The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-26
The EVENING STORY
Uncle Jarvis, Trip.

Il
Uncle Jarvis, that I should have a
niece who is coward
The girl raised her timid brown eyes
! to the angry ones that glared at her
/ from under bristling white brows.
| The red of Uncle Jarvis face deep
/ ened to purple with his indignation.
For the two months you have
| been at Donnybrook I have tried to
make you into some kind of a sport.
but there's nothing you're not scared
to do. When 1 sent for you to come
up here L planned to make you my
heir. 1 supposed that a girl with a
| drop of my blood in her veins would
| have som ecourage, but I'm not going
to leave my money to a 'fraid cat ;"
Very well, Uncle Jarvis" said
Elsie. quietly. you can leave your
only sister ought to have enough of
| it to keep her in comfort. You know
! very well mother and I haven't a
| cent except what I earn"
! But if there was one sporty thing
, you weren't afraid to do-iust one!"
muttered the old man as he lapsed
/ into angry reverie.
| Furtively his niece wiped away a
tear. then glanced into the mirror to
| see if it had left any traces. The
charming reflection restored her
equanimity. 1t was a comfort to
! kno that she was not failure in
every particular. newspaper lay
on the table and an item caught her
eye. With breathless interest she
read it. Suddenly she jumped to her
| feet with an inspiration.
Uncle Jarvis" she cried, would
you dare to go up in a balloon?"
I'd dare to do anything, but I
wouldn't like to risk myself in one of
those windbags. What are you driv-
ing at?''
Would you-would you think it
would show I had some courage if I
dared venture in a balloon? There's
to be an ascension from the Green
burg Aero club grounds tomorrow"
What! You'd never have nerve
enough to do it!'' The incredulity in
Uncle Jarvis belligerent old eyes
changed to something like respect as
he saw her look of. determination.
She was firm. 81 will do it, if
you'll make the ascension with me-
OF course, 1 couldn't go alone. You
said you dared to do anything" she
added sly1y.
"By Jove. Elsie. if you are sport
enough for that I'm sport enough
phatically and rushed off to tele-
phone the Aero club. and offer any
sum in passage money for his niece
and himself.
cred at the Greenburg Aero club
grounds to witness the ascension. A
space had been ropd off. and into
this Uncle Jarvis and Uncle Jarvis
friends trooped noisily and sat down
on the benches in the shadow of the
great balloon. From behind her veil
Elsie watched the entrance to the
Enclosure. AS time passed and no
one Joined the group on the benches
her face grew wistful. Whenever
she glanced fearfu1ly toward the mon
ster Juggling at the ropes her heart
went down, down, down into her little
tan shoes. She felt her courage of
the morning evaporating. though her
determination still remained.
Meanwhile Uncle Jarvis himself had
become strangely silent He had
ceased to buster or to swear he sat
in a depressed attitude. Elsie glanced
at him. His brick-red complexion had
paled to a sickly hue, a strange ex-
preston dulled his fierce old eyes. His
niece, suffering from the same malady.
diagnosed the case. The surprising
discovery cheered her beyond words,
and she actually smiled. Her own
courage.
The hour for the ascension had arr
rived. The gasbag of the Eagle" was
now inflated; the car, looking danger
ously small, was. already attached to
the collar. The spectators gazed in
brea thleSs expectancy.
Gray, the aeronaut, came over to the
benches and explained to his passen-
gers: Everything is ready. We are
only waiting for Mr.. Compton, of the
Boston Clarion" Oh, there he comes
now he added, as a tall imperfous-
looking young man came striding into
the Enclosure. Hastily introducing the
Gray hurried away. !
'-Elsier' exclaimed Compton with a .
look of amazement !
She blushed wildly as she turned to
Uncle Jarvis in explanation. Mr..
Compton and 1 are old friends, uncle,
though we haven't met for some
time
Gray had vaulted into the car and
now beckoned his passengers. Comp
toward the balloon. Elsie rose to her
feet but Uncle Jarvis did not move
His face was ghastly. He Gazed at
the huge sphere swaying in the breeze,
at the frail rocking car. "I can't do
it," he muttered, ct can't
The amusement in his niece's eyes
gave place to pity. My uncle is not
well. 1 shall not allow him to
try to make the ascension she said
positively to the aeronaut. Perhaps
some of his friends would like to go in
our place.
sporting companions climbed into the
car but Compton did not follow.
Eagle" scared for several hundred
feet, then floated northeast till it was
but a speck in the sky.
When the balloon was at a safe dis
lance Uncle Jarvis's color returned, but
he was much subdued. He looked at
his niece almost gratefully as he said:
You're a better sport than I thought,
Elsie. I'll make my will in your favor,
I swear it,
Elsie's lips curved in triumphant
smile, but not because of Uncle Jar
vis's handsome offer. She had seen
Compton returning. AS he reached her
the crowd, surging toward the gate,
separated the two from Uncle Jarvis.
In voice full of feeling, Compton
20 Elsie, / have repented
in