Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1889-03-09

il. He was a lonely man. and the rife
was his principle companion. When he
vas in a romantic mood he would pat
the stock Of the fine twist" barrel Of
the gun ~aHectionateIy with his hand, re-
marking: This ri'e. sir, is my bride,
and she never talks excep. when want
her to" At that remark his friends
would privately laugh more than ever.
Put they soon discovered. as | shall
speedily demonstrate, that his romantic
attachment 10 the gun was a very lucky
thing, which rendered him and certain
other persons an unexpected and import
ant service.
Little Birdie Ttedioe. then a fright,
brown haired n ID Of three, was a grea.
favorite among the ,Isitors at the eef-
er's Point Hotel, whittier she had been
brought BIZ her widowed mother to re-
co er from the eFe IS Of a severe illness
tina, had lasted Sc eral weeks. All the
old ladies and old gentlemen about the
pla e. and even some Of the young ones,
were fond OF taking with her and
citing her. But Colonel a k Welsted,
If he had seen her atali, did not appear
TO have noticed her. Hewas much given
TO solitude, and did not spend mu h of
his time on the hotel pia "a. Moreover,
although fond Of children. he could not
he p remembering his disappointment in
rot beng able to marry Evelyn Carter,
and the SIGHT Of a pretty child f~rc4ueLt
Is made him melancholy hy reminding
him that he had none Of his own. Be
sides. he had been at the hotel only two
or three DAYS when the important event
connected with Birdie took pla e 1T IS
certain that he had not once seen her
w tn her mother. and dad not even know
her name.
enc afternoon, when a brisk VIM wa,
Blowing off shore. the Colonel had gone
out III his boat with Ben PlEer, taxing
his gun as usual, and promising himself
a shot at some stray sea all II he could
find ne better game. some OF the visit
ors were bathing on the beach, others
wee sitting on the steamboat wharf,
aad some were promenading in front OF
the hotel while a group of children al
the Indian tent, not far away, were buy
ing bead moecasons and barb
baskets. The veranda was crowded and
Mrs. Tredloe was ting there with little
Birdie. when benevolent DR.. ilaygood
happened along. and asked the widow j
ne might TAKE the tlIN1i ho"u " IL
tent to buy something for her. Mrs.
Tredloe consented, and the old gentle
man and b 8 little com panio1 descended
the steps together. Pefore they hat
reached the tent, and as they were walk
!. ing along the high ground close allow
the water, they met an Italian peddie
who had a couple Of dozen toy balloon
for sale, all fastened 10y long strings to
=, stick, and bobbing merrily in the al
: above his head.
'oh, beautiful big apples exclaimed
Bird e, rapturou>lv, her sparkling eye
fixed on the large elastic crimson globes
which she seemed TO mistake for fruit
tive Bird e one.'
Or. l%Iaygood began to bargain wit,
, the Italian, and took the stick from hir
to select a balloon from the bunch. Hi
| small friend was delighted, imaginin,
G that she was to have the entire bunch.
. "All all fofmc>" She cried, and clap
!. ping her hands, she stretched them on
t toward the coveted treasure Of the dane
0 ing air globes.
. This so amused the kind hearted doc
z tor that he resolved to humor her, for
t moment at any rate. 50 gathering tn
!. long strings together. he tied theI
n around Birdie's waist. then let 90, an
{ the balloons all tIaattd up around an
n ahoveh her head and shoulders, making
= CAV spectacle of her. The doctor an
II the Italian 10th stood by. smiling at be
e satisfaction, when suddenly. to the
o anaIement, a strong gust'Ot WIND cause
all the balloons to sway to one sid,
It sweeping Birdie off her feet and grace
o fully up into the air.
h 1t happened so UNEXPECTEDLY that, Re
fore they could do anything 10 proven,
;. the light little creature was borne ava
by the cluster fantastic looking crlmso
!, balls, up and OF over the water. An
:. as the wind was o shore, it SCENE
:. inevitable that She would be carried i
:, it across the mo It'll Of the inlet stra gf
- out to sea.
= "Great heavens shouted the doctor
. in helpless horror.
The Italian. smitten with despair a
!, the loss of his balloons, began a frenzie
- dance. at the same TIM eNclalmlng t
- the unhappy old gentleman You rayt
.. mea for ALA thos "a YOU pave
> ALA
d The hathers in the water observed II
ne eNtraord nary sight of Il little girl chez
Il fully sailing through the air with h,
~ %lmprovlsed flying machine, and stoo
gaping upward in amazement. Ever,
~ one on shore became aware Of the cata
trophe IN an instant. and began runnir
TO and fro in the hubbuh. Mrs. TredIo
4 on the veranda, tainted, and Or. Iia
good was called up to restore her. VIII
n the Italian valniy tried to Keep one g
ia on him for security Of payment, and
u follow with his other eve the fight
ia the balloons IN the oppos te direction.
10 \ dozen men hurried 10 the watel
!. edge, launching row-boatS and sa
: boats. with which they tried 10 cha
- the shadow Of Birdie and The balloon
so as 10 he on hand a. the right sp
!" whenevef she should drop into Il
~ water. But 1t was a hopeless pursuit.
od ">he don't show any signs Of dro
4. ping, shouted Mr.. Middlebv. who W.
~ steering the foremost DO I. "Sl
moves through the air faster than '
lis can get over the water. and unless tho
n air bags explode or fall off she viii