The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-08
The Euening Story
The Patched Balloon.
(By .Clarissa Mackie. !,

DOndlQ " dITeu carefully D1Oll6U the
sheet of paper and reread the letter
written in his splashing black charac-
ters. 1t was manly letter of regret
over mistake he had made-a mis-
understanding between Donald and the
girl he loved, and it had parted them.
He was in the wrong, and he frank
~ acknowledged it. Then he had
poured out his love and his longing
letter in an envelope and address it
| to Marjorie Human at her fathers
country home over on the other side
of the island
His young nephews were calling him
with lusty lungs: Uncle Don! Come
and open the box of fireworks!"
Smiling, he went out on the lawn
where the expressman had dumped
were pecking at the boards with ham
mers and chisel.
II expect if we were to set off the
whole box it would shake the island
boasted little Frank.
I'll bet Aunt Marjorie could hear
it, remarked Bob.
Donald REDEEMED hotly. He paused
with one sunbrowned arm in midair.
Aunt Marjorie ?" he repeated grim
| ly where did you learn that?"
Bob shrugged carelessly. Cousin
Patty said when you and Miss Mar
jorie were married, why, she'd be our
aunt. So 1 asked her if she minded
our calling her Aunt Marjorie right
off-just to get used it it. you know"
he explained.
What did she say?" asked Donald.
she got awful red and said 1 was
a dear and she guessed she didn't
mind. Just like girl not to know
whether she did mind or mott" he add
ed contemptuously.
when did this happen?
Last week. / say, Uncle Don, hur
ry up and open it, won't you, please ?"
Amid the splintering of pine covers
and the chatter of the boys Donald's
thoughts ran swiftly
She had said it last week. All! Last
week all had been well with them
their happiness seemed assured. But
now, because of his unreasoning jea1-
ousy. their bliss had turned to sorrow
and bitterness.
There was one comfort he thought
when she received his repentant let
ter she might relent. He would take
it down and mail it that evening. She
would receive it the next morning, the
Fourth, and perhaps she would call
him by telephone to tell him that he
was forgiven and that he must come
across the island at once. Perhaps
she would meet him half way!
His meditations were drowned in
chorus of excited cries as his nephews
fell upon the fireworks and sorted
them into shape.
Look, Uncle Don,'' cried Ned. Zone
of these fire balloons is TOM
I'll put a patch on it," said Donald
''We'H send that fellow up now. Ell?
There's a good stiff breeze. Bob, go
and bring me the paste pot and A
sheet of paper"
Here comes Cousin Patty" said
Frank, running to meet the little gos-
sipy, pright-eyed relative whose cot
tage almost at the end of the
cliff.
well Patty?" smiled Donald, as
he shook hands.
II am well, Don,'' said Cousin Pat
ty. GIVE been fishing ali morning
off the Topstone light
What luck?
Not much-except thai 1 caught
Peter Gray's scarlet sweater and near
ly pulled him overheard" giggled
Patty.
Peter Gray-here?" scowled DON
aid, for he was jealous of young Gray.
who had singularly winning way
with him.
stopping at the Humans, 1 sup
pose as usual. He was out there fish
ing with Marjorie and her sister. Our
boats were quite close together, and
my line flew over my head and the
hook caught in his collar. 1t was all
very funny. Peter said it would have
been a fair capture only he had been
Donalds face darkened. He won
dered if it was one of Gray's in-timeG
jests or had Marjorie really accepted
him on the rebound? Jealousy pos
sessed him again and he lost his tenn
per-
He was glad he had not sent the
letter.
When Patty had gone on to the
house Bobby came running back with
the pot of paste.
ST couldn't find any paper, Uncle
Don," he said.
II have some here" said Don, and
tearing open his letter to Marjorie,
he deliberately pasted it over the torn
place in the paper balloon.
He smiled grimly as his eyes fell
upon the opening words: My darl-
ling
Judged by all appearances, she was
Peter Gray's darling, he argued, as
he helped his nephews light the wick
and initiate the balloon.
(which way is the wind, Uncle
Don?'' asked Ned.
Northwest, and blowing strong"
replied Don. Your balloon will blow
out to sea, kiddies,
And Wen play that what's writ
ten on the patch is a message to some
shipwrecked sailor on desert island,
suggested imaginative Bob.
Anything you like agreed Donald.
1t was midafternoon of the day be-
1 fore the fourth when Donald and his
nephews stepped back and allowed the
balloon to rise up, rocking to and fro
until it found balance in a higher cur
rent of air. They watched it until it
disappeared beyond the trees of the
hill back of the house. Then the boys
returned to gloat over the fireworks
and 20 store them away for the NOR
rows celebration, while Donald threw
himself into hammock and flung an
arm across his aching eyes.
Peter Gray sat on the beach with
his arm around a very pretty girl
/ Gertrude Human.
J Marjorie, with her shoulder dis