Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-12-14

He says be will bring an alrship that
will carry four persons and guarantee
to sail 1t right around the steeple of
the Methodist church"
AZ don't see how that will help any,"
she protested. 1--WE have no airship."
"But I've hired this he explained.
"Instead of sailing around the church
we will sail past your house and take
you on board. ! guess your father
won't catch us this time"
do you think 1t will be safer she
pleaded.
Absolutely safe" was the assur-
ance. 1.-THE man says he has gone up
a hundred times"
Lets try It," she said excltedly. "It
will be such fun! But won't 1t cost a
lot of money!
Don't you think you're worth TT"
he countered as he bent over her. 81
do IL you don't"
There was a little more talk before
they separated, and when at last she
turned toward her home 1t was with a
feeling Of happiness she had not ex-
perlenced In weeks. She did not feel
bound by the promise, except that she
had pledged her oath. She had not
sworn that she would not elope
through the air, and she saw In this
her opportunity.
A couple of weeks later a car was
backed up the siding that ran into the
county fair grounds, and some mysterf
ous packages were unloaded and taken
into the Agricultural hall.
The next night the few persons who
were abroad after midnight were sur
prised TO see a huge white bulk float.
ing in the air. Some fled. some stared,
but none guessed what 1t was.
Marion, looking from her window,
saw 1t approaching In the moonlight
and watched the aeronaut as he ma
neuvered for a favorable approach.
Presently the machine settled down.
At Its approach the watchdog fed
and hid trembling under the barn, SO
that no sound save the soft purring of
the motor broke the stiffness as the
bag brushed against the house.
1t was not an easy matter to get
Marion into the car, but at last she
grasped Jim's hands and swung out
clear of the sill. Then he drew her
up into the car, and with a soft fiutter
the blunt nose of the gas bag was
pointed toward the moon.
They rose a hundred feet, and then
through the still night air they headed
for across the river. There was no
ferry or bridge nearer than Carrsville,
five miles downstream, and even should
her father be aroused by the noise he
could not head them off in time. AS 1t
happened there was no sound to arouse
his suspicious, and an hour later they
had crossed the water and were stand
ing In the parsonage of the little
church while the surprised minister
read the marriage service. Then they
climbed into the car again, and the
airship rose into the sky.
ITS an odd wedding Journey" he
laughed as the great gas bag rose. Il
guess this Is the first elopemeDt by
airship."
Don't you think" she smiled back,
shat all newly married people are up
In the clouds? p
That's because they are so near par
adise,' he explained. al feel as If we
had sailed right through the blue
vault"
1--WE must come back to EARTH" she
said practically. II wonder what IA
ther will say"
"We shall know In about half an
hour" he laughed. II am going back
to convince him that you did not break
your OATH"
George Halpin was just going toward
the barn In the first early light when
he paused, awestricken, to regard the
shape approaching. When it descend
ed close to him and he saw Jim and
Marion In the car he grasped the sit
uation.
II promised not to elope on land or
water, father" explained Marion, with
a little laugh, as she stepped
from the car "You see, / kept my
word"
For a moment the old anger fared
up, then died out again. II guess" she
said slowly, "that If Jim Warner Is as
hard up as all that for a wife he can
have you. You'd better run In the
house and tell mother to come out and