The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-20
BLUE-BELL'S ADVENTURE.

You ought all 10 come over and
see my balloon" said Ray Parsons,
climbing over the Gardner fence one
bright morning Uncle Jdd brought
1t from Paris, and It's dandy; none
of your little round. red baby things
they sell at fairs, but a real little
balloon with the cunningest little
parachute big enough to hold NAMES
large wax doll ] wanted her TO let
me give It ride in IT,. but she
wouldn't Come on over, all of YOU,
and see her SAIL
The Gardner children scattered at
that Ralph dropped the express
wagon he was mending. Forest left
his air-gun, and May ran with kitty
Biue-Bell in her arms. around whose
pretty Maltese neck she had Just tied
a lovely blue ribbon Aunt Hetty had
given her.
"Oh, oh. OH" they all exclaimed. as
Ray brought cut his elegant toy to
be admired. Isn't II a beauty
Lets see it go up. Ray.
"Aw. wish I had one 5ust like IT.
Say" said Forresr, let me hold
the string. will YOU
Why, yes. Forrest ~3u may sail
II" scic Ray. who was both generous
and oh.iginE; but you must hold tight
or 1t may get away with you. Y pulls
hard. ] can tell you Nut, hold on
We curht to have n passenger it.
Let IRE have the kitty. MAY. 4! wort
hurt ner a bit. and she'll have the
finest ride on record"
"Oh, no, MOI" screamed May. a. he
laid his hand on Blue-Belrs soft,
furry head; YOU mustn't, you shan't,
Ray Parsons. 1t will scare her TO
death"
LAW. scare nothing" said her
brother Ralph. You're perfect
goose about that cat. May. why, it'N
have the time of its life"
Just let 1t go up little ways, :"
coaxed Ray; just about as high as
the magnolia tree; / promise YOU it
won't hurt 1t a particle. and itil be
loads of fun
Yes. come on, May" added her
brother Forrest. who could nearly al
ways get this small sister of his to do
anything. Let Biue-Beil ride In the
balloon. and I'll give you nickel
to get candy See, here IL is: just
let her go up TO the top of the mag
nolia. that's ALL
She'll fall out" said MAY. torn
between her strong desire for the
coveted sweet and her distressfui
anxiety for Blue Bells welfare.
mo. she won't. If she does. she'll
land on her feet"
1t took considerable more coaxing.
however. to gain the little girls con-
sent to the plan. but she finally
yielded, and pussy was snugly tucked
away In the little basket. and the
order given TO Let her GO
Up Went the pretty balloon, straight
as a die. with poor little kitty Blue
Bell clinging fast, peerins wildly over
the edge OF the basket and meowing
piteously. May covered her face with
both small hands. and begged them
10 pull her down at once: but the boys
had got affairs In their own hands
now. and Just laughed al her. 1t was
rare fun for them to see the poor
frightened kitty clutching frantically
at the sides Of the basket and open
ing her tiny red mouth in useless
and loud waiiings. Up and up went
the fairy airship. far above the big
magnolia tree. and until the long
string was spent. Then Ralph said:
TITS my turn now, Forrest: give me
hold of the cord; I'm going to pull
her down..
mo, you're not. any such thing"
said his brother. You Just let loose"
for Ralph had grabbed the string and
was jerking 1t roughly.
Thereupon began a strong strur-
gle for possession, which threatened
to become so serious that Ray inter-
posed. "See here, boys" he SAID,
anxiously you better quit this right
now or you'll lose the string and the
halloonll be a Roner. say"--But
what he was going to say remained
unheard, for that very instant the
cord, jerked violently from one hand
TO another, was torn out Of their
IT, e,tr
completely out OF their reach, sailing
away with the balloon rapidly toward
the East, and WAS soon out Of sight
Upon the borders or the neighbour
ing town of Lakeville stood a pretty
cottage owned by comfortable old
coupie, whose sons and daughters had
long since married and left them. 1t
was beautiful house, and the two
were very beautiful old people. Az
they sat there. chatting over their
memories Of the past. as elderly peo-
pie win. the old gentleman suddenly
leaned forward in his big armchair
and exclaimed. WHY. Cynthia, what
in the world is that queer little AFFAIR
UP TN the Airf See IT? Vow IT ID
Just above the tree-tops. coming fast,
believe It's going to come straight
down into our yard: IT. looks like
why. old woman, there's some poor
little creature in It, 1 can't see very
well With these glasses, but It looks
to me like q cat"
Mrs. Mills dropped the towel she
was hemming. ana stepped briskly 10
the end of the porch. MY. Alfred.
- Id she. All excitement. ut d = cat:
= poor, frightened LITTLE kitten In
toy balloon. The thing has collapsed
ana n coming down a-ilyinn; the n0oY