Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1885-11-12
'Am l to lose my air expedition she
reclaimed, looking over the side of the

Tom! she called to me, you under.
stand it, don't you?'
Perfectly answered.
Come along, them she cried; be
quick, before papa comes back.
After a decent show of hesitation I
climbed into the car. The balloon was
cast off and rapidly sailed heavenward.
There Was scarcely q breath Of wind,
and we rose almost straight up. We
were so high that the people below
looked more like specks, and she hoped
that thoroughly understood the man
ugement of the balloon. Now was my
time.
When you want to 90 up faster you
throw sand overheard l replied, suit
ing the action to the word.
Don't be foolish. Tom,' she said, try
ing to appear quite calm and indiffer-
ent. but trembling uncommonly.
Foolish said; oh, dear, no. but
whether am going to the ground or
up in the air l like to go the pace, and
so do you, Fanny, know. Go it, you
cripples, and over went another sand
bag.
Why, you're mad, surely, she whis-
pered in utter terror, and tried to
reach the bags, but l kept her back,
Only with love, my dear, I answer
ed, smiling pleasantly; only with love
for you Oh, Fanny, I adore you'll Say
you Will be my wife
i gave you an answer the other day,
one which l think you would have re-
membered,' she added, laughing lit
tie, Notwithstanding her terror.
4 remember it perfectly answer
ed. but intend to have n different
reply from that. You sec these five
sand bags. shall ask you five times
to be my wife. Every time you refuse
| shall throw over a sand bag. Will
YOU promise to give me your hand?
'Neverr she answered; I will go to
Ursa Major first, though l got u big
enough bear here, in all conscience.
She looked so pretty that l was al
most inclined to let her of, But reso.
luton is one of the points of my char
acter, and when I've begun a thing /
carry it through, so l threw over an
other sand bag and whistled the Dead
March in Saul
Come, Mr.. Jenkins she said sud-
denly; Come, Tom, let us descend
now. and I'll promise to say nothing
whatever of all this
] laughed, seized another bag, and,
looking steadily at her, said:
Will you promise to give ME your
hand?'
I've answered You already was the
reply.
Over went the sand, and the solemn
notes Of the Dead March resounded
through the car.
4 thought you were gentleman,
said Fanny, rising up in terrible rage
from the bottom of the car, where she
had been sitting and looking beautiful
in her wrath. i thought you were
gentleman, but I find | was mistaken.
Do you know you are risking your own
life as we'll as mine by your madness?
| explained that | adored her 80
much That to die in her company would
be perfect bliss, so that / begged she
would not consider my feelings at all.
4 command you to begin to descend
this instan,' she ordered.
After few minutes silence I took
up another bug and said:
We are getting rather high; if you
do not decide soon we shall have Mer-
curry coming up to tell us that we are
trcsrmssins-will you promise ME your
hand?'
She sat in sulky silence at the bottom
Of the Car. Over went the fourth bag,
and began to think she would beat
me after all, for l did not like the idea
of going much higher.
Fanny, they say that marriages are
made in heaven-if you do not care
ours will be solemnized there
took up the bag.
She held her face in her hands, but
did not answer. I nursed the bag in
my arms, as if it had been baby.
Come, Fanny, give me your prom
ise. could hear her sobs. I'm the
softest- hearted creature breathing, and
would not pain any living thing, and |
confess she had beaten me. l forgave
her the duoking; I forgave her for re-
jecting Inc. I was on the point Of
flinging the Jag back into the car,
L Il, - -. i,