Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-12-11


ted with her brother in all his acts, she soon de-
clared that she ready TO do as he should decide
"Come, then, for a voyage in the air." exclaimed
Michel.
Approaching the car, he seated himself with
Florence.
AS soon as the attendant saw that they were seat
ed, he oosened the Cords and the balloon slowly
rose.
The young girl feeling herself rising, could not
repress cry of fear, and turned pale. The stran-
ger who opposite her, extended his hand towards
the bell.
"Shall we return" he asked, with SMILE
"a thousand thanks, sir" replied Florence, whose
color almost Immediately returned; 81 shall soon
become accustomed to this sensation"
"Seel see" interrupted Michel, I'VE are al
ready higher than the trees"
The young girl looked downwards, and became
treasured.
The Jardin de Ia CdJane was presented to the
eve in its whole extent. Ii resembled of those
plans in relief which see in our military muse
ums. Immediately under the balloon was the es-
planade covered with an eager crowd, whose noise
hardly reached our aerial travellers. The air was
lighter and loaded with terrestrial perfumes it had
an exciting freshness Florence turned her radi-
ant face towards her brother.
"How grand and beautiful is all that surrounds
US" she exclaimed: TEL me, Michel do you not
feel a sort of intoxlcaton, and are you not happier
and more tranquil than you were just now?"
at is true,' replied Ritter; 1.-THE physical sem
saton passes into the soul, and | feel as if hover
ed- over the inIqutcs Of men, do above theit
homes But what is preparing there, and why has
that crowd collected on the esplanado?'
sit is waiting for the fireworks" observed the
stranger
ayes there are the first rockets" said Florence.
"Why do they 90 off thus, one after another?
ooh see, the staging which sustained the prin-
cipal pieces has just fallen"
at is failure"
AID do ,,,, baor Tho orioe
"Moy God pardon mel" interrupted Michel,
"they are breaking the balustrades which sur
rounded the seats"
at is a riot among the Students" said the stran
ger smiling, "they are revengng themselves upon
the garden for their disappointment"
4" How lucky that not in the midst of that
tumult," observed Florence.
"You are then reconciled to be here?" asked
Ritter
Entirely
"Then we rise farther"
He made the appointed signal; the cords were
loosened and the balloon again for some time,
and then stopped,
The three travellers uttered cry of admiration,
almost together.
Under their feet extended, as faras the eye could
reach, beautiful valleys forests, meadows, cultvat-
ed fields and villages, whose various tnts and forms
seemed like so many caprlcious embroideries The
Black Forest, towards Wurtemburg, and the Rhine,
: towards France, surrounded this picture with
waving line, whilst the Neckar, covered with sails,
was seen winding along and losing itself in the
distance.
"Happy countryr said the stranger as if speak
t. ing to himself, happy country, where God has
n given to the fertile field, the navigable river
h and the wooded mountain"
s. Michel sighed.
h "Happy, above all, if he had not left place for
e lawsuits and calumnies in it," he added in a low
s. voice.
IS The unknown turned towards him.
k "Ah! sir, no one knows that better than l." he
replied.
], Are you also, then, forced to defend your rights
y before Judges?'
" "And against adversary who will neglect
it nothing to despoil me-"
20 "That Is like mine" said Michel; if he gains
c his suit, lose all have acquired by the past"
N 81, all that the future promised me"
d, "The fruit of my labor will enrich miscr."
"a" All my hopes will be destroyed for the benefit
ID Of hypocrite."
lie "Yet fear that law will silence justice"
Or 81, that intrigue will triumph over right"
le "Ah! | see," exclaimed Michel, "our position
er is the same, slr your opponent must be another
is Christian Loiman'
"Christan Lohinan!" repeated the stranger,
e. " that is my NAME"
o "Yours!'
ry "And my adversary is named Michel Ritter"
ut "That is my name"
ST The two men looked at each other with surprise,
d. mingled WIN anger ana natreu; Florence appear
ut ed frightened
ne "Let US descend, Michel" she said, laying her
hand on her brothers arm.
v But he did not hear her.
"What NJ Loffman has Just said of his adverse
IN ry is caumnyl' he exclaimed, looking at the
hit stranger with sparkling eyes.
at "And what NJ. Ritter has said of his, is lie ~
f. replied the young quickly
In the name of heaven, let us descend" con-
l." tnued the trembling girl.
, Be it SOP exclaimed Michel, "explanations
of will be easier on the ground"
an "And hope they will be decisive" added Loft,
&c. man. with a significant tone.
He had drawn the bell rope, and the traveller;
he waited moment in sllence but the balloon re-
Sc NAMED immovable. The young man rang a sec
it ond time then third, without being more success
full
IDS 'The keeper ought to hear u.s. he murmured
to again drawing the cord.
ire "There is no keeper" cried Florence, who hat
H. inclined her head over the car.
THAT is true said Michel, looking in his turn
er- "the riot continues, and may have frightened him
See that bonfire, into which the crowd is throwing
the seats"
nat Sand that troop of young men, who run abou
BIT. the alleys, breaking the lamps"
lie. "They are under the balloon Oh God"
d." "Whit dre they doing"
"They arc christening the cords"
NO "What do you sayw
am "Seem
no The three travellers bent over at the same time
me uttering cry and waving their hands; but it wa
too late. Believing the empty, the student
The had cut the cords which restrained the balloon caG
tive; and rising with prodiglous rapdity, it 500
I'd disappeared in the evening mists.
APP
we H.
W. Our three travellers soon exhausted themselve
the IN useless cries ana marks OF CONSERVATION ot
when they lost sight Of the Jmdin de In Caban
md and then of the earth, sort of calm, produced b
the depression, much more than by resignation, sue
in ceeded to their despair
All three remained mmovable, silent and witt
i'm. out thinking. Their situation could not indeed, b
compared to any other. In most cases, the danger
in to which man is exposed may have been foresee
He by him; he has at least, prepared himself for the