The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-06-21
THE CHOICE
OF THE HOUR"

Francois Nerdier had rushed into
aviation as others jumped out OF a
window on the NTH floor He wanted
TO die. but he did not want TO take the
initiative and. besides. he had other
conscientious scruples. chief among
which was the respect OF the honor
able family to which he belonged.
He was honorable. but not honored.
nor very high up on the ladder OF
society. and this was the true cause
OF all his unhappiness. His father
was a foreman in a factory ut Plas-
sans and. watching him at work.
Francois had learned to love machines
and machinery. From the public
school he had gone to a technical col
lege and passed his final examinat ion
with honor.
When he returned home to his ma
tive town. "A young engineer he had
only one ambition. that OF marrying
Madeline Meyreuil, the daughter OF "A
magistrate. lie had loved her for
years. But her proud parents refused
- consider him as son-in- law. and
q few months later pretty Madeline
was married TO Baron Charles de
Oueirss. poor nobleman. Then Fran
co.'s Eerdicr. thinking his happiness
ruined. decided to die
i shall not actually commit sui
eide" he thought. but will become
- Gnu SoOAft vi Il Sndll
break my neck"
He took the most foolhardy risks
and became known TO everyone who
saw him fly as the maccap Eier."
But no matter how quickly he arose
or how speedily he plunged downward,
he always maintained the balance
which kept him safe. How many
times hadn't he been tempted to help
fa n Itfln Istt
trious instinct made him do the right
thing. He simply could not help IL.
His courage soon made him famous.
lie had been seen struggling upwards
in the teeth OF gale. an all the long
distance flights he had mounted highr T
and finished far ahead OF anyone His
Nolplsnes were incompatible feats OF
DARN Z, and when n crowd saw "A mon
oplane break through the clouds and
rush toward, earth with the speed OF
a meteor they always exclaimed:
That Is Francois Verdier."
An idea gradually took losses sion
OF his mind f Will not die. I will live
and become the most famous flier in
the world. that she may dream about
mo and sigh az the thou-Gt tina; nut
for herself she might have shared my
glory"
He must live He felt 1t more and
more every dsy, everything jo'G aim
so; the immensely OF the space omen
u his daring. The pride M .e;, w-rn
h vas planiuE down towards the
earth; the INVESTIGATION cf speed. ami
the exhaust OF his powerrui motor.
'ia- dt. ne sad 80 himself.
1t is mot enough that they read about
ire IN tie pal et~ i"~n there. I viii SIv-
rris" those narrow minded p"ppl" eft nav
rhuNe town hy fly'nr over th"lr heads.
! viii MAX tnr-l an feel ashamed OF
themselves. VIZ. They SOC uc soaring
among tae clouds tihr an EAGLE 4la s4-
Will feel sorry tat SIZE married an
empty uti~.
lie cartel out hts inteat!on AMI ore
day al flt-~dH~ tsrre,. out tp greet tire
DARING aviator. Baron de gg-.idS was
mere with las young wit-. whose face
tiIEned "r'n ~" saw. francois Nrgilcr
cl'iIi"dF a in"r" sack Ia the ~@y. lie
s4odsniv SWorU"d down t-4in ~ tIe
most daring v"lIlir" .ir rsI ever exc
'itef I"" Whole town went wild vltH
'tthusiaSu. as some Of h's p.J rchno.-
mates carried him shoulder htgn t.ruu-.i
= fnaa.- '.-er.ng crowd.
h~ So uIt I've. iif. Madeleine wrote. 10 On
letter r-rniuilrG nIw "f their olI lur..
She i"sn4 if' wIt' .'r uHti, .U-Itn 9
h'"f''-~. 'a"n't"H'I- and offered TO
Just IN 10 date" .He wrote. "anI
81 ,.~r> ho'E asleep. ~" Will f.v
away on ~ "ta-S ~ your s'priou~
ard. never 60 return here ag1la'
] h' DIX %. fHt Mas f...Irl'.. 100 tl.. still
ness o. tie hi."t TN. clock stru.k -
ore .y on. From taeir lfzr. r.tt.f
to saw tho town far below Ike q
"sIN -. i t''t s"'n"I o. -'""r
Are 80. afraIl. Mads,ince" he asker
4 c6glI neve- 90 afraid Wien use.
Won. dear. am so Glad yru .ase fpr-
even inc that eau t4iuh OF intairS
4 have forgiven ,.r5 N.I.-.- On.