Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-06-29
LOVE IN 4 BALLOON.

With Death. thy rival 10 whom none sam
NO
LOVE IN a BALLN0N.
Some time ago | was staying with
Sir G. P. Peach House P,m
brokenshire Great number Of p-o
pie there-;ill kinds of amusements
going on. Driving, riding. fishing.
shooting everything lii fact. Sir
Georges daughter Fanny wis often
my companion in tle-e expeditions.
and l was considerably struck with
her: for she Was a girl 10 whom the
epithet stunning applies better than
any other that am acquainted with
She could drive like Jehu. she could
row like Charon, she could dance like
Terpsichore. she could run like Diana
she walked like Juno, and she locked
like Venus. All, she Was a sumner"
You should have heard that girl
whistle and laugh you should have
heard her laugh She was truly a
delightful companion. We rode to-
gether, drove together, tished
together, walked together, danced to-
gether; l called her Fanny and she
called me Tom. All this could have
but one termination, you know.
/ fell in love with her, and determ
ined to take the first opportunity of
proposing. SO one day when we
were out together fishing on the lake.
1 went down Oh my knees amongst
the grudgeons, seized her hand,
pressed it to my waistcoat, and i'll
burning accents entreated her to be-
come my wife.
Don't be FOOL" she said. Now
drop it do! and put me fresh worm
on"
20 Fanny" l exclaimed, dent
talk about worms when marriage is
the question. Only say
Il tell you what it is now," she re;
piled angrily, "if you don't drop it
I'll pitch you out of the boat"
Gentlemen (said Jenkyns, with
strong emotion), l did not drop it,
and l give you my word of honor,
with sudden shove she sent me fly
ing into the water: then Selling the
SOULS. with a stroke or two she put
several yards between lis, and burst
into a fit of laughter that fortunately
prevented her from going any further
I swan up and climbed into the boat
"Jenkyns," said 1 to myself, IRE
venge! revengew l disguised my
feelings, I laughed-hideous mock
cry of mirth-I laughed, pulled tc
the bank, went to the house, and
changed my clothes. When I ap
peared at the dinner table perceived
that every one had been informed OF
my ducking- universal laughter
greeted Inc. During dinner Fanny
repeatedly whispered to her neighbor
and glanced at me. Smothered
laughter invariably followed. "Jen
kyns," said I, "Revenge" The oppor-
tunity soon offered. There was to be
a balloon ascent from the lawn, an6
Fanny had tormented her father into
letting her ascend with the aeronaut
I instantly took my plans; bribed the
aeronaut to plead illness at the mo
ment when the machine should have
risen; learned from him the manage
ment of the balloon Though I under
stood that pretty well before). ant
calmly awaited the result.
The day came. The weather was
fine. The balloon was inflated. Fan
ny was in the car Everything was
ready when the aeronaut suddenly
tainted. He was carried into the
house. and Sir George accompanied
him to see that he was properly at
tended to. Fanny was in despair.
Gam I to lose my air expedition
she exclaimed, looking over the side
of the car "Some one understands
the management of this thing, sure
ly? Nobody"
"Tom," she called out to me, "you
understand it. don't you?"
Perfectly" answered.
"Come along Them she cried; ''be
quick. before papa comes back"
The company in general endeav-
ored to dissuade her from her pro-
ject, but of course in vain.
After a decent show of hesitation
l climbed into the car. The balloon
was cast off, and rapidly sailed
heavenward. There was scarcely a
breath of wind, and we rose almost
straight up. We rose above the
house, and she laughed and said
"How jolly"
We were higher than the highest
trees, and she smiled and said it was
very kind of me to come with her
We were SO high that the people be-
low looked like mere specks, and she
hoped that I thoroughly understood
the management Of the balloon.
Now was my time.
II understand the going up part
I answered; ''to come down is not SC
easy" and I whistled.
"What do you mean.' she cried.
"Why, when you wanted to 60 VI
faster, you throw some sand over
board" 1 replied, suiting the action
to the word.
"Don't be foolish, Tom." she said
trying to appear quite calm and in
different, but trembling uncommonly
"Foolish?" l said, "Oh, dear no; but
whether 60 along the ground or up
in the air, like to go the pace, and
SO do you, Fanny, I know. Go it, you
cripples," and over went another
sandbag. why, you're mad, surely
she whispered, in utter terror, and
tried to reach the bags, but 1 kept
her back. Only with love, my dear, -
I answered. smiling pleasantly
''only with love for you. Oh, Fanny.
Isadoreyou; say you will be my wife,
II gave you an answer the ether
day." she replied, zone which
thought you should have remem-
bered," she added, laughing little
notwithstanding her terror
81 remember it perfectly" 1 an
swered, "but l intend to have diff
ferent reply to that. You see those
five sandbags; shall ask you five
times to become my wifi. Every
time you refuse 1 shall throw over a
sandbag. So, lady fair(as the cab
men would say reconsider your de