Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1912-12-27

rstAN Noulu utNtt marry u btuuHl-
Geld boy and settle down into hum
drum existence said could never
think Of him seriously: that every time
l looked at him he seemed 10 be the
same chubby faced. apple checked lit
tie boy went to school with years
ago"
what did Walter say to uiaty~ Mrs.
Pomeroy's face was grave. though her
brown eyes were shining. too. and they
looked much like Mnlsie's.
"He didn't say anything. He just
nodded his head in that awkward way
OF his and went on. The next l heard
be was In New York studying to be a
doctor You know he has never been
home since" Maisie's tone was un-
consciously wistfut
The days before the great event that
was to transform bloomfield from a
sleepy country village Into fashion
able rendezvous for a day were flled
with preparations for the balloon
races. As If by magic all the daisies
10 Cabot's field were laid to the
ground and grand stands were erect
ed and huge gas tanks put In place.
School was ended. and Mnlsie walked
In other directions when she chose to
be outdoors. Now. she only renIem-
bered cabots field as the place where
Walter had met her one day and con-
fessed his love among the daisies.
which are supposed never to tell low
ers' secrets.
Maisie was disturbed by these memo
ries that forced themselves upon her
She did not wish to think Of Walter
Avery. and she had dismissed him
from her mind for four years and re-
sented that she could not banlsh him
from her memory. She felt sure that
out there in the big world there was
waiting for her an ideal lover. hand-
some, courtly. polished. rich.
At last came Bloomfelds great day.
The road to Cabot's field was black
with vehicles Of every description. BY
10 o'clock every seat in the stands was
filled. and the four sides Of the great
field were lined with carriages. motor
cars and farm wagons. Maisie and her
mother were there and by good for
tune and the kind Offices Of Emma
Risley had secured front row seats In
one Of the stands. Ten big balloons
swayed slowly. Juggling at their anchor
ropes. There were a smell of escnping
gas, the music of a band and the
sound Of many voices Music found
herself enjoying the excitement If
this was life she would like a taste
of it.
Emma Rlsley leaned across Maisie
and spoke to Mrs. Pomeroy u bear
Walter Avery's going up In one OF the
balloons. You know he's quite an
amateur balloonist. Mrs Avery is wor-
ried almost 10 death about IT,"
"Balloonlng is a dangerous sport" Z"
returned Mrs. Pomeroy's calm voice.
but I suppose Walter finds it re-
taxation from his professional work.
Il guess he deserves all the fun be
gets. They say he worked like a Tro-
jan to get his degree. and now he's to
60 in partnership with a city doctor"
Emma Risley snt back in her scat.
There. they're off. Alaisiel wonder
which is Walters balloon. Let me see
your programme. that's a lucky
number, anyway. DR. Avery! Isn't
that funny7 Seems as If l could see
Walter as he was when he came to
school to me years ago. Think OF his
being a doctori"
Maisie was thinking entirely too
much for her own good She was thor
oughly frightened at the idea of Wal
ter Avery's ascension In the balloon
She could see No. I now. That was
Walter. tall. slender. supple OF form.
his dark hair blowing back from his
forehead. He was looking their way
Was be looking at herl She told her
self that be could merely see the crowd
Of white faces: that he conld not pick
out individuals. Still he stared. and
then, just as the anchors were cast
adrift and he started up. he waved q
handkerchief toward them. Suddenly
Maisie's little handkerchief broke into
a fiutterlng signal The fresh breeze
tore II from her hand. and It whirled
upward with balloon No. Z.
Walter leaned out, deftly caught che
bit OF white. tucked 1t IN his breast and
amid the cheers Of the crowd went up
to an altitude that caused hearts to
throb and cheeks to pale with appre-
hension When the last airskip had be-
come a mere speck in the sky the
crowd dispersed to other diversions
and Maisie and her mother went home
1t would be late in the afternoon be-
fore the balloons might be sighted on
the return trip. provided they were not
driven before adverse winds Then
their return would be uncertain indeed
There was an excellent chance that
some Of them would never come back
Maisle Pomeroy never forgot that
waiting time In those hours died all
the foolish longing and discontentment
that had possessed her. There was only
one thing she craved. and that was the
life of Walter Avery. whether he loved
her now or not. She knew that she
loved him
With the evening came the return OF
the balloonists. every one safe. Walter
Avery winning the second prize. which
he did not care q fix for. because a
greater prize awaited him In Mrs Pom
eroy's old Fashioned garden. Bloomfield
is thriving suburb now. and life there
is by no means dun and commonplace.
The balloon ground is now a baseball
field.