The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-01-18
he Chase Of
An Aeroplane
And What Resulted
Therefronl.
By AGNES q. BROGAN

hcu IuC uOuSc lLdC ldu UcSA UuAiu-
ing opposite where Madge Carlton
lived was finished, the refuse removed
and the grounds had been leveled and
sodded Madge looked upon the place
with envy. The house was as dainty
as u Swiss cottage. On the grounds
here and there were little clumps OF
evergreens, while the whole was sur
rounded by hedge.
''Ill bet that house," said Madge to
herself, twas built by an artistic archi-
tect and the grounds were laid out by
a landscape gardener" .......
Madge had taste for pretty places,
and the burden Of her desires was to
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 it
when finished? Would it be an old
woman living alone, with no one to
comfort her? Would it be a middle
aged couple with many small children ?
Would there be an unmarried man in
the family, and would he be-nice?
That was the womanly way of ex-
pressing it. 1t was not: Would he be
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 a 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 AL 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 it's 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. II
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
| loud humming noise as of a giant
bee. Nearer it drew-still nearer,
echoing and resOunding in the stiffness,
until at length, pellmell from verandas
and doorways, people ran tlocking 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 a dark
object. Onward it went, straight as
an arrow, never swerving from its
course, never ceasing in its mad flight
until screening trees hid it from view
of the watchers.
Wildly the crowd gave chase, hoping
to get another glimpse in the next
clearing of this wondrous. whirrine
thing.
Without an instant's hesitation
Madge, who had scorned her brothers
enthusiasm, now breathlessly followed
the crowd. Over the lawn and down
the street twinkled the heels of bel
little white shoes. She fell at the curl
and when a kindly hand assisted hel
to rise hurried on again without a civil
"thank you" With fine disregard she
tripped lightly across the road before
the very lamps Of a racing automobile
"There it is!' said a triumphan
voice.
"Where?" she cried.
"Above the tallest tree the voic,
answered
Il cannot see it, Madge said impa
tiently:
, A hand reached over her shoulder
pointing upward.
IF you will look exactly where l tel
: you,' the owner of the hand suggested
"you will see it,
II do now" she replied. 1T is grow
: ing smaller! It must be very high up.
{ "About 1900 feet" the voice answer
I ed exultantly. y
{ Madge gave a little cry of disal
: pointment ...-
ooh. it is gone!' she said. "Can
we. see it farther onY
The man looked around quickly.
This way!" he called. and "a
swiftly up a wide, graveyed path. Sh
3 started bravely III pursuit. then rroo
l still. .-
II cannot 60 another STEP" she III
: swereQ YEARLY. :.
:. The man turned back.
: LET me help you," he said. and in
e mediately slipped his arm beneath ht
IT n ctr