The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-12-13
BALLOON
No. Z
1t Clears Away the
Cloud
BY CLARIssA MACKIE

Maisie Pomeroy dismissed her pupils
and locked the door of the little school.
house. 1t lacked three days of the long
vacation. and the last hours of the
school year dragged heavily, for June
weather was insistently calling. Her
homeward walk led along pleasant
country lanes and through clover fields
crisscrossed with narrow footpaths.
In Maisie's pocket was her last
months salary, and in spite of June
weather and the calling bobolink her
heart was heavy with disappointment,
though her face wore its usual express
sion Of unruffled sweetness. Just the
amount of that months salary would
take her to large summer resort,
where she might have two weeks Of
such enjoyment as she had never known
in her monotonous life. She had read
of the pleasures of this city by the sea.
she had known girls whose parents
were well to do to spend several months
there, and now Ella Shaw had written
to say they were going and wished
Maisie to join them. 1t was to be
dutch treat" and she knew that
meant each girl was to pay her own ex
penses.
She had not even mentioned the mat
er to her mother, for she knew that
their resources were badly strained this
year. There was an uncle who had
been bedridden for two years, and they
were now maintaining his declining
days in the hospital, where he could be
best cared for. AS Maisie was the only
wage Garner in their family of two, it
was neutrality-suspicious.. rather
that not one penny be wasted
eff Bloomfield were not SO dull she
murmured wistfully. Ever since |
can remember there has never been
any unusual happening here. No new
families ever move here. and nobody
ever marries anybody that lives farther
than Fairmount. l don't wonder there
are so many maiden ladies In this vii
lager She smiled as she pushed open
the front gate, for there on the front
piazza sat her mother, dispensing cake
and root beer to five Of Bloomfields
spinsters. Some day she, too. would
form one Of Il similar group.
'Tots of news, Malsie," cried Emma
Risley as the girl sat down on the top
step and slipped a glass of the cool
beverage.
"News?" repeated Maisie; then she
added quickly: "oh, you mean the new
fagpole In front of the town hnllf
saw that Yesterday
No, indeed. that's old. What do
you think is going to happen in Bloom
fcd:' Emma was bursting with i'm
portance. and the four other spinsters
nodded their heads significantly.
"A-circus?" There were painfully
few things that ever had happened in
Bloomfield, and Maisie's Imagination
was starved
mo, sir! What do you think of bal
loon races here?" Miss Risleys voice
was triumphant.
Balloon races?" echoed Maisie
blankly.
Ten balloons all starting at once
from Cabot's big hayfieldT
'When is 1t going to be-" asked
Maisie.
been here and looked over the grounds.
and the lumber is on the way. All
the rooms at the hotel have been en-
gagged for the workmen. You see.
knew about 1t the first one because
hold first mortgage on Cabots big
field,' explained Emma Risley impor-
family, land Joshua Cabot spoke to me
about the matter"
When they had chatted themselves
away Maisie and her mother sat on
the piazza until the sun went down
They talked about the coming of the
balloonists and how 1t had been learned
that Bloomfield was chosen because
of some special advantage 1t possessed
for the purpose, and everybody said
that once the city excursionists saw
what a beautiful spot Bloomfield really
was there would start an influx of
summer boarders and possibly a land
boom.
Mother, dear" half sighed Maisie,
Il was complaining this very afternoon
Of the dullness here, and as walked
home through Cabot's field | was wish
ing almost anything would happen to
break the monotony Now that some
thing Is going to happen am feeling
sorry about the clover fields. They are
30 beautiful"
Mrs. Pomeroy laughed softly and
caressed her daughters bronze hair
THAT'S the way with all Of us, my
dear. | have known for II long time
that you were weary Of the monotony
Of your life, and ! cannot blame you
When ! was girl somehow we seem.
ed to get more out of life even IL we
never went away from the village
There were parties every week and
socials and spelling classes and skating
parties. The winter was always too
short for all the good times we had
Nowadays the girls and young men so
away to the cities. and those that re-
main and marry here don't seem to
care for the old simple pleasures"
perhaps after the balloon rares are
over we will rejoice in our old time
quiet But somehow ! would like to
have Just q taste Of life and pleasure
before Maisie flushed and bit her
lip.
Before what. dearT'
81 know I'm horrid. mother. but