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


so. During the first three years of her
career wasn't very well acquainted
with her-in fact, never laid eyes on
her. But until the end of that period
she was known as Birdie; so I'm in
formed. Birdie Tredloe was her real
name. I'll tell you how she came to be
called Baby Balloon
The young person to whom he re-
ferred was lovely girl of eighteen,
with dark hair, serious eyes, fresh
healthy color in her cheeks, and 1.-the
figure, so graceful and buoyant that
you might easily have expected her to
float away if a particularly strong breeze
should happen to blow across the sea-
ard-lookiDg veranda of the hotel at
Refers Point, where we sat talking.
The idea that she might be waited off
by a breeze would be especially apt to
occur to you when you saw her dancicg
in the great parlor, as she frequently
did of evenings. And rather thought
that handsome Joe Terrill Zone of our
younger friends), who danced with her
a great deal, would not have objected
to her floating away if he could have
been allowed to float with her. 10 be
plain, Toe was in love with Miss Tired
loe, or, as the colonel called her, " Baby
Balloon" Joe Terrill had plenty of
money, but he was not satisfied with
that; he wanted Miss Tredloe as well.
When he did me the honor to confide
this to me one day, said to him, )" Why
in the world, then, don't you ask her to
marry your"
Well" he replied, 81 don't feel at
all sure that she cares enough for me
to take me Just for myself. l don't
imagine she would want me just for
my money either The long and the
short of it is, don't amount to enough.
My money came to me by inheritance,
so that's nothing to my credit. And
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 a
name for myself, might possibly ex-
pect to win her. My notion is that she
wants hero. Oh, by Jove!-that's a
good idea. If could rescue her from
mad dog or an angry bull, or save her
from drowning, then she'd be sure to
have me-"
Infatuated bulls and mad dogs do not
turn up every day; and when they do
make their appearance it is likely
enough to be just at moment when
we are not prepared to cope with them.
So, not being able to press these ami
mails into his service, Terrill persist
emily took Miss Tredloe out sailing, as
if with view to some opportune ma
rine disaster. 1t was positively anus
ing to notice how he logged her foot
steps with design on her life-not the
design of destroying it, but of preserv-
ing it, so that she might share it with
him.
But to return to Colonel Welsted.
His declaration that he had not
known the young lady for the first three
years of her existence seemed rather
strange, considering that she looked
upon him as father, and that we all
considered him in that light, notwith-
standing the difference in their names
He explained this, however, in the
course of the story which he proceeded
going to tell here.
Colonel Jack Welsted was a tall
sinewy man with gaunt cheeks, and had
long red mustache that dropped and
slanted over the corners of his mouth
like pennant hanging idly from the
staff on MINDLESS day. He was also
celebrated as crack rihe-shot. He
could bring down almost anything on
the wing, and could hit all sorts of
marks, at all ranges. But his certainty
of aim with the rifle did not seem to
help him when he came to love matters.
He failed to come anywhere near
touching the heart of the lady whom he
loved. Evelyn Carter rejected him,
and married another man, who was a
great deal handsomer than the colonel
but. regret to say, not nearly SC
good.
Then Colonel Jack went off on his
travels, carrying his firearms with him
He made innumerable hunting trips
and shot endless numbers of deer, rab.
bits, Rocky Mountain goats, wild cats
ducks, prairie hens, and even alligators
For long time it seemed as if he was
trying to wreak on these unfortunate
creatures the disappointment of his af.
fections. But all to no purpose. He
could not forget Evelyn; and so far as
he could see he was as much in love
with her as ever. Thus it was that
about four years after her marriage he
S"iiN NohNOIiuS uOWh w Ihlo populdi
sea-shore resort of Refers Point
where we were now staying, and where
he now told us the story. Lots OF
other people came there for theil
health or for amusement. The colonel
came because he did not know what
else to do; and although there was not
much shooting to be had at Refers, he
was constantly seen carrying his rife
about with him, in the crowds around
the hotel, or along the lonely beaches
or in the boat which he hired Ben Piver
to sail for him up and down and across
the inlet, or sometimes well out to sea
People laughed at him little, good.
naturally, for Juggling the gun with
him on all occasions. But he was
greatly attached to it. He was lonely
man, and the rifle was his principal
companion. When he was in a roman
tic mood he would pat the stock or the
fine twist" barrel of the gun affec
tionately with his hand, remarking
"This rifle, sir, is my bride, and she
never talks except when / want her to. >
At that remark his friends would pri