Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-10-02
HEM BIDDLE'S
HOBBY
1t Lost Him His
Bride
By KATHARINE GRAY

our TellOW LOWnSman. the Well
known aeronaut," was the manner in
which the Finchville Banner always
referred to Hemenway Biddle. Mr..
Biddle was the editor Of the Banner,
and in the great shed back of the
printing Office was anchored his big
balloon.
On clear days after the paper had
gone to press Mr.. Biddle might be seen
tinkering away at his balloon or else
in the act of soaring over the heads of
his neighbors in the car attached to
the gas inflated craft.
Hem Biddle himself scared skyward
because he liked the strange sensation
Of hanging between earth and heaven
with the ever present element of dam
ger attached thereto. AS a counter
irritant to editing country weekly
newspaper he believed there was moth
ing like 1t. excepting always Amabel
Paine
At this particular moment the Ban
ner had gone to press and was in the
hands of its eager readers. Hem Bid
die was scaling the airy heights, and
Amabel Paine was swinging in ham
mock under the apple tree in her front
yard.
Amabel's eyes, blue as the sky above.
were fixed dreamily on the green can
opy Of leaves overhead. There was
ono cno% rhoro che GOULD eoo +to civ
Suddenly across this bit Of sky there
raced a black blot
"Oh, bother!' pouted Amabel, all at
once remembering that she was en-
gagged to Hem Biddle. It was rather
disconcerting to recollect 1T, for at that
very moment she had been dreamily
RELYING few delicious hours spent in
the company of Peter Lamb the pre-
vious evening.
The gate creaked inward, and Peter
Lambs massive form plodded sturdily
down the shell path to the apple tree
Amabel watched him, delighting in the
CLINT of sunshine on his blond head
and the answering CLEAN in his brown
eyes when they met hers. She blushed
and her eyes hid themselves under
dropping lids as she sat up in the
hammock and allowed her little hand
to rest an instant in his big one
81 accepted your invitation to CALL"
he laughed rather awkwardly as he sat
down in big rustic chair and tossed
his hat to the grass. "You can see
that haven't waited
Amabel's mouth curved deliciously.
81 am glad" she murmured. soothing
the seam Of her white duck skirt
I'm that sort When want to do
thing can't wait" he went on ear
nestly. II don't believe / understand
the pleasures of anticipation. l know
what want when / see it. and then
I want it right away"
''Yes?" Amabe smoothed another
seam.
"I'm going to shock you, Miss Paine"
went on this startling young man in
determined tone
''Please DON'T" she murmured
ut sounds foolish on such short &C.
quaintance, but you know used to
live in Finchville, and we played to-
gether when we were children. Why
we went to school together! The Won
der of it all is that should come back
again and meet you at the schoolhouse
dance last night and not remember
your name. l suppose l used to call
you Amy" he ended daringly.
Amabel said nothing, and Mr.. Lamb.
taking fresh grip on his courage.
leaned forward eagerly. His hand
some face was quite crimson with en-
barrassment, but his brown eyes We're
pools of flaming determination.
"Don't laugh. please. but love you,
.Amabel want to marry you," he
said briefly.
The girls eyes flashed up with a
startled question in their blue depths.
It was as If she We're questioning his
sincerity. His eyes answered her.
II can't" she whispered sadly.
"Why not?" His voice was tense.
A shadow passed between them and
the sun.
That" She pointed upward.
"Why, what do you mean? It's a
balloon. isn't itY he asked in star
tied tone.
She nodded. There's man in it,"
she explained.
His jaw frightened. "Ah! It's the
man, suppose?"
II am engaged to Mr.. Biddle." she
said with dignity.
"Biddle! Hem Biddle Of the Ban
ner?"
"Yes."
He got upon his feet, and his white
lips curved in wry smile. Just my
luck to get here too late hope you
will be very happy, Miss Paine. Is
ito be very soon?''
Amabel Redeemed from brow to chin,
but she held her head haughtily. Ut
It is Indefinite she stammered
THANK you for your good wishes"
He was holding her hand tightly and
booking quite unconscious of that fact.
Something small and dark hurtled
down through the branches and fell at
patar's feet