Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-08-08

realized that he was in no Immediate
danger and that by allowing the gas in
the bag above him to esceoe he must
necessarily descend to terra firma
again.
In the meantime the celebration ar
Token had been going on with nothing
to mar the great occasion. Helen
Crabtree, although she attempted tn
throttle the feeling, was sorry she had
refused to accompany VIII Duncan to
Sunville. The pleasant time she had
anticipated had failed to materialize
without his presence. Her father. be-
decked In his best attire. had intro
duced Congressman Blank with flow
cry eloquence.
Blanks speech was drawing to a
close when suddenly a general mur-
muir arose and ali eyes were turned on
the speck In the sky slowly moving in
their direction. 1t was not long be-
fore the gathering realized that II was
the SunVille balloon they were gazing
at, and when 1t came near enough for
them to make out the face of the occu.
pant of the basket a cry of mingled
surprise and horror arose AS the
balloon neared the park where the
people were assembled the descent be-
came more rapid, owing to Wills vio-
lent tugging at the rope. Another
moment and 1t was grazing the tree
tops, when suddenly the basket col
lided with tall oak, splitting the lone
occupant into it's branches
Helen was among the first to rush
to the unfortunate amateur aeronaut's
assistance. She was almost frantic
with fear. expecting to find him dead
or fatally injured.
will, dear, speak to mel What is
the matter? How did it happen?" she
cried.
When he managed to recover his
breath after the sudden ending of his
aerial trip and found that, beyond the
few scratches he had received from
his tumble through the tree, he was
uninjured, he related his adventure.
by hen, but this is a great ending
of our celebration, declared Abe Crab
tree, after the excitement had subsid-
ed somewhat; and then, seeing Will
with his arm around his daughter, try
ing to console her, and Deacon Bras
com near by with a knowing grin on
his countenance, a great idea struck
him.
A wedding would fittingly cap the
great Fourth Of July celebration He
did not lose sight of the fact that he
would he a propn{po1t obo~oo+o- l., ~ -
proceedings.
The principals were Immediately
consulted. They agreed to the plan
with very little urging and in a few
moments, on 6he stand that Congress
man Blank had just left, VIII Duncan
and Helen Crabtree were made man
and wife.
When Jim Duncan. who had imme-
diately hitched up and followed the
course OF the balloon on his sons &C
cidental ascension, arrived at Token
and heard of Wills safe landing and
the succeeding events, he Joined in
the general merrymaking. He was
forced to admit that Token had beaten
Sunville "a city block" in the matter
OF Fourth of July celebration, even
II all the events that had transpired
had not been billed for the occasion.
For several days Abe Crabtree as
sumed an air of distinguished impor-
lance In Token, and it was not until
MS Wife rudely interrupted him one
evening, while he was gathered with
the regulars at the general store dis
cussing again the exciting happenings
OF the Fourth, with a summary COM
mand to accompany her home that he
began to realize that he was not the
greatest individual in Token.