The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-11-08
From Heaven
BY RUTH NORRIS
} Copyright, 1905, by X. a. Whitehead
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Jdth Euler, w ell, lnolnef, guess
when an angel from heaven drops
down this way I'll think of getting
maried. Until then | am very we'll
content as | am
lie snatehed up his hat and, wills
Ting to his dog. strobe across the fields
While his mother stood i'll the doorway
and watched him until the woods swal
lowed him up.
Then She turned with a sigh and en-
tered the house An inVeterate match.
maker, ii was one of the sorrows of
Mrs Elders life that her handsome
young son had withsteod the persua.
sionS of all the girls of his acquaint-
anee lie hud even assisted her In the
plans whereby she deputi2ed for Gu
pid, but, perhaps, IL was this familiar
lily with her methods which enabled
him 10 escape So easily from the snares
She set for him.
Had he shown an interest In any one
she would have felt some hope, but not
one of the girls she knew had been
able 10 arouse other than his friendly
interest and she was In despair.
Had she seen his face rs he STROBE
through the brush she would have been
surprised, for II WAS white and drawn
aud his teeth We're cleuched.
II was hard for him TO face his moth
er's persuasions With II Jest when all
the While his whole soul WAS bound up
In woman to whom he could not offer
his love.
1t happened ON one of his trips to the
shore He had formed one Of II yacht
ing party. aud there he had met Clara
Ripley For II time 1t Ind seemed to
him that there was the woman for
whom he had been destined. and
through the long summer evenings he
had sat by her side aud wondered how
it WIS tint 10 some men ii WAS per
mitted to have n foretuste of heaven.
Then Tom Ripley had Joined the par
ty. and for the first time he had learn
ed that she was married. The blow
had been too much for him, and, feign-
Ing Illness. lac had left the yacht and
come home hearthroken
Ihat had been II year ago. but the
wound Wis still fresh. and on those
Iona strolS through the woods lie could
! still feel her presence. could smell the
sail air above Tie fragrance of the
| pines. And his mother had declared
/ that lie WAS confirmed bachelor who
would not marry an angel from heaven
Were She suddenly to appear and make
declaration of her love.
He thought bitterly of his mothers
hopes, and tears dimmed his eyes as
he realized how impossible it was to
grant her her hearts desire.
He made his way down to the lake
where there was "A little clearing He
loved To lie on the soft grass and look
up at the white clouds trHversng the
summer Sky. while he pictured TO him
SELF how different life would be with
Clara by his side to face the world
So full of his thoughts was lie that
he did not notice his dogs agitation
until with sharp bark he dashed to
ward the waters edge
With u cry he sprang to his feet
over the surface of the water came
bounding II huge bulk from which de
pended Il swaying mass of blaek and
white. Now /; struck the water; now 1t
rose in the air only to fall back again
! like some wounded bird
In flash Jack remembered that
there was to have been II balloon as-
cension across the lake that afternoon.
aud he knew that this must be II,
though he was at II loss to understand
Why II feminine figure should be cling
Ing TO the ropes.
Just as he neared the shore the ear
dipped again. and as it rose II rope
brushed past jacks shoulder In
stinctiyely he grasped II. and with IL
wrench that very nearly tore his hold
loose Ire WIS Jerked into the air For
II moment he chung, dizzy with excite
ment and the shock, and then with a
rending sound the balloon swept down
ward. aud Elder was dragged through
! the branches of the trees, the twigs
cutting his face and hands, though
they did net loosen their grip upon the
rope.
There was another upward bound,
and as they rose jack. regaiuing his
wits, began TO climb the rope drawing
himself up hand over hand as they
rose in the air He had almost reached
the car when they struck the trees
again, aud now he had to endure the
weight Of the car us 1t crushed him
against tho branches aud left him well
nigh breathless. Still he chung to the
rope with grim persistence, and as the
car rose once more clutched the wicker
work of the edge and felt hand under
| his shoulder assisting him over the
side
For "A moment he lay breathless
while the balloon made another dive.
and then with Il start he realized that
his companion was Clara Ripley.
One glance into her face as she bent
anxionsly over him assured him OF her
love. and the knowledge Of this fact
stimulated his faculties The balloon
was diving again. but ut each rise the
recovery was less buoyant, and now
they scarcely cleared TIE tops of the
trees Just beyond was the clearing,
and as they sank the balloon with
lureh settled TO earth. covering them
beneath Its huge bulk. In some way
the valve rope had become entangled
with jacks arm as he fell into the
car and the gas was rushing out Of
the neck Of the tube and adding to
their discomfort
With a desperate energy, he worked
his way over the side Of the ear. drag
ging his companion after him Just rs
st seemed he must give up, pun Of
fresh air struck his nostrlls, and
with one last effort he dragged Clara
from beneath the Unfolding cloth.
When consciousness came again she
was chatting his hand IN hers while the
tears streamed down her face. Az he
! opened his eyes She gave little cry
and, leaning forward lightly. brushed
| his check
II was afraid" she said. a tremulous
| catch in her voice that YOU had in