Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1915-08-13
THE BALLOON PATCH
Became Means of Reuniting
Two Lovers Who Had Quar-
relied and Parted.
BY cLARIssA MAcklE.

written In his splashing black char
acters. II was manly letter of regret
over a mistake he had made-a misun-
derstanding between Donald and the
girl he loved, and it had parted them.
He was in the wrong, and he frank
ly acknowledged it. Then he had
poured out his love and his longing
for a reconciliation. He slipped the
letter in an envelope and addressed 1t
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 fire.
works."
Smiling, he went out on the lawn
where the expressman had dumped
the packing case. The three boys
were pecking at the boards with
hammers and chisel.
81 expect IL we were to set off the
whole box 1t would shake the island"
boosted little Frank.
.T'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
~. 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 / asked her if she minded
our calling her Aunt Marjorie right
off-just to get used to it, you know"
he explained.
what did she say?" asked Donald.
'.She got awful red and said / was
a dear and she guessed she didn't
mind. Just like a girl not to know
whether she did mind or not!" he
added CONTEMPORARY.
when did this happen?"
Last week. l say, Uncle Don.
hurry 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. Ali
Last week all had been well With
them; their happiness seemed assured.
But now, because of his unreasoning
jealousy, 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
1t down and mail 1t 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 wayi
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.
"one of these fire balloons is torn"
."IH put patch on it," said Donald.
We'll send that fellow up now, Ell?
There's a good stiff breeze. Bob, go
and bring me the paste pot and
sheet of paper"
Here comes Cousin Patty" said
Frank. running to meet the little gos-
sipy, bright-eyed relative whose cot
tage was almost at the end of the
cliff.
We'll, Patty?" smiled Donald, as
he shook hands.
Il am we'll, Don," said Cousin Patty.
I've been fishing all morning off the
Topstone light"
What luck?"
''Not much-except that | caught
Peter Gray's scarlet sweater and near
ly pulled him overheard" giggled
Patty.
Peter Gray-here?" scowled Dom
aid, for he was jealous of young Gray,
who had a singularly winning way
with him.
stopping at the Humans, | sup
pose, as usual. He was out there fish
ing with Marjorie and her sister. Our
boats we're quite close together, and
my line few over my head and the
hook caught in his collar. II was all
very funny. Peter said it would have
been fair capture only he had been
hooked already"
Donald's face darkened. He won
dered If 1t was one Of Gray's illtimed
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.
Il couldn't find any paper. Uncle
Dom" he said.
Il have some here" said Don, and
tearing open his letter to Marjorie, hs
deliberately pasted it. over the tori
place In the paper balloon.
He smiled grimly as his eyes Eel
upon the opening words: MY dar
ling
Judged BY ell appearances. she wa:
Peter Gray's darling, he argued. as hs
helped his nephew light the wick ant
initiate the balloon.
(which way Is the wind, Uncle