Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-05-21
HEM BIDDLFS.
HOBBY
1t Lost Him His
Bride
By KATHARINE GRAY
By KATHARINE GRAY


Our fellow towmsman, the well
known aeronaut," was the manner in
which the Finchvile Banner always
referred 10 Hcmenway Bddle. Mr.
Biddlc was the editor Of the Banner.
and in the great shed back of the
printing office was anchored his big
balloon.
ON clear days after the paper had
gone to press Mr. Biddle might be seen
tinkering away at his balloon or else
in the act of soaring over the heads of
his neighbOrs in the car attached to
the gas Inflated craft.
Hem Biddle himself scared skywarl
because he liked the strange sensation
of hanging between earth and heaven
with the ever present element of dan
ger attached thereto. As a counter
irritant to editing country weekly
newspaper he believed there was moth
ing like it, excepting always Amabel
Paine.
AT this particular moment the Ban
ner had gone 10 press and was in the
hands of its eager readers Hem Bid.
die was scaling the airy heights. and
Alnabel Paine was swinging in ham
mock under the apple tree in her front
yard.
AInabel's eyes, blue as the sky above.
were fixed dreamily on the green can
Opy Of leaves overhead. There was
one spot where she could see the sky.
Suddenly across this bit of sky there
raced black blot
"Oh, bother" pouted Amabel, all at
once remembering that she was ell.
gagged TO Hem Biddle. II was rather
disconcerting TO recollect it. for at that
very moment she had been dreamily
reliving few delicious hours spent in
the company Of Peter Lamb the pre-
viOus evening.
The gate creaked inward. and Peter
Lambs massive form plodded sturdily
down the shell path to the apple tree
Amabel watched him, delighting in the
CLINT of sunshine on his blond head
and the answering CLEAN in his brown
eyes when they met hers. She blushed
and her eyes hid themselves under
dropping lids as she sat up in the
hammock and allowed her little hand
10 rest an instant in his big one.
81 accepted your invitation to call"
he laughed rather awkwardly as he sat
down in Il big rustic chair and tossed
his hat 10 the grass. You can see
that | haven't waited"
Amabel's mouth curved deIiciously.
Il am glad" she murmured. soothing
the seam OF her white duck skirt.
I'm that sort. When want TO do a
thing | cant wait he went on ear
nestly. II don't believe ] understand
the pleasures of anticipation. | know
what | want when | see it, and then
| want it right away
Yes? Amabel smoothed another
seam.
I'm going 10 shock you. Miss Paine"
went on this startling young man in
a determined tone.
please don't" she murmured.
1t sounds foolish Oh such short ac-
quaintance. but you know | used to
live in Finchville. and we played to-
gethcr when we were children. Why,
we went 10 school together! The won
der OF il all is that should come back
again and meet you at the schoolhouse
dance last night and not remember
your name. | suppose | used to call
you Amy" he ended daringly.
Amabel said nothing. and Mr. Lamb.
taking Il fresh grip on his courage.
leaned forward eagerly. His hand
some face was quite crimson with en-
barrassment, but his brown eyes were
pools of flaming determination.
"DOn't laugh. please. but love you,
want TO marry you" he
said briefly.
The girls eyes flashed up with
startled question in their blue depths.
1t was as If she were questioning his
His eyes answered her.
Il can't" she whispered sadly.
"Why not?" His voice was tense.
A shadow passed between them and
the sun.
That" She pointed upward
why, what do you mean? It's
balloon. isn't it?' he asked in Il star
tied tone.
She nodded. There's a man in IT,"
she explained.
His jaw frightened. "Ah! It's the
man. l SUPPOSE"
II am engaged to Mr.. Biddle." she
said with dignity.
''Biddle! Hem Biddle OF the Ban
1erI"
YES"
He got upon his feet. and his white
lips curved In a wry smile "Just my
uck TO get here too late. I hope you
will be very happy. Miss Paine. Is
ito be very soon"
Amabel Redeemed from brow to chin, |
Dut she held her head haughtily. 1T
/ is indefinite" she stammered |
Thank you for your good wishes"
He was holding her hand tightly and |
ooking quite unconscious OF that fact. |
Something small and dark hurtled
lown through the branches and fell at
Datnr'g