The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1913-11-20
HE FLEW
HIGH
By ALBERT L. FORD

.beetling brows, II 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
1t was like bolt from heaven.
"You, steeplejack. marry my daugh-
ter! Do you think me fool? What
kind of business Is yours anyway
You risk your life for $50, perhaps. and
when you've done 1t once you do It
again. You go up spire in the pres
ence of gaping crowd. Do you sup
pose they would be watching you If 1t
were not for the probability of seeing
you tumble down and get mashed into
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 wagon.
Marry my daughter! No, sir"
Billy hung his head and said nothing
for few moments. Then he looked
up and asked:
"If abandon the ancient and hon.
orable steeplejack business for some
other would you give your consentT
'sThe 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 steeplejack. It's
too late for you to study a ps6fession,
but you may yet make business man
Of yourself There are many occupa-
tons far more commendable than that
of climbing steeples."
att doesn't do for man to waste
his time learning to do things and
then abandon them. Suppose should
become proficient In something as ] am
In climbing steeples and you should
not be satisfied with 1t. and then l
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 fiy
higher than steeplejacking."
The last words were not beard 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 more &C.
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 reassured 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 walk In the
afternoon? What are you thinking Of.
sweetheart"
TITS 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 trolley ride into
the country. This they did and final
ly found themselves in open ground.
They strolled about for some time
when suddenly Mr.. Wilson, shading his
eyes from the sun with his hands.
said:
"What big bird that Is over there!'
II think it's coming this way"
The bird did come that way, growing |
larger and larger as it neared them.
why. it's an aeroplane" remarked
Mr.. Wilson.
$50 it isr' chimed Jennie.
They watched it sailing along high |
UP In the air. its two great wings ex
tended. looking for all the world like
Il soaring eagle. 1t passed thousand
feet over their heads. turned and
swooped downward like seagull after
4 fish. passing not more than fifty
feet above them.
Hello. Jennier' cried the aeronaut.
Hello. Blllyl' 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, that
IL wanted Jennie must fly higher
than steeplejacking, and I'm doing It
There's no steeple higher than several
hundred feet. and I've been up several
thousand"
'sN0nsenser' exclaimed the father.
Jennie" Feproachfully. ''how could
You bring your father out here on
purpose to make fool OF himr