Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-06-14
LOVE IN A BALLOON.
Some time ago / vtale staying Will

,rokeshfre. Great nlmber Of people
there allkinds of amusement going
On. Driving, riding. fishing, shoot I
ing-eserything in fsct. Sir Georges
Fanny was often my COM
panion in these expeditions, and I was
considerably struck >ish her; for she
vas a girl to whom the epithet
stunning" applies better than any
other that am acquainted with. sShst
could ride like Nimrod,, she could
drive like Jehu, she could row like
Chaaon, she could dance Ike Terpsi-
chore, she could run like Diana, she
walked like Juno, and she, ,lhoked like
Venus. All! she was a "stunner.
You should have heard that girl whis-I
tie and laugh-you should have heard
herslaugh. She was truly delightful |
companion. We rode together, drove
together, fished together, walked to-
gether, danced together; called her
Fanny and she called me Tom. All
this could have but one determination,
you know.
1 fell in love with her and deter
mined to take the first opportunity of
proposing. So one day when we were
out together fishing on the lake l went
down on my knees amongst the gudg-
cons, seized her hand, pressed it to
my waistcoat, and in burning accents
entreated her to become my wife.
s"Don't be~-a fool!" She said.
"Now drop it do! and put me fresh
worm on"
|Fgeoh,l Fanny" i exclaimed, s'don't
talk about worms when marriage IS
the question. Only say
"I tell you what it ls now," she re-
piled angrlly, ''if you don't drop it
I'll pitch you out of the boat"
Gentlemen {said Jenkyns with
strong emotien), did not drop it,
and give you my word of honor,
/ with a sudden shove she sent me into
the water; then seizing the sculls,
with stroke or two she put several
| yards between US, and burst into a
fit of laughter that fortunately pre-
vented her from going any further. 1
swan up and climbed into the boat.
"Jenkyns," said to myself, "Re-
venge! revenge!" 1 disguised my
feelings, 1 laughed-hideous mockery
of mirth-I laughed, pulled to the
bank, went to the house, and changed
my clothes. When I appeared at the
dinner table, / perceived that every
one had been informed Of my duck
ing-unlversal laughter greeted me
During dinner Fanny repeatedly
whispered to her neighbor and glanc
ed at me. Smothered laughter inva
l lriably followed. "Jenkyns," said I
! "Reyenge!''9 The opportunity sool
offered. There was to be a balloon
: : ascent from the lawn, and Fanny ha'
! tormented her father into letting he
n ascend with the @ronaut. Instant.
t took my plans bribed the @ronsut t
r plead illness at the moment when tn
e machine should have risen; learne
: from him the management of the bal
loon (though I understood that pref
o ty well before), and calmly awaite
E, the result. 1 ] slAssEss
N The day came. The weather WI
le fine. The balloon was inflated. Fal
:, ,e ny was in the Car. Everything WI
= ready, when the aronaut suddenl
I tainted. He was carried into Il
pa house, and Sir George accompanie
r. him to see that he was properly atte1
4, ded to. Fanny was in despair.
=, !. "Am 1 to lose my air expedition?
ut she exclaimed, looking over the si'
nd of the car. s'Some one understand
ut the management of this thing, surel..
on Nobody?'' II 2YfTj
as ''Tom,'' she called out to m
NO "you understand it, don't you -
=? Perfectly I answered.
as "Come along, then!" she erie
er. &c be quick, before papa comes back
'ut The company in general endeavt
las ed to dissuade her from her proje'
81 but of. course in vain. ~
The After decent show Of hesitation
re, climbed into the chair. The ballo
slf. was cast off, and rapidly sailed he'
uld onward. There was scarcely a bre'
Ike Ike of wind, and we rose almost strait
md up. We rose above the house, 9
egs size laughed and said, ssHow joll,
en-, We were higher than the high
ant trees, and she smiled and said 1T
ack &c very kind Of me to come with b
~ We were 60 high that the people be-
roe looked like mere specks, and she b
im, ed thatI thoroughly understood
side management Of the balloon. III
his Now was my time.
tne 3 81 understand the going mp par
,sd 1 answered; ''to come down is moi
ods easy;" and I whistled.
give "What do you mean?" she CIR
any fwhy, when you vast TO go
nts. lfasters you throw some sand 0
So s board" I replied, suiting the &C
,een to the word.
Ito "Don't be foolish, Tom," she 8
light trying to appear quite calm and in
the erent, but trembling uncommo
Fapr p. ..'Foolishi?p' ! said 3 rob, dear,
,or ~ but whether I go along the groun
,ous4 up in the air, like to 30 to the r
and so do you. Fanny, / know.
1T ven erippies, 'snd over went an