me: Ia
.You can't stay here, and you can't
get out without almost surely being
discovered"
If worse comes to worst. say I am
your husband"
Although this dialogue was spoken in
a low tone, it was overheard. A wom-
an-the same who had come In before
entered.
ITO whom we're you speaking?" she
asked. .0,
The pretty girl stammered a denial
that she had spoken to any one. 1t
! did not satisfy the other. She began
a hunt. Rather than be dragged out
I came from my. hiding place volun-
tarily.
BE quiet" l said to the elderly wo-
man who stood before me. 'Tm no
burglar. and we don't wish u mar
riage to be known as yet"
The woman looked thunderstruck.
Turning to the girl, she said:
"You don't mean to tell me that You
have been secretly married?"
II do" l interrupted. ''and II you'll
let this unfortunate affair blow over
you shall have one Of the most affect
ing love stories you ever dreamed Of"
II should think 30" she said very
severely.
was permitted to consult with the
pretty girl privately. She was a lodger
with the woman who had discovered
me and alone In the world. We were
not obliged to satisfy the andlady fur
ther, but It was arranged that 1 should
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