Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-21
ror the DIspatch.)


and left alone in the silence ana soh,uue
of the nursery, found himself face TO race
with his great temptation.
He went to the window and, carefuiiy
raising the sash. pulled at string that
was fastened TO the woodwork. lmme-
diately there foated into view large
gas balloon. lighter than air and glitter
ing, incandescent in the sunshine. Ike
gigantic soap-bubble. Michael drew the
beautiful, fragile thing to a level with
his curly head, and, reaching out OF the
window, caught 1t carefully In both
hands. II was then that his temptation
took him by the throat; an odd tempta-
ton truly. but to each man his own DIFF
ficulties. Nature stores no color like that
celestial blue. and Michael was cursed
with the soul of an artist. His own air
balloon, wrecked last night on the thorns
of a leafess rosebush. had been magenta
in hue-a dull. ugly magenta. wholly I'M
satisfying; he longed consumedly for the
delicate, dainty toy, which. alas! belong
ed to the Baby, and never. never might
be his. The Baby was entirely unappre-
ciative; Michael dimly felt 1t sacrilege
that she should possess this fairy thing
to whose attractions she remained so to-
tally Indifferent; he Rugged II closely
yet carefully, TO his heart, and. with
touch and sight, the craze for beauty
laid hold upon him. During a brief five
minutes he forgot everything save the
Joy Of possession. and then, In dismay,
he realized that, while reckoning with
the Baby, he must also reckon with his
brother Teddy. For Teddy. returning
from school for the Thanksgiving holi-
days the day before, had bought In genc-
rous mood for each of the children CO.
lored air balloon. He had extracted
from Aubrey half payment for the same
explaining that such gifts ought TO come
from both brothers; that he had expend-
ed upon them more than he expected,
and that in the delight Of the little ones
might well be found an ample reward.
As indeed would doubtless have been the
case had not all the balloons collapsed
during their first rapture OF enchantment,
so that gratitude became merged In Ie-
greet and only the Baby remained happy
mistress of sphere intact and exquisite.
Teddy, to MichaePs annoyance, had In
sisted upon presenting her with the big
gest and fairest Of his gifts-a balloon
whose color rvalled that of the sky at
midsummer "She's not really a b-baby,
you know: she's almost as old as you are
and just as fond of blue. B-besides. la
dies first" said he, in answer to timid
remonstrance, and Michael, perforce,
had been obliged to acquiesce. Nor, at that
time, and so long as the magenta air.
balloon remained to him, did he find the
matter beyond philosophy; bat when his
own airy plaything had been pierced by
the cruel rosethorns, and another day
still saw the Baby in full enjoyment of
hers then MichaePs resentment against
fate became imperious. For, look
you, his sister made small use of
her opportunities; she did not
gloat over her balloon as Michael would
have done, she neglected and forgot 1t:
indeed, there seemed no reason why II
should not float, secured by q string,
from the nursery window until the end
Of time. But fortune plays strange
FRANKS, and here was Michael, all alone,
with the coveted treasure held in his
hands. A wind was blowing; he let the
balloon drift away upon current Of air,
and then coaxed ii back again within
his grasp. 1t looked so big, and taut,
and glstening; the smooth-stretched
skin, with its satiny rib, was infinitely
more he coveted; 1t was intolerable to
reflect that such beauty belonged solely
to the unappreciative baby.
He had been so absorbed that when,
| close above his head, the big tea-bell
| changed a summons, he started nervously,
and drew back again into the nursery,
| carrying with him the object of his de-
sire, and laying his cheek caressingly
against it. SO, for a moment he stood,
and then, with uncertain steps, he walked
| to the table and rumaged in nurses
| work-basket. Afterwards the room was
| perfectly quiet, and when the others
/ came in presently, Michael was sitting
| in a corner, with the doll Louisa upon
| his lap.
Ten minutes later Teddy. passing
| through the yard, lifted his eyes to the
| nursery window, and saw, dangling
| above the pavement, a limp. blue bag,
! sticky and ininitesimal. He pointed 1t
| out to Aubrey.
That's baby's balloon" he said. What
a pity! I wonder how she b-burst It,"
They're not worth buying" said
Aubrey. Let's go up and ask her what
| she's done to IT,"
| They raced up the stairs. and Teddy.
bursting impetuously into the nursery,
went over to the window and secured
the dragged remains.
"Why." said he, in establishment,
there's pin sticking through ii. How
q-queer. who can have done that,
| Nurse?'
The Baby broke into sudden lamenta-
ton Nurse, who was busy, shook her
head impatienty.
Goodness! Who should have done IT."
said she; 1.-The gas burst of itself, you
NAV be certain, and I'm glad Of II, for
| they're nasty. poisonous things. Now,
| leave off crying, do Miss Baby! Yours
lasted longer than any of them, so you've
/ no call TO make fuss about It,
Teddy turned the corpse OF an all
balloon over in his fingers large,
| white pin was tangled in the folds. ana
Teddy was interested. He always liked
as far as possible. TO understand the
why and wherefore OF everything ana
often lamented those limitations OF
knowledge which appear to hamper even
the most intelligent OF grown-ups.
"P.pins don't get into things unless
they're put there" he remarked thought
fullv ''Has II been hanging here all the
| time. Nurse?
'Dear me. yes" said Nurse. and no
body's been near the place but me and
Master Michael Put the thing down,
and get your hands washed for tea. Miss
Raby. she's not going to cry any more
ahout H. and the second bell Will be ring
ing in minute"
Teddy glanced round. and his eyes fell
upon Michael, sitting very quietly IN MS
corner. -. =,
"I,-look here, Michael" he said. "d-dt
| Won know ANYTHING about Babys all
ballY' He held up the remnant OF snrunh