The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-07-07
l don't believe there ia such a thing as

don't believe there Ia such 3 thing As q
true friend"
Certainly one, is never gained by .
sacrifice OF right, nay son Distrust all
such"
Now one would naturally suppose
thst this lesson OF the pony would not
be forgotten by Lesley, am sorry TO
say that be thrashed Fred Moore At the
earliest opportunity, and then held
himself sloof from his companions He
found nc difficulty, either, in uttering
the obnoxious word mo- SO long as his
relations with the boys continued SO
cool; but q natural defect, or weakness.
cannot be overcome by n lesson.
however severe. He soon fell back in
the old way.
There was to be q balloon ascension
near the town, and the whole countr
was in q ferment. To add TO the ex-
element. James Curran. one Of Mr..
Turner's sehool-boys, was 10 accom-
pany Prof. Mayder (as be called him
self in the ascent.
Curran had no father to control him,
and his mother had unayailingly tried
to dissuade him from the perilous I'M
~dertaking. He was, however, q vain
weak fellow, with q thirst for notoriety.
and foolishly thought he would be q
hero if he showed pluck enough for q
balloon ascension. But after q while
Curran got nervous and distracted. sad
was unwilling to talk on the subject,
The night before the day appointed for
the ascent, he put his arm through Les
ley's. and said
Come, Lesley, let's walk down TO
the pond I've got something / want
TO say to you"
But when they had reached the pond,
he did not seem TO find it easy TO speak.
At last. with IN effort. he said
I'm going TO tell you something, but
promise me you won't divulge II. I
trust you because l know you'll keep
your word.-and l believe you'll help
me. You're the only boy in the world
] would ask such . favor Of. viii You
promise?" :
Lesley promised.
you know / have agreed to 90 up
in that balloon. I wish the old thing
would burst before l 90. though! Not
that I'm really afraid. you know,-but
then, Ican't help feeling . little queer"
'Give it up" said Lesley. Father
says it's q foolish risk 70 run, Just for
nothing. Only q love Of science would
Justify any one in doing it."
II can't give it up. I'm pledged to
go, and everybody would say ] was .
coward II I should back out. You're
my true friend, Lesley. are you notr"
Lesley said yes, wondering what it
meant. .
Then You must keep me from get
ling scared. or looking scared. and be-
Ing the laugh Of the town. Unjust have
o bottle Of whisky, for o drink OF two
Of that would steady my nerves. I:
don't dare to get 1t myself. for they
would know I bought It to keep my
courage up, and talk about it. and +
san't trust the other boys. You get
whiakv aamaauas far-old H~AaaRrin's
bltters. and they'd think It vas fol
that"
+, Don't shake your head, Lesley, and
say NO. Here's the money,-and II you
don't help me I'll just disgrace myself,
and you'll be the cause Of it. You say
you're my friend, and now | know
you'll prove it,"
Lesley at last consented. That night
the whisky was purchased, and hidden
by Curran in a safe place.
The next day il WINS late before Les
ley found himself on the crowded
grounds where the balloon ascension
was to take place. They were cutting
the ropes when he got there. A loud,
shrill voice, which he recognized az
curran's. was singing in an exciting
manner
Here we Coup, and up, and upf'
Hes drunkr' ..It's n shame!"
Somebody ought to take him outl''
1.-The man ought to be horse-whippedi"
were the mixed cries which met Les
ley's ears as he pressed through the
excited crowd.
The balloon was raising, but cries
We're distinctly heard from it, and a
struggle evidently going on within II.
A figure sprung up on the edge of the
ear, threw up its arms, tottered, lost its
balance. and fell almost into the sea of
upturned faces a human figure when
its downward course began, u shapeless
CORY mass after it struck the earth.
Prot. Mayder afterwards said that
the poor drunken boy had tried to dance
on the edge Of the car, he no being
aware that he was intoxicated until the
ropes were cut.
No mt suspected but that Curran
himself had procured the liquor,-no
n but the unhappy Lesley and his
father, to whom he went in his remorse
and confessed the whole. 1t was q les
son that was lev forgotten.