The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-08-01
AN AIR ROMANCE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BY CAROL GAY.

Their, ElSpeth and Jean. They were,
one and all, tall and most divinely fair.
Theirs was the straight, virile beauty
In the wilds, clear-eyed and goddess
like. And they were one and all de-
licfously youthful In. fact Esther
was twenty-one, Elspeth twenty. and
Jean seventeen, thick braids still down
her back.
Esther was the tallest and the most
beautiful.
Elspeth was slim and always clad:
in black, in memory Of lover, war
killed, with tender gray eyes, over
flowing always with love and kindli-
ness; wide, smiling red lips; poor girl,
she had taught those lips to smile
again, with steady, patient resolution,
and a coronet OF glossy chestnut
braids.
And Jean! Jean. her starry eyes
forever aglOw, was the brightest ray
OF Mother Ms halo.
Each Sunday eve as Esther depart
ed after her weekend visit, stiff and
starched, with a full valise. Jean
would gaze at her with usefulness
and whisper: ooh, you are so fortu-
nate, Essie
1t was on Monday. Jean would
never forget that epoch making date
It was stormy and Esther had con-
GUIDED not to set forth until Tuesday.
Old Widow W was ill of lum-
bagO. with not soul to care for her.
Prepare a basket, and we will go
to her at once. No help indeed!
Twas Widow W made my we'd
ding gown. TIL pay her in full for all
her kindness" declared the kindly
Mother NJ, as she tied on her
bonnet.
And Jean, eager for the trip, obey
ed with alacrity.
The widow made comfortable, and
her mother securely installed in the
humble abode, Jean resumed her ul-
ster and catching up her empty bas-
ket sped toward home.
Not a hundred feet from the wild
ow's cottage, Jean, peering through
the thick fog, discerned an unfamiliar
object on the ground. She drew near
err An enormous eagle? No, an air
plane! Jean observed it fascinated
ly. It was poised on one wing. The
rest was shattered. Then Jean stepped
back in wide-eyed horror. A still,
straight form beneath!
The man was not dead. no! But
he was badly injured" said Doctor
b as he bent over the boyish
white face on the pillow. Lucky that
the girl happened along and called
you, mother, else the lad might have
died" III
Jean, encouraged by his manner.
asked in small, frightened voice, IL
the patient could be moved to her own
home; explaining that there was
scarce room for the widow and her
attendant, much less for the aviator
and Jean, in the small cottage.
'we will see. we will see. Perhaps
when he is better" smiled the doc
tor, and that ended it.
Jean ran home to tell her sisters the
news while Mother NJ lowered
capably between the two patients.
Saturday. The aviator had been Ill
for nearly month. Esther arrived to-
dry for her weekly visit and John
b, FOR that was the young mans
name, was to be moved to the NJ
dwelling, there to convalesce.
At last he was sitting there in the
shabby old armchair, smiling up at her
with his funny, Quirky grin.
"a penny for your thoughts, little
maid" he said at last. Jean laughed
suddenly, and patted his hand.
"They were Of you and Esther, dear
eagleman." But his mind was far
away as he gazed out Of the little win
dow.
Esther came and with her a strange
spirit Of shattered peace that puzzled
and disturbed her youngest sister.
Poor. little maiden, running to the
sweet shelter of the crowding mists,
fighting back the sobs as she spoke to
the eerie white shadows that followed
her ever and anon: "But love him, I
love him! Why? I found him here in
the valley. You brought him to me.
Do not take him away! love him J"
That day and the day after Esther
was constantly at his side, smiling,
talking, attending him, her blue eyes
kindled at last.
And Jean, miserable little Jean, lay
sobbing in the cherries loft But 1t Is
given to him who hath. SO it was re-
stored to her who had found and cher
ished. Jean, bidding farewell to her
sister Monday morning at the turn OF
the stone-boYdered path, said listless-
ly: SISTER, how soon will you and the
eagleman be married" Esther stared
and laughed. "You mean John? Why,
the boy is only twenty-one. You silly
little sister! Why do you flush and
start so, Jean?'
Jean paused solemnly. Because
Love and Adventure have swooped
upon me from the West Good-by, Es-
sic"
Then she ran into the house.
John was sitting disconsolately by