Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-09-16
A WEDDING JOURNEY.

1t was 4:30. The September sun beat
down on the crowds which thronged the
county fair grounds. The final heat of
the last horse race had just been trotted,
and the perspiring spectators, who had
been packed four deep about the track,
turned their steps toward the center of
the grounds, where the silken mesh of a
big balloon was filling out symmetrically
over a hickory fire which cracked in Il
hastily dug pit.
The event OF the day was scheduled
for o'clock. and the patrons of the fair
were evidently of no mind to miss any
part of it. From a fiat, shapeless mass
that lay inert on the ground there
shimmering silk, enmeshed in a spider
like web of ropes. The dome grew and
rounded steadily. 1t became a huge
ball; its silken bag was stretched
smooth and taut with much rustling
and many smothered EXPLANATIONS from
the onlookers. 1t trembled and strained
like a thing alive, and at last it foated
upward and pulled and tugged at its
moorings while the wicker car was adj
justed beneath it.
Meanwhile, in stuffy little room back
of the managers office, near the en-
trance gate, Il heavy-built young man
stalked nervously up and down, mopped
his red face. and now and again pulled
out an ancient silver watch and anxious
ly marked the approach of ). His white
lie, his patent leather shoes, mis- long,
black cutaway coat with the white
chrysantheum in the buttonhole and his
tan gloves of an obvious newness, all
proclaimed the approach of an epoch in
his life.
Near the one little window in the room
sat plump, pleasant-faced young
n 81 10 hpld IL.
bouquet of white pinks; the other hand
restlessly smoothed the folds of her
white muslin gown. Now and then, as
she glanced up and caught the young
mans eye she gave him quick smile OF
perfect confidence.
The young man passed before her and
took one of her white-gloved hands in
his own.
You don't feel scairt, do you, Nellie 2"
he asked in grave concern.
mot a mite" she replied, cheerfully.
He leaned over her and looked out the
little window. He saw the balloon
swaying in the breeze and the sea of up
turned faces watching it.
Il sorter wish we warn,t goin' to do
ton your account, Nellie" he said.
Look a-here, JIM" she said gayly,
"you needn't feel uneasy on my account.
I'd rather marry you hangin' head down
from a trapeze than to go on the way |
was, a-wOrkin' there at the Jones' We
couldn't get married for years, if this
chance hadn't come along, an | call it
flynn in the face of Providence to talk
things all fixed
There's an awful crowd out there"
said he.
she shifted. Il amt
He looked at her with admiration
plainly stamped on his face. His big
hand pressed hers tenderly.
"Well, 'twOn't take long" he said, as
if bolstering a waning courage. It'll
all be over in jiffy."
She picked a thread off his coat and
absently wound it about her finger.
Il should sorter liked to gone up to
Cousin Serenys after twas all over"
she said, Il little wistfully. 'She bein'
about the only liyin' relation l got, I'd
liked to gone up there an told her all
about it,
"P'raps we can go, Nellie" he began,
but she cut him short.
mo, we can't, Jim. 1t would cost a
lot for two of us to so up there. an
Wen need all the $500 we git out of this
to start in with in the spring. l don't
know just where it's that Cousin Sereny
lives. All | know is that it's some
where's in Ridgway county. Well wait
till after we've got started in on the
farm. But 'twOuld have made beauti-
full wedding trip, wouldn't it, Jim?" she
ended, a trihe regretfully.
II wish we could so, for your sake"
he said.
oh, faint no great matter, any
way" she declared easily. I'VE ought
to be thankful we've got this chance to
git married and git a start
At that moment some one came
stamping through the outer office. The
door was jerked open. and the manager
of the fair redfaced and putting, stood
before them.
Ready" he asked with business-like
| directnesS.
The girl rose. n trihe pale. and thrust
her arm through the young mans.
"All ready" said the latter thickly,
while beads of perspirati0n sprang to
his forehead.
Come on. then" said the manager,
| leading the way.
They stepped from the gloom of the
office into the glare of the afternoon sun
shine. the girl breathing fast and cling
ing tightly to the mans arm; the man
stumbling along awkwardly, his eyes
fixed vacantly on the bits of cloud in the
sky; and the manager moving along ma
jeStically before them. his red face
wreathed in smiles of professional cour-
tesy for the benefit of the crowd In the
uditu Stdiu Tue musicians struggled man
fully with the Mcndelssohn wedding
march; and the great event of the day
IAN aerial wedding. 500 feet above the
EARTH as the posters announced it--hav-
! ing arrived at last, the crowd let itself
loose and howled. Thus they made the
way through the lane opened up in the
crowd and came finally to the balloon.
where a soemn-faced young clergyman
awaited them.
The manager turned and caught the
girl in his arms.
In we GO he said cheerfully, as he
lifted her into the car.
The grOom-to-he clambered in clumsi-
~. and the clergyman followed. his
method of embarkation detracting some
what from his dignity. The rope was
mreeled from the big windlass. and as
| the balloon crept slowly upward, the
cheers of the crowd redoubled. The