Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-02-07
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY T. 1913

IL told him things that | am sure he |
will never forgive" she snid slowly.
IT said 1 would never marry Bloom
field boy and settle down into hum
drum existence, said ! could nevel
think of him seriously; that every time
l looked at him he seemed to be the
same chubby faced, apple checked lit
tie boy / went to school with years
ago."
"What did Walter say to that2" Mrs.
Pomeroy's face was grave, though her
brown eyes were shining, too, and they
looked much like Maisie's.
HE didn't say anything. He just
nodded his head in that awkward way
of his and went OFF. The next heard
he was in New York studying to be a
doctor. You know he has never been
home since" Maisie's tone was I'M
consciously wistful.
The days before the great event that
was to transform Bloomfield from a
sleepy country village into fashion
able rendezvous for n day We're filed
with preparations for the balloon
races. As II by magic all the daisies
In Cabot's field were laid to the
ground and grand stands were erect
ed and huge gas tanks put In place.
School was ended, and Malsle walked
In other directions when she chose tn
be outdoors. Now, she only remem-
bered Cabots field as the place where
Walter had met her one day and con-
fessed his love among the daisies,
which are supposed never to tell low
ers' secrets.
Maisie was disturbed by these memo
ries that forced themselves upon her.
She did not wish to think of Walter
Avery, and she had dismissed him
from her mind for four years and re-
scented that she could not Danish him
from her memory. She felt sure that
out there in the big world there was
waiting for her an ideal lover, hand
some, courtly, polished, rich.
At last came Bloomfleld's great day.
The road to Cabot's field was black
with vehicles Of every description, by
10 o'clock every seat In the stands was
filed, and the four sides OF the great
cars and farm wagons. Malsie and her
mother were there and by good for
tune and the kind Offices Of Emma
Risley had secured front row seats In
one of the stands. Ten big balloons
swayed slowly, Juggling at their anchor
ropes. There were n smell OF escaping
gas, the music OF band and the
~ gnlnna Mufalsa fnunI
herself enjoying the excitement. II
this was life she would like a taste
OF I'll
Emma Rlsley leaned across Malsle
and spoke TO Mrs. Pomeroy. II hear
Walter Avery's going up in one OF the
balloons You know he's quite an
amateur bnlloonlst Mrs. Avery Is wor-
ried almost to death about It,"
"Ballooning Is dangerous sport"
returned Mrs. Pomeroy's calm voice,
"but | suppose Walter finds II a re-
taxation from his professional work"
II guess he deserves all the fun he
gets. They say he worked like Tro-
jan to get his degree, and now he's to
go in partnership with u city doctor"
Emma Risley sat back In her seat.
There, they're Off. Maisiel / wonder
which Is Walters balloon. Let me see
your programme CHATS lucky
number, anyway, DIR. Averyl Isn't
that funny2 Seems as IL could see
Walter as he was when he came to
school to me years ago. Think OF bis
being n doctOrP
Maisie was thinking entirely too
much for her own good. She was thor
0ughly frightened at the idea of Wal
ter Avery's ascension in the balloon.
She could see No. now. That was
Walter, tall slender, supple OF form,
his dark hair blowing back from his
forehead. He was looking their way.
Was he looking at herr She told her
self that he could merely see the crowd
Of white faces; that he could not pick
out individuals. Still he stared, and
then, just as the anchors were cast
adrlft and he started up, he waved
handkerchief toward them. Suddenly
Maisies little handkerchief broke into
1utterlng signal. The fresh breeze
tore It from her hand, and II whirled
upward with balloon No. 7.
Walter leaned out. deity caught the
bit OF white, tucked Il in his breast and
amid the cheers Of the crowd went up
to an altitude that caused hearts to
thrOb and cheeks 10 pale with appro-
hensioD. When the last airshiD had be-
come a mere speck in the sky the
crowd dispersed to other diversions,
and Malsie and her mother went home.
II would be late In the afternoon be-
fore the balloons might be sighted on
the return trip, provided they we're not
driven before adverse winds. Then
their return would be uncertain indeed.
There was an excellent chance that
Ome Of them would never come back.
MaisIe Pomeroy never forgot that
waiting time In those hours died all
the foolish longing and discontentment
that had possessed her There was oniS
one thing she crayed, and that was the
life Of Walter Avery, whether he loved
her now or not She knew that she
loved him.
With the evening c1mo the return OF
the balloonists, every one safe, Walter
Avery winning the second prize, which
he did not care n fig for. because
greater prize awaited him IN Mrs. Pom
oroy's old fashioned garden Bloomfield
is thriving suburb now. and life there
Is by no means dull and commonplace.
The balloon ground IL now baseball
field