Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1903-08-06
\ MIDAIR
MAN CE
D MARIAN GRANT
Copyright. isn. by T. c. Mcclur.

Q Copyright. 1910. by T. c. Mcclure o
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
They both worked in the clouds. she
Un 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 II ever they met I'm the
street. whose noisy. busy life swept on
far below their feet. She could always
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-
tinize his features. but she was quite
sure that he had honest. clear blue eyes
and brown curly hair. and his eyes
could twinkle merrily. This she knew
by the jovial way In which he signaled
his 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 a very busy wo-
man. Perhaps II 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 deftly. and the firm reaped the
profit.
II she had not been so absorbed just
at this tuncture she might hare 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 meas q.
Ellen accepted 1t as a 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 Trixie, 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 60 to
dancing school these two months-to a
wonderful hall where children all I'm
white frocks and velvet Fauntleroy
suits tripped to fairy music
Ellen lived with her married brother.
and knowing ones would say that she
paid a high price for the privilege.
Mulvihilrs wife was something of a
shrew. while Ellen was Of more gentle
birth and breeding. The sister-in-law
loved neighborhood gossip and was not
above quarrel with the other dwelIe-S
In the nat mouse. Ellen enjoyed sfeP
books. the hall bedroom. furnished and
decorated with the dainty simplicity
which marked her designs ut the fac
tory. and the championship OF Trixie.
The girls ut the factory were kind to
her. too. and then there was the quiet.
shndowy 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 a month after the mem
orable advance in salary that an omi-
nous silence fell upon the MulvihilI
supper table. Ellen knew instinctively
that some domestic problem was COM
Ing up for discussion.
his empty teacup and lighted his pipe.
ELLEN. the Shamrock association are
after givin' their annual ball a week
this Tuesday night. an the wife an
mesilf think you'd best be goin' along
Ellen raised startled eyes to her
brothers face.
I'm no dancer. as you well know.
John. an crowds like that give me tn.
headache. I'd rather stop mt home with
Trixie"
John Mulvihilrs face darkened.
You're always stoppfn' at home with
the child. an II Is time you went out
an met the boys an had steady com.
pany. You're the first Mulvihiil girl
that ever passed twenty-five without
havin' her offers to marry. You'll new.
er marry " you stay cooped up here
night after night an not even visitin'
our friends OF Sunday afternoon"
Going to the Shamrock associations
ball I'm search ofta husband! Ellen's
face famed. then turned pale But.
tnen. tney uiu not know about him.
The very thought seemed like treason
to the strong. erect figure which never
passed out OF his mental vision.
Its well enough OF I am. John.
without husband. an see no reason
why you an Mary should want 10 mar
~ me OF. I'm tbinkin' Trixie would
miss her old auntie soreIy." And she
drew the child close "a II 10 ward OF
with her innocent childhood some i'm
pending disaster.
Mrs. MuivihiIl blazed forth on the in.
slant.
"Yes. an that's what the neighbors
are all sayin'-that use you as nurse.
girl for the child an dance an 20 to
the theater with John an my child
would suffer II II wain't for Won. They