Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-09-03

that ever present bugbear of rustic
femininity.
Mace had a happy inspiration. Say,
look hyer, let Mr.. Pussy marry us right
hain't goin' to git to Gary
vile in this thing" he pleaded.
Yes, we are" Hubbard returned,
staring intently down, his hand on the
valve rope. "By George! l wouldn't
have believed it! We've struck a cur
rent that's going to carry us right
smack over the fair grounds"
1t was true; the race track, crowd,
booths and stalls, were almost directly
below them, and lay in their line of
advance. Hubbard began TO descend.
The shouting of the crowd could now
be heard, the crowd itself was visible,
and disentangled itself into individu-
ais, like ants running about an ant
heap.
Hester chung in silence to her lovers
arm. She was dressed in all the inery
a mountain belle could command, for
she had expected to go to the celebra-
ton at Garyville-indeed, she was 60
ing to it now, and to her own wedding
as well. you reckon Fain's down
there??" she inquired finally, looking at
the ant hill and the ants. 1t was very
difficult to be afraid of a brother at
such long range, and when your unin-
%terrupted view was permitted to re-
duce him to such contemplate dimen-
sions.
The balloon, however, was now so
much lower that people began to look
like people, though strangely fore
shortened and distorted. Hester, Mace
and Brother Pusey gazed fascinated,
and no wonder; for, from this height,
a man directly below presented him
self as a hat moving along upon the
ground, from which were thrust a pair
of feet, and beside which two short
arms waggled.
Hubbard undid a package of hand
bills, and all four Joined in throwing
them out. The aeronaut, knowing
nothing of mountain people and noun
tain ways, failed to appreciate the dan
ger in which not only his passengers
but his beloved balloon might be from
Bushares' rifle. The Reverend Zeb,
however, touched his sleeve, caution
ing, Better not git down too close.
Fain Bushares is a good shot; but the
way this here thing wobbles, he's
mighty apt to miss Mace an hit you
or me-"
How far will a rifle ball carry?"
Hubbard inquired in some alarm.
81 sh'd think he mought hit a man
at 600 OF 500 yards; but this old bal
loon is a far mark-looks like he
mought hit it's fairs cd see it. That
OF Winchester O. his'n II kerry a
plump mile"
81 don't want the Bird O. Paradise
shot into, Of course" Hubbard said,
but a rifle ball wouldn't make hole
enough to do us much damage. I'll
keep 300 or 400 feet above the crowd;
but | ort to get where | can holler to
'em, and tell 'em that the marryin' is
goin' on. I'll go down close first
WIN Z wv oly hGtll II III IllC lllCll lCSOS-
nizes you folks-maybe he amt there
anyhow"
They could hear the popping Of fire.
crackers now, the band playing away
for dear life, and the hoarse, delighted
shouts of the people below them. As
the last handful went over the edge o.
the car Hubbard took out the big tin
horn of the spieler.
''The wedding is now taking place.
he roared, 1000 feet in a~-a-air!" Thi.
latter was simply a rhetorical flour
ish, but it pleased the crowd, which
roared again.
Join your right hands," Hubbar
prompted i%rritably, turning from his
horn. STAND up before the preacher
and join your right hands"
Nothing loath, the young people die
SO. During the arrangement of tho
wedding scene the balloon had de
scended ~perilously close to the settle
ment. Suddenly the bride-it is al
ways the woman who has her wits
about her at such times-saw a man
run a little away from those about
him, pick up a rifle and bring it to his
shoulder. Its Fain," she cried. Hes
saw us and knows us. Oh, please,
Mr.. Balloon man, make it go up quick"
The frightened Hubbard heaved
overheard most of his sand; and SO
close was he above the heads of the
OQn1nOr arNtr1 that Tho ro,,1 Inran,,11l
upon them in a cloud. The balloon
shot upward, leaving a choking, sput-
tering group below-and it was nearly
a thousand feet in air that Mace Tai
lent and Hester Bushares were mar
ried.
They could see other atomies run tc
Fain and disarm him; before they got
too far away they could ever hear the
laughter with which, this unexpected
turn was received.
Hubbard radiated satisfaction. "Ill
bet that's the most successful ascent !
ever made" he remarked. 81 lever
seen a crowd so tickled."
you could drap us wherever you
choose now,' the happy bridegroom
suggested. THE boys has got a-hold
of Fain, an we're all right"
81 reckon" unused the Reverend
Pusey, whose good humor was quite
restored, that these young friends o.
yolrn will be wantin' you to change
the name O. your balloon from the Bird
O Paradise to the Gyardeen Angel"
And four people, 'one thousand feet
in air. laughed together as they set
tied gracefully toward Folks Station,
and the railway which was to carry
Mace and Hester Talent to safety, and
indirectly to the little waiting cabin
on the mountain side.
Honey" whispered Mace, as he sur
r%eptitiously possessed himself of Hes
ter'S hand, I'VE had the biggest crowd