The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-11-30

The Chase OF
An AerOplane
And What Resulted
Thereir0m.

BY AGNES G. BR0GAN

When the house that had been build
Ing opposite where Madge Carltol
lived was finished the refuse remove,
and the grounds had been leyeled an,
sodded Madge looked upon the place
with envy. Tie house was as daint,
as swiss cottage. On the grounds
here and there were little clumps o
eyergrceus, while the whole was sur
rounded by hedge
I'm bet that house" said Madge e
herself. was bnilt by an artistic archl
tect and the grounds were laid out by
landscape gardener
Madge had a taste for pretty places
and the burden Of her desires was e
be mistress Of one. The house oppo
site suited her exactly.
The next passion TO covetousness
that took possession OF Madge Carlton
was curiosity. Who would occupy il
when finished? Would it be an old
woman living alone, with no one "a
comfort her? Would 1t be middle
aged couple with many small children
Would there be an unmarried man in
the family, and would he be-nicef
That was the womanly way of eX-
heroic? Would he be manly? Would
| he be honorable? No; it was not any
OF these alone, but all in one, and that
one was expressed In the word nice.
She hoped there would be single
man In the new house, that he would
be nice, and on these hopes rested a
third. We shall see whether or not
this third hope was gratifed.
One morning large posters decorated
the town where Madge lived announc.
ing that an exhibition would be given
by an aeronaut. Every member of
her family except Madge was on tiptoe
of excitement to see the performance.
On the morning of its occurrence she
was sitting ON the porch. She was
looking at the new house opposite
which was now occupied. From it she
turned her gaze upon the throng who
passed continuously on their way to
the city pleasure grounds, where the
famous bird man was due to arrive in
his wonderful aeroplane, and to give
there his exhibition. Her own family
had gone long ago, and Madge had
shaken her head in decided refusal at
her brothers invitation to join them.
NO. thank you" she answered 81
wouldn't walk as far as the corner on
hot day like this to see all the aero
planes In the world. This cool veranda
suits me much better
She rocked back and forth now, en-
joying the light breeze which softly
tapped the awnings, her little bare
arms clasped high above her head. The
last football died away, and the shady
avenue was unusually silent, when
presently there came from out the sky
a loud humming noise as OF giant
bee Nearer 1t drew-still nearer.
echoing and resounding in the stiffness,
until at length, pellmell from yerandas
and doorways. people ran focking into
the street:
1T is coming" they called to each
other; 1T is coming it is here"
Madge leaned forward excitedly
High across the cloudless blue, with
great outstretched wings like some
monstrous bird, there rushed dark
object. onward 1t went, straight as
an arrow, never swerving from its
course, never ceasing in its mad fight
until screening trees hid 1t from view
OF the watchers.
Wildly the crowd gave chase, hoping
TO get another glimpse in the next |
clearing of this wondrous, whirring |
thing.
without an instant's hesitation |
Madge, who had scorned her brothers |
now breathlessly followed |
the crowd over the lawn and down |
the street twinkled the heels of her |
little white shoes. She fell at the curb |
and when kindly hand assisted her
"a rise hurried on again without a civil |
thank YOU" With fine disregard she
tripped lightly across the road before
the very lamps Of racing automobile.
There 1t is said a triumphant
voice.
"Where;' she cried.
above the talest tree" the voice
answered
Il cannot see It," Madge said impa-
tiently.
A hand reached over her shoulder,
pointing upward.
"lf you will look exactly where | tell
you" the owner of the hand suggested
you viii see It"
Il do now" she replied. 1T Is grow
ing smaller II must be very high up"
About 800 feet" the voice answer.
ed exultantly.
Madge gave a little cry Of disap.
pointment.
"oh, IT Is eoner' she said. Cant
we see II farther onT'
The man looked around quickly.
This way" he called. and ran
swiftly up wide, graveled path. She
started brayely In pursuit, then stood
still
Il cannot go another step" she an.
'wered YEARLY.
The man turned back.
let me help you" he said. and i'm
nediately slipped his arm beneath her
gwn II was "A ypry strong arm I