Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-04-02

lay the serpentne Neckar, winding off into the
distance, chequered with the bright danced
sails.
! Happy country! said the stranger. as if to
himself, where God gives to man the fertile
fields, the navigable river, and wooded noun
TAIN
Michael sighed Happy, above all, could
man be untroubled with lawsuits and libelous
reports, muttered he in low voice
The unknown turned towards him. sAh, no
one knows that better than myself, sir said
he.
What! are you also condemned to defend your
rights before the court!'
Yes, and against an adversary who will leave
nothing undone to ruin me-
1T is my own case,' said Michael. 'If he gain
this suit, he will deprive me of all ] have spent
my life in acquiring
And for my part, all my future depends on
The work of my hands will help to enrich
graSpiDg, avaricous man..
And, pursued the stranger, 'all my future
prospects will be annihilated to enrich bypo-
critic
Il fear the law will not decide in favor of the
cause which has the right on its side
And am afraid that intrigue will be stronger
than justice
'Ah, see, cried Michael; our positions are
the same: you also have a cause against some
! Christian Lofmann.'
Christian I'offmann!' repeated the stranger;
| why, that is my own name.
| Yours!
And my adversary S Michael Ritter
Why, am hen
The two men regarded each other in astonish-
ment, and with such a mixture Of anger and ha-
tired, that Florence became frightened Let us
descend, brother, said she, laying her hand on
her brothers arm; but he did not hear her.
what Herr Loffmann says of his opponent is
false he cried, liking his sparkling eyes on the
stranger.
And what Herr Ritter says of his, is a lie.
tiercely returned the young man.
In the name of Heaven, let us go down. reit-=
Grated the girl
so be it, said Michael: sit will be easier to
| come to an explanation on solid ground
And hope it will be decisive one,' added
Loffmann, in a significant tone.
He had already rung the BELL and all three
awaited the descent of the balloon in silence; but
1t renamed motionlesS. The young man rang
again second time, and then a third, with no
better success.
.The man must have heard, he murmured as
as he again pulled the string.
He has Disappeared exclaimed Florence. who
had been looking over the car.
80 he has, said Michael looking in his turn:
the emeute has alarmed him. See! they are ma
king bonfire of the benches
;. And look at that party of young men para
ding the garden, breaking the lamps
See! they are under the balloon. Good God
"What are they doing?'
"They are cutting the ropes ?
What are you saying-what do you mean =
Look for yourselves
All three hung over the car, and raised fear
full cry, waving their hands at the same time: but
it was too late Imagining that the car was UNI
occupied, the students had cut the ropes which
secured the balloon; and the latter, rising with
frlghtful rapldlty, was soon lost in the msts of
evening.
Our three travellers at first wearie9 themselves,
with loud shouts, in the hope of attracting atten-
ton; but when they lost sight of, first the gar
den, and then OF the earth itself, kind of calm,
produced more by exhaustion than resignation
took the place of their first desperation. They
remained motionless and silent. Their situation
was indeed one of great danger. In general, the
aeronaut is provided, as much as possible against
every probable accident by acquired knowledge
and experience. Before entering upon his ca
reer, he attends lectures the subject gains all
the information he can, and serves an apprentice
ship to his profession; but here were three help
less beings suddenly cast loose from the earth,
without rudder or. compass, as it were, tossed
about at the will of every passing breeze, with a
horrible death before them, vet uncertain at what
moment it might come
Florence, half-fantng with terror, hid her
face on her brothers shoulder, and he sat
overpowered with fear astonishment, and
with horror, knowing not what consolation to
offer.
Christian Loffmann, seated at the other end of
the car, seemed more calm, and from time to time
threw look of commisseration at Michael Ritter
and his sister; but the remembrance of their mu-
tual enmity, and the reciprocal insults they
had heaped on each other still divided these
two men, and held them apart, even in a common
danger.
Meanwhile the balloon, abandoned to the
winds, foated at hazard through the heavens.
new cutting the air as rapidly as swallow re-
turning to Its nest, anon lowering above the
mountains, like vuture over its prey. Now
and then, when Ritter or Loffmann looked over
car, they beheld at the bottom of the gloomy
and hamlets But by degrees these last traces of
earth disappeared, and the balloon sought still
more elevated, more rarifed air. The breathing of
the travellers began to be oppressed; they ex-
perienced violent singing in the ears and
sharp pangs shot through them, as the cold
air benumbed their limbs. Florence, whose
strength was quite exhausted, gradually sank
down to the bottom Of the car at her brothers
feet
What are you doing? he exclaimed
4 feel so overpowered with Sleep she MUIR
INJURED.
Awake awake! cried the terrified Mi
enact; to sleep is death Rouse yourself Flo
rence!'
But she remained motionless
Florence! repeated Michael in agony. %
God she does not hear me; and have no means
of warming her
Take this cloak, said voice.
lie raised his head, and perceived Loffmann by
MS side IN the act OF unfastening kind Of furred
pelisSe he had till then been enyeloped in. sBut
what will you do yourself?' asked Ritter, sur
priSed and touched
The strong should suffer for the weak said
he, taking off his cloak.
Michael helped him to wrap his sister in it,