The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-12-11

Gated some Of his hope 10 her She
was willing to go away with him and
get married If only a means could be
found to escape the letter of her obi
| CATION, but her father had made it so
binding that she could not see how
loophole could be found.
1t was not until few weeks later
that | found the explanation On her
way back from the store she encoun-
tered jim on the road. He came to
ward her smilingly
Il We got il all fixed" he declared
beamingiy Your father made you
swear that you would not elope with
me on land or sea. He didn't say any
thing about going through the air. did
he?"
why should hep she asked. Until
we learn how to fly | don't see how
that Is possible"
But we can fly he insisted. Look
here
He drew from his pocket a copy of
paper black with heavy type and cuts.
There among the advertisements Of
can racks, powders for making orange
cider and ice cream cones was the pic
ture Of man in an airship
You know" he explained, I'm the
chairman Of the entertainment com
mittee of tho County Fair association.
Well. saw this advertisement, and I
wrote the chap He gives exhibitions,
and he will be around here next week
He says he will bring an airship that
will carry four persons and guarantee
to sail It right around the steeple of
the Methodist church.
Il don't see how that will help any,"
she protested. I'VE have no airship."
"Rut 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. The man says he has gone up
a hundred times"
lets try It," she said excitedly. 'Tt
will be such fun! But won't it cost
lot OF money!"
Don't you think you're worth it?"
he countered as he bent over her. 81
do If you DON'T
There was little more talk before
they separated and when at last she
turned toward her home it was with a
feeling Of happiness she had not ex-
perienced 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
Gus 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 huge white bulk float
ing in the air Some fed. 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 I
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 I
clear Of the sill Then he drew her
up into the car and with a soft futter
the blunt nose OF the gas bag was
pointed toward the moon.
They rose a hundred feet, and then I
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
"It's an odd wedding Journey" he
laughed as the great gas bag rose. 81 i
guess this is the first elopement by |
Don't you think" she smiled back, I
that all newly married people are up
in the cloudsT'
That's because they are so near par
adise," he explained. Il feel as II we
had sailed right through the blue
vault"
eve must come back to earth" she
said practically. Il wonder what ia