Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-02-07
BALLOON
No. Z
1t Clears Away the
Cloud
BY cLARISSA MAcKIB

oOeOOOoOOOSOSS
Maisie Pomeroy dismissed her pupils
and locked the door of the little school
house. II lacked three days of the long
vacation, and the last hours of the
school year dragged heavily, for June
weather was mistakenly 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 unruffied 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. II 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, 1t
was neutrality-suspicious., rather
that not one penny be wasted.
'If Bloomfield were not 30 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 Paramount. don't wonder there
are 80 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 Bloomfield's
spinsters. Some day she too. would
form one of II similar group.
Lots Of news. Maisie," cried Emma
Risley as the girl sat down on the top
step and slipped glass Of the cool
beverage.
News" repeated Maisie; then she
added quickly: "Oh, you mean the new
6agpole IN front OF the town hall7 |
saw that yesterday"
'No, indeed; that's old! What do
you think is going to happen in Bloom
icld?" Emma was bursting with i'm
portance, and the four other spinsters
nodded their heads significantly.
"A-circusT There were painfully
few things that ever had happened in
Bloomfield, and Malsie's imagination
was starved.
mo, siri What do you think of bal.
loon races hereY Miss Risley's voice
was triumphant.
Balloon racesT echoed Malsle
blankly.
''Ten balloons all starting at once
from Cabot's big hayneldT
"When is It going to be2" asked
| Maisie
"In three weeks. The men have
been here and looked over the grounds,
and the lumber is on the way. All
the rooms ut the hotel have been en-
gagged for the workmen. You see, I
knew about 1t the first one because l
hold a first mortgage on Cabot's big
field" explained Emma Rlsley impOr'
family, land Joshua Cabot spoke to me
about the matter"
When they had chatted themselves
away Maisle and her mother sat on
the piazza until the sun went down.
They talked about the coming of the
baIloonists and how It had been learned
that Bloomfield was chosen because
OF some special advantage 1t possessed
for the purpose, and everybody said
that once the city excurslonists saw
what beautiful spot Bloomfield really
wns there would start an influx of
summer b0arders and possibly a land
boom.
Mother, dear" half sighed Maisie,
II was complaining this very afternoon
| of the dullness here, and as l walked
home through Cabot's field was wish
Ing almost anything would happen Ia
break the monotony. Now that some
thing ls going to happen I 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
| hau 20.