Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-02-04

nome Since. malSleS UOue Wd6 uu
consciously wistful.
The days before the great event that
was to transform Bloomfield from 6
sleepy country village Into fashion
able rendezvous for a day were flllet
with preparations for the balloon
races. AS If by magic all the daisies
in Cabot's field were laid to thu
ground and grand stands were erect
ed and huge gas tanks put In place
School was ended, and Maisie walked
In other directions when she chose tt
be outdoors. Now. she only remem
bered Cabot's 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 Danish hlm
from her memory. She felt sure that
out there In the big world there was
waiting for her IN ideal lover. hand
some, courtly. polls ed. rich.
At last came BloomHeld's great day
The road to Cabot's field was black
with vehicles Of every description. BY
1O'o'clock every seat In the stands was
filed. and the four sides Of the grea,
field were lined with carriages. motor
cars and farm wagons. Maisie and hel
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. tugging at their anchor
ropes. There were smell Of escupinp
gas, the music of a band and the
sound of many voices. Maisie found
herself enjoying the excitement. II
this was life she would like a taste
Of 1t!
Emma Risley leaned across Aaisie
and spoke to Mrs. Pomeroy. II hear
Walter Avery's going up In one of the
balloons. You know he's quite an
amateur balloonist. Mrs Avery Is wor
ried almost to death about 1t.
"Ballooning is dangerous sport.
returned Mrs. Pomeroy's calm voice
"but l suppose Walter finds It IL re
Taxation from his professional work"
IL guess he deserves all the fun he
gets. They say he worked like u Tr0
jan to get his degree, and now he's tt
80 In partnership with city doctor
Emma Risley sat back in her Seat
There. they're of. Maisie! | wonder
which Is Walters balloon. Let me SCI
your prOgram-No. tthat's u luck!
number. anyway. DR.. Avery. Isn't
that funny? Seems as II I could SET
Walter lis he was when he came Il
school to me years ago. Think Of his
being doctor"
Maisie was thinking entirely tn
much for her own good. She was thor
oughly frightened ut the idea Of Wal
ter Avery's ascension in the balloon
She could see No. 7 now. That ws>
Walter. tall. slender. supple Of form
his dark hair blowing back from lii
forehead He was looking their way
Was he looking ut her? She told her
self that he could merely src the GROVE
Of white fuces: that he could not pick
- t,,I f,.y;,,.,l. Sf;il ,,tn al "a
then. just as the anchors were caS'
adrift and he started up. ne waved !;
handkerchief toward them. Suddenly
Maisle's little handkerchief broke into
Il futtering signal. The fresh brerzf
tore 1t from her hand. and 1t whireo
upward with balloon No. I.
Walter leaned out. deftly caught ,ht
bit Of white. tucked 1t In his breast and
amid the cheers Of the crowd went III
to an altitude that caused hearts t.
throb and cheeks to pale with apprc
hension. When the last alrship had be
come 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 he
fore the balloons might be sighted oil
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.
Maisie 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 lovet
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 a fig for. because n
greater prize awaited him In Mrs. Pom
eroy's old fashioned garden. Bloomfield
Is thriving suburb now. and life there
is by no means dull and commonplace.
The balloon ground Is now a baseball
tleld.