The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-01-24

ming about on an ant-hill. ."What will
become of us, Tom"
IL don't know" said Tom.
go, Tom. thought you were an aero'
naut"
$50 l am"
"Don't talk such nonsense. You
ought to be ashamed to try to make me
more frightened than l am"
II am not trying to brighten you, but
now that have got you up here all to
myself I'm going to carry you to the
moon, where girls are not sold for
money"
go, Tom." cried the girl. beginning
to think that she was in the power OF I
maniac, "what do you mean
Mean? Why it's plain enough. Don't
you know the moon is made of silver.
Can't you see it for yourself? Roll on,
silver MOON etc. And what would
they want of money there" and he
burst out laughing when he saw that
she really thought he was mad. Come,
Jenny" he said, II was only joking
we'll come out all right
"You-ought-to be-ashamed to
brighten me So" said Jenny, sobbing
while Tom, taking advantage of heI
helpless condition, put his arm around
her waist
"Come, Jenny said he, pulling at the
halyard that connected with the valve
with his disengaged hand, "come, dear
wei be all right, so don't cry"
Il can't help it." said Jenny, laying
her pretty head on his shouldcr-she fell
less frightened that way-'I-can't-
oelp-it; you re-sO-so-cruel. ]
didn't-think- would-be cruel
to-me-Tom."
"And | don't want to be cruel to you
darling" said Tom. kissing her -
want to love you, and want you to love
me-that's ALL
They were gliding along now easily
and smoothly, but at a rapid rate, though
that fact was imperceptible to Jenny,
The landscape seemed to be swimming
along beneath her, ever changing and
beautiful, but she could perceive nc
motion in the balloon.
"What are you doing with the rope
Tom?' she asked, having somewhat re
covered under his treatment
''Tm steering it, "hc said, with a cora
ical smile
Steering it3 1 thought balloons
couldn't be stecred."
''Oh. yes, they can-when the winds
favorable. At any rate, I'm steering this
one"
'Where are YOU steering it to-"
Fright 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, jenny" 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 tc
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"
Never 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 1T was plain to the naked eve
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.
Jenny?" he asked.
EYES"
"Well, that's what I've been steering
for. Do you know why?"
mo; how should II
GLOW should you! Don't YOU know
what people generally do in church?'
"They preach, and pray, and sing
hymns"
Nothing else?"
yes, believe So"
"Iou believe Sc. | know so, and
that's Just what we are going to do"
80 Tom, we can't"
Cant we, though! Who's to hinder?
Not the aunties; not Morley surely. |
They are Il long way from here, and we
AN do just rs we please about it, and tell |
EN- afterwards. Come. Jenny, you've |
got to promise to do just as say, or I'll |
AIRY you up in the clouds again, and
Keep you there forever"
80 Tom. you ought to be ashamed Of
Yourself to take advantage of my situation
o make me do as you please, said Jenny
eproachfully. but at the same time cling.
ng closer to him; "you haven't got any
light 10 do it,"
"rve perfect right to make you do
What you want to do, and what is for
our happiness. Come, promise! We
re almost to the church, and if YOU
lon't I'll let her loose: I've only to throw