Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1919-02-13
ACROSS THE ROOF

BY JACK LAYTON.


old mansion, Dora began her eareef
as nm artist. And when the big rented
room seemed unusually bare, Dora.
with her happy sanguine spirit, con-
graduated herself upon lbs 's{y-ight
There were days, however, when the
skyligLtlight failed TO compensate.
When these reflections Threatened
10 overcome her Dora would arise
1riSbly TO light the rose shaded lanp
which was her comfort.
silly" She would reprove herself
"glopming away, While those same
Young people are enyyiug Your appar-
cnt royal road 10 fame and fortunes
you should he grateful, my dear crate
ful us can he. Chat YOU can sell
sketches enough tn almost pay your
lodging"
Dora did not mention paypt7nt ot
food. Sometimes DoraN food as not
worth mentioning. Paper hac meals
as II rule, when She auiahc1 hnr Draw
inss: . dinner or 'NN as cclehtaiion
when 'nc check, came in. Mud So
working fcvrrl~ly sa1 lnE much heat
inc. saving altogether Zoo much food,
1t WIS not strange tho' the ambitious
gir, awakened one morning e Ind
herself IN. on the cnmnullagcd bed,
which passed my timgS rs a gorgeous
couch.
Dora wondered Scakly. concerning
the problem Of meals which She would
be unable Ia prcpfro then ave up the
problem in n lopg and dreamiess sleep.
When again her gray ewes opened
shadows stretched across the room,
while over the Sloping roof beneath
her window, came a stream Of hSht
from an opposite apartment.
Dora liked TO look into the brilliant
rooms Of this luyurlouSly appointed
apartment building towering above the
old shabby house. Almost Il was like
gazing upon the stage Of q theater,
gaily dressed women passing 70 ana
fro, mcn too, Idling about the long,
smoking room. one who came ana
went among them had the appearance
Of a distinguished actor.
Dora liked his fresh fuc Youthful
face beneath its crown Of Strangely
white hair.
Suddenly from the ~graveled roof be-
meath her window, a round aad furry
ball came leaping over the sill. Dora
leaned forward listening until With a
coaxing whine u small white dog stood
beside her cot putting forth a friend
H paw.
.Deliehtedly the girl canght The anil
NAL In her arms,
'You dear little thing" she MUIR
INJURED, then all nj once Dora's arms
hay still
AnxiousIy the dogs moist nose
shifted in1uiringly at her white out
stretched arms, once or twice an eag-
err tongue Tapped nj her unresronsive
face, then back over the sill and across
the roof rushed the furry body.
The handsome man Of the white
hair had just settled himself for m
evening smoke. Before lowering the
window shade he had looked across
the roof toward a window that was
darkened, and when he leaned baek
In his chair IL was as with an air OF
disappointment.
"YOu rascal" he greeted the dog
which scrambled painting 20 his knee.
tdn1,,in, 4,,apN nrafp al ~
But Fluff was In no tood for pet
ting. Fiercely she caught at the mans
sleeve, running n few ~stepsofrom him
she barked back ap%peallnglv.
@What .he dickens" frowncd the
man, II was evident that the dog was
entreating him to follow.
Doctor Wilton decided 70 obey the
animals within. His mothers raising
of Fluff had made The little creature
In some ways almost human.
The doctor followed through The
French door to the apartment roof. He
hesitated as Fluff bounded across that
other roof, then whlmSically continued
the chase.
Disappearing @ the sill ~ Dora's
window the dog still Enthusiastically
called to him from inside.
Tn that one shaft Of light the doctor
saw a girls white upturned face-the
girls face-he caught his breath, How
often he had seen the same sweet
features framed IN the old house win
dow.
When the doctor lighted the gas.
Dora raised slowly her lark frinced
lids.
Anything to eat today?" he asked.
his fingers on her pulse.
II was too much trouble to reply so
the young artist shook her head.
"Or yesterday" asked the doctor.
Dora smiled wanly. Yesterday IL
too fur away 10 remember" Her ives
Cell upon the o Joyous Fluf.
"0hi" she murmured. "you came Cor
your dog. He visits me sometimes.
You don't nAnd?"
The n smiled down upon her.
"Hc was even nicer" Dora consid-
cred. "when he smiled" It was strange
that she had learned his faee 50 vel.
She was sure that she could sketch
from memory its every line.
II did not come for the dog" David