Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-12
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association

outspread wings looked very much like
great white butterfly.
Il call II an air flier.'" explained HI
ram Butler TO the little crowd OF men
ana women who had gathered about
the machine. IL feel Justly proud OF
her too. Made every bit myself except
the engine"
Must have cost pretty penny"
drawled James Lummox enviously.
III It'd teen me I'd rather have an
automobile. You can take the hull
family out in one OF them cars"
1T do seem sort OF selfish con
trapuon," put I'm Mrs. Deacon skinner.
For instance, suppose you wanted To
take Ellen out on Sunday afternoon.
Where the land would she sit 2" She
pecred curiously at the broad leather
strap that served rs the single seat In
the flying machine. n
II wouldn't want to 60" snappcd
Ellen Butler. with an angry glance at
her husband. Catch me trusting my.
self In the mir with any man.
All the while that her husband was
demonstrating the wonders OF his In.
Vention and even while he made n
short experimental flight above the
clover tops Ellen was thinking bitterly
OF tic money that had gone into the
useless machine. The bank account.
savings of years. had been drained TO
It's last dollar, and the mortgage which
Hiram had placed on the house TO get
TO
seemed TO Ellen like some huge blotch
that would never be eradicated.
Wien the onlookers had gone away
Ellen still remained. silently watching
Hlram's movements about the ma
chine Presently he looked up. and
his gaze met her hostile eyes. He
Strengthened Immediately.
Il wish you didn't feel so bitter
about this, Ellen" he said soberly.
You know ! wouldn't have taken the
money out the bank or mortgaged the
place If l didn't expect to mike n hun
cTNd times MS much with this inven-
ton.
III It's failure. Ellen" he went on
quietly. "I'll take n job In the pin fac
tory to Dodgeville till I've earned
enough to put the money all back.
III do II and run the farm too. But
III not going TO fail. Do you think
Id put that money In 1t IL / hadn't
felt pretty sure of success? I'm going
up tonight too. Don't you want to see
me?"
No. l don't, Hiram Butler. and I
wish you wouldn't fly over the house.
The pesky thing might fall OH It and
knock Off chimney or come through
the roof Land knows. I'd like to keep
roof over my head even II star-ve
to death!' Ellen turned and proceed
ed toward the house without one back
ward glance at her husband. FL
Hiram stood by the machine. his
shoulder dropping slightly. his broad
forehead knitted thoughtfully. His
brown eyes seemed to peer anxiously
beyond the low lying hills as if timor-
Gus OF the result OF this evenings ex-
I"r!ment. Budauet the aviator. had
an estate there, and lie had promised
Hiram he would buy the patent out
right If the "air flier" would make q
successful flight across the twenty
miles Of country that separated their
respective homes
Now. as he stood there i'm the pas.
ture, his invention the public topic Of
the community, Hiram spoke as IL in
self defense against his neighbors'
dlsapproval and his wifes bitter res
ignatlon.
II may be a farmer born and bred"
he said slowly, still with that farsee-
ing glance across the hills, and may
be that's the very reason I've invented
a flying machine when I couldn't con
uivc a corn shelter or a moving ma
chine TO save my life. It's the birds
have done It, I've studied 'em till
believe could almost ny myself"
The supper bell tangled noisiiy from
the front porch. where Ellen awaited
his coming He was quick TO catch
the note Of impotence I'm its brazen
tongue and FASTENED toward the house.
AS he entered the kitchen his wife
passed into the dining room and sat
down at the table.
IL was a silent meal. as had been all
the meals In that house since the mort
gage had rested thereon. At last Iii
ram pushed his plate aside and arose.
I'm going down 90 the pOstofice.
Ellen. When I come back I'm going
to make the longest flight I've ever at
tempted. II I succeed in getting over
to Budauets place he's promised to
buy me out You wouldn't want TO
come out and see me off?" lie spoke
a little wistfuHy
Ellen's face turned obstlnately away
as she poured herself another cup Of
tea.
Excuse me- she said cmphaticalIy.
"One ninny In the family Is enough,
If you get "a far as the chicken house
I hope youli look up the chickens.
You forgot 'em last night"
When size bad cleared thc table and
washed the supper dishes Ellen stood
IN tho doorway looking out into the
r,,,~s,U,tgoI cecil Vrt-.,. III -