Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-24

He says he will bring an airshlp that
Will carry four persons and guarantees.
Al sail il right around the steeple Of
the Methodist church"
Il don't sec how that will help any"
she protested. 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 hoard. guess your father
won't catch US this time"
"Do you think IL will be. ssfey.' h
pleaded.
Absolutely safe" was the assur-
ance. The man says he has gone up
a hundred times"
lets try It," she said excitedly. 1T
will be such fun! But won't il cost a
lot OF money!"
"Don't you think you're worth itE'
he countered as he bent yer her. 81
do II you don't"
There was n little more talk before
they separated. and when at last she
turned toward her home it was with u
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
her opportunity.
A couple Of weeks later a car was
backed mp the siding that ran into the
county fair grounds, and some mysteri
GUS packages We're unloadcd 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 fed. some stared,
but none guessed what it was.
Marion. looking from her window.
saw 1t approaching I'm the moonlight
and watched the %aerOnaut as he ma
neuyered 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 q soft iutter
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 It
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 ministe.
read the marriage service. Then they
climbed into the car again, and the
airship rose into the sky.
"It's an odd wedding journey" be
laughed as the great gas bag rose. Il
guess this is the first elopement by
airship."
"Don't you think she smiled back,
'tat all newly married people are up
In the clouds?"
'@That's because they are so near par
adise,' he explained. 81 feel as II we
had sailed right through the blue
vault"
I'VE 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. Il 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 nervous little laugh, as she stepped
from the car. You see, kept my
word"
For a moment the old anger flared
up, then died out again. II guess" she
said slowly, THAT II Jim Warner Is as
hard up a all that for a wife he can
have you. You'd better run In the
house and tell mother to come out and
have a look at this invention It's got
me dumfounded."