Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-06
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
JOOeOOUOC0O9ID 0O0OoCOCCOt
: A MIDAIR
; ROMANCE
, BY MARIAN GRANT
By MARIAN GRANT
Copyright, 1853. by Il. @. Mcclure

3 =, 8
o Copyright, 1903. by Il. @. Mcclure o
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They both worked In the clouds, she
on the top floor of a great factory
building he amid the iron framework
of huge skyscraper.
He did not know of her existence,
but she felt quite sure that she should
recognize him if ever they met in the
street, whose noisy, busy life swept on
far below their feet. She could always
single him out among the mechanics
working there in midair. No other
workman trod the iron beams with
such assured poise,or squared his Shout
ders just as he did to the days work.
He did everything with an air Of abso-
lutte confidence which thrilled and mas
tered her.
He was too far away for her to scru-
unize his features, bnt she was quite
sure that he had honest, clear blue eyes
and brown curly hair, and his eyes
could twinkle merrily. This she knew
bis fellow workmen.
Not that she had much time to study
his mannerisms, for Ellen Mulvihill
was designer in the factory Of John
son & Co., makers of ladies' shirt waists
and neckwear, and very busy wo-
man. Perhaps it was well for the firm,
however, that while she designed
stocks and fancy boas she wove in the
thread of her romance. for this strange
~ one sided love affair seemed to beau
tify the whole world for her, and
while her heart sang her fingers work
ed deity, and the firm reaped the
profit.
If she had not been so absorbed just
at this juncture she might have noticed
that she was rising in the favor Of her
employers, but she was quite amazed
one day when they voluntarily raised
her salary. Quite naturally they did
not offer the explanation that they
feared their competitors and gave the
increase as a precautionary measure.
Ellen accepted it as part of the rose
color which had suddenly enveloped
her entire life scheme. The extra sal
airy had come just in time, she argued,
for Tri1ie, the idol of her heart, or,
rather, the one person who divided
heart space with the hero Of her mid
air dreams, had been wanting to go to
dancing school these two months-to
wonderful hall where children all in
white frocks and velvet Fauntleroy
suits tripped to fairy music.
Ellen lived with her married brother,
and knowing ones would say that she
paid high price for the privilege.
Mulvihill's wife was something Of q
shrew, while Ellen was Of more gentle
birth and breeding. The sisterin-law
loved neighborhood gossip and was not
above quarrel with the other jewellers
In the fiat house. Ellen enjoyed her
books, the hall bedroom, furnished and
decorated with the dainty simplicity
which marked her designs at the fac
tory, and the championship Of Trixie.
The girls at the factory were kind to
her, too, and then there was the quiet,
shadowy church midway 'twixt home
and work where she stopped each day
to say innumerable "all halls" to the
Blessed Mother, who must have inter-
coded to secure for her so much happi-
ness.
1t was about month after the MEM
orable advance in salary that an omi-
nous silence fell upon the Mulvihill
supper table. Ellen knew instinctivefy
that some domestic problem was COM
ing up for discussion.
At last John Mulvihill pushed back
his empty teacup and lighted his pipe.
"Ellen, the Shamrock association are
after givin' their annual ball week
this Tuesday night, an the wife an
mesif think you'd best be goin' along
Ellen raised startled eyes to her
brothers. fSlA
Pm no dancer, as you well know,
John, an crowds like that give me the
headache. I'd rather stop at home with
Trixie"
John Mulvthill's face darkened.
You're always stoppin' ut home with
the child, an it is time you went out
an met the boys an had steady COM
pany. You're the first Mulvihill girl
that ever passed twenty-five without
havin' her offers to marry. You'll new
er marry il you stay cooped up here
night after night an not even visitin'
our friends Of a Sunday afternoon"
Going to the Shamrock associations
ball in search Of husband! Ellen's
face famed, then turned pale. But.
then, they did not know about him.
The very thought seemed like treason