Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-08-26

HE event of the day was
scheduled for five o'clock
| ana the patrons Of the fair
were evidently of no mind
to miss any part of it.
From II hat, shapeless
mass that lay inert on the ground
there gradually arose glistening
dome of shimmerlng silk, enmeshed In
a spiderlike web of ropes. The dome
grew and rounded steadily. 1t be-
came a huge ball; its silken bag was
stretched smooth and taut with much
rustling and many smothered excla-
nations from the onlookers. 1t
trembled and strained like a thing
alive, and at last it foated upward
and pulled and tugged at its moor
lngs while the wicker car was adjust
ed beneath it,
Meanwhile, in a stuffy little room
back of the managers office, near the
entrance gate, feavy bult young
man stalked nervOusly up and down,
MOI ped his red face, and now and
again pulled out an ancient silver
watch and anxIOusly marked the ap-
proach of 8. His white tie, his patent
leather shoes, his long, black cutaway
coat with the white chrysanthemum
an the buttonhOle and his tan gloves
of an obvious newness, all proclaimed
the approach {" an epoch in his life.
Near the one little window in the
room sat a plump, pleasant-faced
young woman. In one hand she held
an ample bouquet of white plnks; 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 paused before her
and took one Of her white-gloved
hands in his own.
You don't feel scairt. do you,
Nellie?' he asked in a grave concern.
mot a mite" she replied, cheer
fully.
He leaned over her and looked out
the little window. He saw the bal
loon swaying in the breeze and the sea
of upturned faces watching it.
II sorter wish we warn't goin' to do
it-On your account Nellie" he said.
Look a-here, jim" she said gay
~, you needn't feel uneasy on my ac-
count. I'd rather marry you hangin'
lead down from n trapeze than to go
on the way | was, a-wOrkin' there at
the Jones. We couldn't get married
for years. il this chance hadn't come
along, an l call it hyin' in tie face
of Providence to talk about not want
in to go on, now everything's fixed"
There's an awful crowd out there"
said he.
Pooh! Who's afraid of crowdw
she shifted. II 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 n waning courage.
ut will all be over in iiffy"
She picked thread off his coat and
absently wound it about her finger
II should sOrter liked to gone up to
Cousin Sereny's after twas all over"
she said. a little wistfully. She's
bein' about the only Twin relation /
got, I'd like to gone up there an told
her all about it,
"P'raps we can go, Nellie" he be-
gan, but she cut him short.
mo, we can't, Jim. 1t VOID cost
lot for two Of us to go up there, an
We'll need all the 5000 we git out OF
this to start in with in the spring. !
don't know just where t is that
Cousin SereDy lives. All l know Is
that it's somewheres in Ridgway
County. Wen wait till after we've
got started in OH the farm. But t
would have made beautiful weddln'
trip, wouldn't it, Jim?' she ended, n
triae regretfully.
II wish we co Id 60, for your sake"
he said.
"Oh, faint no great matter, anyway"
she declared easily. I'VE ought to be
thankful we've got this chance to Gil
married and git start"
At that moment some one came
stamping through the outer office. The
door was jerked open, and the man.
ager Of the fair, red-faced and putting
stood before them.
"Ready% he asked with businessllke
dlrectness.
The girl rose. trlHe pale, and thrust
her arm through the young mans.
"All ready" said the latter quick
Iy, while beads of Precipitation
sprang to his forehead.
Come or, then" said the manager,
leading the way.
The manager turned and caught the
girl in his arms.
sin we 60" he said cheerfully. rs
he lifted !. e into the car.
The sroom-to-be clamored In clumsi.
~, and the clergyman followed. his
method Of enb kation detractiug
somewhat from his dignity. The rope
was unreeled from the big wndlass,
and as the balloon crept upward the
cheers of the crowd "edoubled. The
young man slipped nm arm about the
girl.
Don't look down." lie cautioned.
81 amt scairt, JIM" she replied
bravely, although lie felt her trem-
bling.
Presently they were aware the bal
loon was stationary. The clergyman
opened book aud began the cere-
mony. AS the service drouel on. the
man essayed one look over the side
Of the car. but those upturned faces
far below gave him a queer senss.
ton, and drawing the girl yet closer