Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-09-25
"Steering it2 l thought balloons

Steering it9 l thought balloons
couldn't be steered."
"Oh, yes, they can-when the winds
favorable. At any rate, I'm steering this
one"
"Where are you steering it to5"
"Right straight to Hymen's bower"
"Now you are beginning again to talk
as if you were insane, and l shall get
frightened again if you don't hush"
Tom pressed her closer to him.
Don't you love me, Jenny2" he
asked.
She turned her eyes up to him, but
didn't say a word. Her head was still
lying on his shoulder.
Don't you think it would be nice to
sail along this way all by ourselves, away
from Morley and the two old aunties and
everybody, forever"
81 don't know, Tom; perhaps we might
get tired"
"Neverl" said Tom.
He had been discharging gas all the
time, and the balloon had slowly settled
down towards the earth till now every
thing on it was plain to the naked eye
houses, trees, and even people, who
stopped to gaze up at them as they
passed over, and Jenny, much to her
lovers regret, had lifted her pretty head
from its rccumbent position to look over
the edge of the car.
"Do you see that little white church,
Jenny9" he asked.
eyes"
"Well, that's what I've been steering
for Do you know whyW
" No: how should ID
"How should you9 Don't you know
what people generally do in church2"
"They preach, and pray, and sing
hymns"
"Nothing else?"
Yes, believe So"
"You believe so. 1 know so, and
that's just what we are going to do"
go Tom, we can't"
"Can't we, thought Who's to hinder2
Not the aunties; not Morley surely.
They are long way from here, and we
can do just as we please about it, and tell
'em afterwards. Come, Jenny, you've
got to promise to do just as | say or I'll
carry you up in the clouds again, and
keep you there forever"
so Tom, you ought to be ashamed of
yourself to take advantage of my situation
to make me do as you please, said Jenny
reproachfully, but at the same time cling
ing closer to him; "you haven't got any
right to do it."
"rve perfect right to make you do
what you want to do, and what is for
your happiness. Come, promisel We
are almost to the church, and if you
don't I'll let her loose; I've only to throw
out some of these little bags, and up she
goes" and he picked up one of the sand
bags, as if to heave it out.
"Don't, DON'T Tom, >" said Jennie, lay
ing her hand on his arm; "rll promise. "
All right" said Tom, and in few
minutes the balloon was skimming along
not far from the ground, over an inclosec
field. He threw out his anchor, almos
Immediately, and it caught in the pane
of fence, bringing the balloon too witt
a sudden jerk,
cop exclaimed Jenny, clasping he
arms about her lovers neck. 81 though
l was going to bounce out"
"We will bounce out, and that righ
| quickly said Tom kissing her blushin,
face two or three times. Yonder
the church, parson can't be far off, and
and-I've got the license in my pocket.
go, Tom," said Jennie, "aren't yol
ashamed of yourself-to play me such
trick?"
But Tom wasn't bit ashamed ant
afterwards, whenever his pretty wifi
twitted him with it, as she did occasion
ally, he said it was trick worth any tw
or dozen that he had ever heard Of
| New Orleans Picayune.