The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1913-11-12
HE FLEW
HIGH
By ALBERT L. FORD

| standing meekly before stern looking
man with mutton chop tNhiskers and
beetling brows, Il have come with
| your daughter Jennie's consent to ask
| you for her as my wife"
| The gentleman looked at the young
man before him. evidently framing a
sentence to crush him. When it came
| it was like a bolt from heaven.
You, a steepejack, marry my daugh-
ter! Do you think me a fool? What
| kind of business is yours anyway?
You risk your life for $50, perhaps, and
when you've done it once you do it
| again. You go up Il Spire in the pres
ence of a gaping crowd. Do you sup
pose they would be watching you if it
were not for the probability of seeing
| you tumble down and get mashed into
a jelly? And what kind of life would
your wife lead? She would be in con-
slant expectation of seeing your batter
ed remains brought home in a wagon.
| Marry my daughter! No, sir"
| Billy hung his head and said nothing
for few moments. Then he looked
up and asked:
IF l abandon the ancient and hon
orable steeplejack business for some
other would you give your consent?'
'The occupation is ancient and not
dishOnorable," was the reply. IF you
want my daughter-and she wants you
or she wouldn't have sent you to me-
| you'll have to look up in the matter of
| an occupation. My son-in-law must fly
| higher than being a steeplejack. It's
too late for you to study profession,
but you may yet make a business man
| of yourself. There are many Occupa-
tons far more commendable than that
of climbing steeples.''
! at doesn't do for a man to waste
his time learning to do things and
then abandon them. Suppose | should
| become proficient in something as l am
in climbing steeples and you should
not be satisfied with it, and then
! learned something else and them
you engage in something above
| steeplejacking and you may have Jen-
ME, provided it pays you enough to
support her."
"All right, Mr.. Wilson. I'll try to fiv
, higher than steepleiacking.
The last words were not heard by
| the elder man. He had no confidence
! in Billy's ability to make a living at
| anything except the line he had fallen
into and felt perfectly safe in agree
| ing to give his daughter to him prOvid-
| ed he could support her by q more ac-
! ceptable occupation.
Six months passed. and Mr.. Wilson
! heard nothing more of his would be
| climbing sOn-in-law. He kept an eye
| on his daughter and was treasured at
| not seeing any evidence of dissatisfac-
| ton on her part. He was congratulate
! ing himself that she had forgotten the
| steeplejack man when one day she
| said:
! Papa, | want you to take walk
with me this afternoon"
/ "A business man take Il walk in the
| afternoon? What are you thinking Of.
! sweetheart?''
/ It's Saturday afternoon, and there's
| no need of your going to your Office.
| for there is no one there
The gentleman was persuaded, and
| the two sailed forth. Jennie suggest
ed that they take a trolley ride into
! the country. This they did and final
| ly found themselves in open ground.
| They stroILsd about for some time
when suddenly Mr.. Wilson. shading his
| eyes from the sun with his hands,
! said:
What a big bird that is over therer'
Il think it's coming this way"
The bird did come that way. growing
larger and larger as it neared them.
why. it's an acceptance! remarked
Mr.. Wilson.
so it is chimed Jennie
They watched it sailing along high
up In the ain its two great wings eX-
tended. .op,tug for all the world like
Il soaring eagle 1t passed a thousand
feet over their heads turned and
Swooped downward like a seagull after
Il fish. passing not more than fifty
| feet above them.
Hello. Jennier' cried the aeronaut. ~
Hello. Billy replied Jennie.
| What does this mean?' exclaimed
| the father. bridling.
Billy turned again and. passing with
in ten yards of them. replied:
why, you told me. Mr.. Wilson, thar
/ if | wanted Jennie | must fly higher
| than steepleiacking. and I'm doing it.
/ There's no steeple higher than several
| hundred feet. and I've been up several
! thousand"
! Nonsense exclaimed the father
Jennie" reproachfully, how could
| you bring your father out here OF
| purpose to make a fool of him?''
| 81 didn't. papa. l brought. you out
J here to show you that Billy has got
| the better of you. 1 want Billy, and
| Billy wants me. Now, do be a good.
sensible papa and take Billy into your
| business and let us be happy"
''H'm! This was your doing. i know
your tricks and your manners" Then
to Billy. Take that ungodly great bird
back to where you got it and tomorrow
morning come to my office"
Mr.. Wilson was partly right. After
his interview with Billy the two con-