Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-09-25
UP IN A BALLOON.

~ yOu NOu LldIIy LuS, Jouuyf
'It would be madness, Tom; you
know it would"
"What do you mean by madness?"
"You know well enough what mean,
and you know that l am right
''Yes, l think do know. You mean
that am poor and you are ditto, and
poverty multiplied by two is madness
Jenny, a very pretty little blonde with
bright golden curls and sweet blue eyes,
said nothing but looked down and wrote
hieroglyphics on the ground with the
end of her parasol She was sitting on
the gnarled roots of great oak, while
Tom, handsome, broad -shouldered fell
low, with dark brown hair and moustache
and large hazel eyes, lay half-reclining
at her feet.
''Eh, isn't that the sum and the an
swer?n he asked.
Still Jenny said nothing. but continued
to write hieroglyphics, while a little
flush rose on her cheeks and brow The
young man looked up in her face, and
there was deep melancholy in his fine
eyes.
II see how it is, " he said. "While l
have been away you have been demor
alized.n
"What do you mean2" she asked
sharply, giving him an indignant glance.
"Oh, nothing to make you very an
gry," he replied. ''It is just this: There
has been some old woman's work going
on, and you have been persuaded that
"'rwo poor folks wed
Had as well be dead
"Some of those sage female veterans,
who have gone through life satisfied to
exist without that which it appears to
me alone makes life endurable, have
talked you into their way of thinking,
and now, forsooth, it is madness to
marry the man you love. For you do
love me, Jenny-you know you do"
The girl was silent yet little while
and then she said, plaintlvely:
81 did believe | loved you once, Tom,
I'll acknowledge it, but am older now,
and think maybe was mistaken"
"Pshaw!" said Tom; ''think maybe.
I say you love me still. Yes, you love
me still, and yet you are going to marry
Ralph Morley. Don't deny it! for
know it; though perhaps you don't quit
know it yourself yet. Are you engageC
to himl"
''That is an impertinent question and
shall not answer it.
''Then | will take it for granted that
you are"
"Iou needn't do any such thing, for
am not"
"Well, you did answer my impertinent
question, after ALL
Il was not going to let you think what
you pleased"
''l'm glad you answered it anyhow, for
row l am going to tell you what sort of a
fellow he is, and sha'n't feel as if am
being rude, as | might otherwise have
done, Morley's kinfolks-"
" haver never had the pleasure of
meeting any member of Mr.. Morlev's
family except himself
1.-The pleasure said Tom, with a
scornful laugh. Let me tell YOU if YOU
do find 1t a pleasure when you meet one of
them-be it father mother, brother. sis
ter or the forty-fourth cousin-it will be
more than any one else has ever done.n
He seems to be a very nice gentle
man.
"Seems to be. But, pshaw won't
Plead my cause by abusing my rival. If
can't convince you of the divine right
Oh love above every other consideration,
~ tIroW up the case. | know you love
me; l know love you. We've loved
each other since we were old enough to
know what love meant Better is a din
ner with herbs where love is than n stalled
OK and hatred Herewith Do Won know
what that meansln
"Of course [ do, any child would
know"
You don't though, for all you thinl
yourself so wise. 1t means Just this: |
Is better to marry for love than 70
money"
Come Tom, said the girl, and ther
was catching Of her breath when sh
spoke, which told that tears were no
far off, come, must 60 home.n
Tom noticed these symptoms, and
wisely concluding to press his suit n
further just then, walked along by he
slde without saying another word. Il
knew II tears did come it would relic,
the pressure on the dear little heart whic
was now pleading for him, and the cru
fellow thought it best to leave it there
There was to be balloon ascension
and Tom Arlington was to be one of Il
party Of aeronauts. He had been {
several such expeditions before, and W
quite an enthusiast on the subject