San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-07-05
HARPER'S ASCENSION.

A REAL voURTn or JULY FAITHFULLY
PORTRAYED.
"Iaipcr Clelland Ii going upin the balloon
on the Fourth Of July"
Tho speaker was Lindlcy Custis, ID years
old. His only hearer was his sister Ada,
who had the reputation Of being the hand
soonest and proudest young lady I'm the some
what uppish society of the self satisfied and
prosperous town Of Lafayette
She received the news with an incredulous
meer.
The boy was well aware that his news was
distasteful TO his silent auditor For that
reason he was determined TO compel belief.
He had the proofs of his tale In his pocket,
and he intended to enjoy to the full tho dis.
playing of 1t presently. Didn't he know all
about her overwhelming pride, her love OF
the conventional things Of life and her hatred
of all that was original or peouliarl Had
he not himself suffered because of her preju.
dicesi When had he ever attempted anything
outside the grim limits Of the commonplace,
that she had not rebuked him and made him
feel small and ashamed And didn't he
know exactly why his news about Harper
Clelland and tho balloon was hateful to heri
He was no fool not he. Couldn't he see by
cNN''
flying around recently just how the wind
was blnwingi Tho indications were towards
matrimonial hnrbor for his sister and Har-
per Clelland, or he was no prophet And
wasn't it fun alive to see Ada vince at the
prospect of the whole town seeing her sweet
heart go up In balloon like O circus mani
Revenge for many a rebuke 10y within bis
hand. or rather his pocket.
Don't believe It, sis, do your continued
the boy sarcastically, his eyes dancing with
wicked delight, his mischievous little soul
rejoicing over the ''clinchcr" he was about to
draw forth. "Couldn't DO true, of course.
Mr.. Clelland, Miss Custis' beau, is too great
q swell to make clown Of himself, isn't hei
AS Miss Custis' beau he has too much dignity
to sustain to dream Of furnishing amusement
for a Fourth Of July crowd That's your
opinion, no doubt, Miss Custis; but 1t isn't
mine Harper Clelland is neither fool nor
coward And he Ia rich enough and poprt-
lar enough to do anything | have thought
at times that he was something Of fool to
be SO fond of you, for as sure as snakes you
don't appreciate tho stuff that's in that fel'
Nv. He's clear grit. He isn't afraid to SLAP
all Lafayette In tho face by doing something
that rich mems sons wouldn't dare to do-no
not one In Thousand of 'em. hate rich
mems SONS, If ! am one myself. Nearly all
the boys that have anything in them are
poor, and blamed If don't feel sort of insig-
nificant when I'm with them. If 1t wasn't
that mother would take 1t hard ! shouldn't
care IL Custis senior failed. Ungrateful, am
10 Not bit believe it would be good for
all Of US, You particularly. Perhaps you
would then find out which one Of your beaux
was worth having Pm no fogy. am an
advanced thinker, II you please; believe In
lots Of new notions"
"You seem to have made remarkable prog
ress," said Ada In icy tone.
"rhat's neither here nor There" said the
boy. at is Harper Clelland that am speak
ing Of. He Is going up in tho balloon, sure
enough. / was around everywhere today,
and heard all about it. Contracts signed,
and he's under training. Professional aero
naut here already. saw the balloon, habby
old thing; looks like an elephant that had
collapsed. But here's the wholesto in The
Record"