The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-01-23
ACROSS THE ROOF
Observation-Disclosures
lCOpyrtght. 1e1s. Western Newspaper rnion.l
BY JACK LAYTON.

old mansion, Dora began her career
as an artist. And when the big rented
room seemed unusually bare, Dora,
with her happy sanguine spirit, con-
graduated herself upon its 'sky-light.'
! There were days. however, when the
skylightlight failed to compensate.
When these reflections threatened
to overcome her, Dora would arise
briskly to light the rose shaded lamp
which was her comfort.
SILLY" she would reprove herself,
/ "glooming away, while those same
young people are envying your appar-
ent royal road to fame and fortune;
/ you should be grateful, my dear CRATE
| full as can be, that you can sell
sketches enough to almost pay your
| lodging"
| Dora did not mention payment OF
| food. Sometimes DOra's food was not
| worth mentioning Paper bag meals
| as rule, when she finished her draw.
| ings; dinner or two as celebration
when the checks came in. And so,
working feverishly saving much heat
| Ing, saving altogether too much food,
/ It was not strange that the ambitious
/ girl awakened one morning to find
/ herself i'll, on the camouflaged bed,
which passed day times as a gorgeous
| couch.
Dora wondered weakly, concerning
/ the problem of meals which she would
/ be unable to prepare, then gave up the
/ problem in a long and dreamless sleep.
! When again her gray eyes opened
/ shadows stretched across the room,
while over the sloping roof beneath
| her window, came a stream of light
from an opposite apartment.
| Dora liked TO look into the brilliant
rooms Of this luXurously appointed
apartment building towering above the
old shabby house. Almost it was like
gazing upon the stage of a theater,
gaily dressed women passing to and
fro, men too, idling about the long,
smoking room. one who came and
went among them had the appearance
of a distinguished actor.
Dora liked his fresh fine youthful
face beneath its crown of strangely
white hair.
Suddenly from the graveled roof be-
meath her window, a round and furry
ball came leaping over the sill. Dora
leaned forward listening. until with
cOaxing whine small white dog stood
beside her cot, putting forth a friend
ly paw.
Delightedly the girl caught the ami
NAL in her arms
you dear little thing" she muir
INJURED, then all at once DOra's arms
lay still.
Anxiously the dogs moist nose
shifted inquiringly at her white out.
stretched arms, once or twice an Gag
er tongue Tapped at her unresponsive
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 an
evening smoke. Before lowering the
window shade he had looked across
the roof toward a window that was
darkened, and when he leaned back
In his chair it was as with an air Of
disappointment.
"You rascal" he greeted the dog
which scrambled painting to his knee.
playing truant again. eh?"
But Fluff was in no mood for pet
ting. FierceIy she caught at the mans
sleeve, running a few steps from him
She barked back appealingly
"What the dickens frOwned the
man, it was evident that the dog was
entreating him to follow.
Doctor Wilton decided to obey the
I 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
hestated as Fluff bounded across that
other roof, then whimsically continued
the chase.
Disappearing over the sill of Dora's
window the dog still Enthusiastically
called TO him from inside.
In that one shaft of light the doctor
saw 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 dark fringed
lids.
Anything to eat today?" he asked,
his fingers on her pulse.
It was too much trouble to reply so
the young artist shook her head.
"Or yesterday?"' asked the doctor.
Dora smiled wanly. Yesterday is
too far away to remember" Her eyes
fell upon the now joyous Fluff.
ooh" she murmured, "you came for
your dog. He visits me sometimes.
You don't mind?"
The man smiled down upon her.
"He was even nicer" Dora consid-
cred, "when he smiled" 1t was strange
that she had learned his face so well.
She was sure that she could sketch
from memory its every line.
81 did not come for the dog" David
Wilton said gently. 81 came for you.
I have mother over in that building
who has only Fluff upon which to Law
ish her care. 1t strikes me that you
need some care VourSelf Nv mnthpI.