The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-05-02
BABY BALLOON

How did abe come by such qaee'
nsnes said Colonel Jack welsted. repeat
ias the question the, had been put to hiu
By one Of oar party. Well. yea msy D
sure abe wasn't cbrisiened 80. Daring ih'
hni three years Of ber career ] pasnt sery
we'll acquainted With he--in fact. neveI
laid eyes on ber But nntil The end ol
that period abe vas known ~ Birdie; &C
I'm informed. Birdie Tredlco Was hei
real name. III tell you how she came 70
be called Baby BALBOA
The young person TO vhom be referred
vas lovely eih Of eighteen. With dark
hair. serious eyes. fresh healthy color IN
her chseks, aud 1.-THE figure, so graceful
and buoysnt tbs. you might easily have
expected her 10 aoa, away liza particular
ly strong breeze should happen TO blow
across the reswsrd looking veranda Of the
hotel ct Refers Point, where We sat talk.
ing. The idea that she might be waited
on BY breeze would be especially apt TO
occur to you when you ssw her dsuciog in
the great parlor, IS she frequently did o.
evenings And Irsther thought that hand
some Joe Terrlll Zone OF our younger
friends). who danced with ber great deal
would not have objected 10 her hosting
away il be could have been allowed 10
aoat with her. To be plain, Joe was in
love with Miss Tredloe, or, as the colonel
called her. BABY Balloon" Joe Terriil
bad plenty OF money, but be wss not sat-
ished with thst;he wanted Miss Tredloe as
we'll. When he did me the honor to con
ide this 10 me one day, said to BIN,
Why in the world. then. don'ty you ask her
TO marry you?
Well, he replied. don't feel at all sure
that she cares enough for me to take me
Just tor myself. l don't imagine she
would want me just for my money either
The long aud the short Of it is, / don't
smount to enough. My money came to
me by inheritance. so that's nothing to my
credit. Aud ! haven't done anything OF
importance in the world except just to be
born and to inherit this wealth. Now if
had only done some great action or made
q name for myself; | might possibly expect
TO win her. My notion is that she wants
q hero. Oh, by Jovel that's good idea
II could rescue her from mad dog or
sn angry bull, or save her from drowning, |
then she'd be sure to have me.
lnfuusted bulls aud mad dogs do not
turn up every day; and when they do make
their appearance it is likely enough to be
just at a moment when we are not PREF ared
to cope with them. So, not being able to
press these animals into bis service, Ter
rill persIstently took Miss Tredloe out
sailing, es if with view to some oppor
tune marine disaster. 1t was positively
to notice how be dogged her foot.
steps with design on her liie-not the
design OF destroying it, but Of preserving
i, 30 that she might share it With him.
But to return to Colonel Welsted. His
declaration that be had Eot known the
young lady for the first three years OF her
seemed rather STANCE, consider
ng that she looked upon him as q father,
md that We oil considered him 10 tha:
light. Notwithstanding the difference in
heir names. He explained this, however,
% the course OF the story which he pro
,aeded to narrate. The story is the one l
I'm going to tell here.
Colonel Jack Welsted was tall, sinewy
nan with gaunt cheeks. and had q long
ed mustache that dropped and slanted
'ver the corners Of his mouth like q pen
liant hanging idly from the staff on wind
ess day. He was also celebrated as a
rack rihe-sbot. He could bring down al
most anything on the wing. and could hit
III sorts Of marks, at all ranges But his
certainty OF aim with the rifle did no. seem
0 help him when he came to love matters.
ie failed to come snywhere near touching
ne heart Of the lady whom he loved. Eve [
yn Garter rejected him, aud married On
'ther man, who was great deal hand i
omer than the colonel. but, regret to I
sy. not nearly so good.
Then Colonel Jack went of on his trav
Is. carrying bis firearms with him. He I
made innumerable hunting trips, and {
hot endless numbers Of deer. rabbits, '
Rocky Mountain goats, wild cats, ducks, {
'rairie hens, aud even alligstors. For q
ong time il seemed as II be was trying to
freak on these unfortunate creatures the
Of bis affections. But all ]
D no purpose. He could not forget Eve '
Tn; and SO far rs be could see he was as !
iuch Ia love with her ss ever. Thus il
AS that about four years after her msrri 8
20 be came wandering down to this pop. !
lar sea shore resort OF Refers Point,
here We we're now staying. aud where he 8
ow told us the story. Lots Of other peo I
le came there for their health or for 1
nusement. The colonel came because v
e did not know what else to do; and al o
icugh there was not much shooting 10 be Il
ad at Refers, he was constantly seen
Irryiog his riffs about with him. IN the s.
'owds around the hotel. or along the k
nelly beeches. or IN the boat which he v
red Ben Piyer to sail for him up and Q,
,wn and across the inlet, or sometimes b
ell out 10 sea. People laughed at him . b
tile. goodnsturedly, for tagging the gun 81