The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-04-24

balloons collapsed and shriveled up.
An audible cheer came blowing out
from the people on shore and in the
boats; and Colonel Jack loaded again.
But just imagine how Mrs. Tredloe
felt when she saw that puff of gun
smoke from the cat-boat, and realized
that some one was firing at Birdie
She had barely recovered from her
fainting fit when this happened. Bet
ter to let her drown or blow away be-
You'd recovery than do that" she gasped
in anguish. Why, it is murder
Can't any one stop that man from shoot
ing?"
DIR. Haygood and her friends tried to
explain the matter to her, but she
tainted again before they could do so.
And it was lucky for her that she be-
came unconscious, because the gallant
colonel was blazing away again with
his rife at closer range. Another of
the balloons was punctured and seemed
to vanish. Colonel Jacks catboat all
the time drew nearer to spot on the
water Just below the lowering baby.
who now hung suspended, fortunately
very close to a long sand-spit that jutted
out into the inlet just beyond the har-
boris mouth.
One more shot finished off a third
balloon, and there were not enough left
in the bunch now to hold Birdie up.
Slowly, steadily, softly she began to de-
scend, precisely as if she were being let
downward by pair of arms moving
gently, and in a few minutes Colonel
Jack had the satisfaction of seeing her
sink quietly and comfortably down on
the sand-heap, with the remaining
balloons still fluttering around her like
so many huge bubbles of gorgeous
color.
His boat was the first to reach the
point of sand. Ben Piver leaped out,
ran to the child, and turning waved his
hat as he shouted to the assembled fleet,
Gentlemen, she's alive and kicking!"
whereat another cheer arose, long and
loud.
Colonel Jack all but wept over the
child as he caught her up and kissed
her. But Birdie, on landing amid the
sand, had calmly and unconcernedly
begun playing with it. Her hands
were full of little shells. Desc for
mamma" she remarked, cheerfully.
He hurried her into his boat, and
| sailed back to the wharf, accompanied
by the rest of the fleet. There was a
tremendous press of men and women
on the wharf Mr.. Middleby, who re-
ceived Birdie as she was handed up,
started to rush with her to her mother.
But, strangely enough, in the crush
and confusion of the crowd, he missed
his way, and stepping accidentally over
the side, fell with plunge into the
water, carrying Birdie along with him.
The colonel and Ben Piver were over
board in moment, and soon had her
safe ashore; so that before they brought
her to Mrs. Tredloe she had been res
cued twice. Some one had run ahead
to tell the poor mother that Birdie was
all right. With DIR. Haygoods help
the little maiden back; and as the COL
onel entered with Birdie in his arms
there was cry of recognition on both
sides.
Jack Welsted!" exclaimed the
widow, in astonishmnt.
AS for Colonel Jack, he stood gazing
from Birdie to her mother, in whom he
beheld his lost love, formerly Evelyn
Carter. Her husband, Mr.. Tredloe,
had died not long after Birdie was born I;
but Colonel Jack had known nothing
about this, having heard no news of
them for three years or more.
The end of it was that Colonel Jack
Welsted and Mrs. Tredloe were mar
ried before the season at Refers Point
was Over, and that was how he came to
be the step-father Of" Baby Balloon"
All this happened some fifteen years
before our conversation with the
colonel that evening on the piazza. The
day after he had recited the circum-
stances to us Joe Terrill came to him
and said: "Colonel, was very much
interested in the story you told us last
night, but it spoiled little plan of niue.
] have been intending to save Miss
BRIDES life myself as soon as | could
get good chance to do so, preparatory
to asking her to marry me. But as |
found you had already saved her life
twice, fifteen years ago, the wind
seemed to have been taken clean out of
my sails. 1t occurred to me that if |
were to attempt saving her again l
might be OVERRIDING matters. So / have
spoken to her to-day, and she agrees
with me. She says it's no use my wait
ing around to rescue her, because the
opportunity might not occur in long
while, and she has consented to marry
me if you'll give your approval. Will
your"
Colonel Jack gave it. "I'm glad I
saved you the trouble, Joe," said he.
at hard enough to win good
woman's love anyway, and if you've
done that much, you've done enough
TO suit me-"