Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 288, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1918 — ACROSS THE ROOF [ARTICLE]

ACROSS THE ROOF

By JACK LAWTON.

(Copyright. 1918. Western Newapaper Uaioa.) High up, at the back of the shabby old mansion, Dora began her career as an artist. And when the big rented room seemed unusually bare, Dora, with her happy sanguine spirit congratulated herself upon its ‘sky-light* There were days, how-ever. 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 apparent royal road to fame and fortune; you should be grateful, my dear, grateful 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 a rule, when she finished her drawings ; a dinner or two as celebration when the checks came in. And so, working feverishly, saving much heating, saving altogether too much food, it was not strange that the ambitious girl awakened one morning to find herself ill, on the camouflaged bed, which passed day times as a gorgeous couch.

Dora wondered weakly, concerning ♦he 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 luxuriously 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 appearancq of a distinguished actor. Dora liked his fresh fine youthful face beneath its crown of strangely white hair. Suddenly from the graveled roof beneath her window, a round and furry' b»ll came leaping over the sill. Dora leaned forward listening, until with a coaxing whine a small white dog stood beside her cot, putting forth a friendly paw. • Delightedly the girl caught the animal In her arms.

“You dear little thing—” she murmured. then all at once Dora’s arms lay still. Anxiously the dog’s moist nose sniffed Inquiringly at her white outstretched arms, once or twice an eager tongue lapped 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 panting to his knee, “playinc truant again, eh?” But Fluff was in no mood for petting. Fiercely she caught at the man’s 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 animal’s whim. His mother’s raising of Fuss 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 othepyoof, then whimsically continued the jrnase. Disappearing over the sill of Dora’s Window the dog still unmistakably tailed to him from inside. Try that one shaft of light the doctor saw/a girl’s white upturned sac girl’s sac caught his breath. How often he had seen the same sweet features framed in the old house window. ,

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. “Oh!” she murmured, “you came fnr your dog. He visits me sometimes. You don’t mind?” The man smiled down upon her. “He was even nicer." Dora considered, “when he smiled.” It was strange that she had learned his face so well. She was sure that she could sketch from memory its every line. ' did not come for the dog." David Wilton said gently. “I came for you. I have a mother over In that building who has only Fluff upon which to lavish her care. -It strikes me .that you need some care yourself. My mothei will delight in giving it.” Suddenly stooping he lifted Dora’s light weight in his arms. Before the roof door of the apartment “Of, course, this is all a dream." the girl murmured, “because I have so often wished to be over here." "Sometimes our dreams come true," said the man, and as he looked down upon her into his eyes came a light of jo/- ’r