The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-04-24

l had forgotten her. and Il was not tl was
out Of the theatre and walking slowly home
wards that remembered she must be told.
For my own part, did not believe there VAS
the slightest danger bot ] knew how her
fsars would magnify everything, and the
nearer / came towarda Ellington the more
uncomfortable felt, AIler all, VIZ sneha
eouard--lor always am coward where Wo-
men are coneerned--thai / could not tell her
ihat day, nor even the neKti and II Was only
on Sunday, whsn We were slting together
after dinner, that found eourageto speak
Of il. had expected something Of a scene
but had no idea that sbo would have taken
on as she did, and declare that, even then,
If the posters had not beenf already o's and
myself bound in honor TO act up TO my en-
gagement, would have gone straight 10 Mr..
Rice and declined the business altogether
Poor little sofl.hearted darling! Il was a sore
trial tG her and 10 me also, and was an in
eonsderats idiot not to have thought Of her
feelings in the frat instance, But there was
no help FOR Il nowi 40 gave her the only
consolation In my power by solemnly promis-
Ing that would be the first man tied 10 the
lrapeze. IL was Of course, the safest position
and when had assured her Of this, she grew
culmer. On oil other points kept my own
counsel, as you may be certain and m 10
John GrHths, | saw less of him than ever
lac even took his meals Ia the city now. and.
during the seven days that elapsed between
the twenty-ninth and the sixth, never once
came face to face with me, except upon the
stage.
had hard matter to get away from home
when the afternoon Of the sixth came round
My darling eung about me- as II her heart
would break, and although did my best TO
cheer her, don't mind confessing now that
| went out and cried q tear or two in the
passage,
"Keep up your spirits, Ally DEAR" says !.
smiling and kissing her the last thing before
/ left the house. "And don't be spelling your
pretty eyes in that way. Remember that
want YOU to look wen, and that We ure to be
married Tomorrow
The multitude in the Bcl,idcre Gardens
was something wonderful. There they were,
men, women and children, thronging the bal
comic the orche, ,tra'stairs, and every available
inch Of ground aud there, in the midst OF
them, rolled and swaycd the huge Wurtrm-
burg balloon, like n sleepy lolling giant. The
ascent WAS fixed for six o'llnek, that M might
come down again by day.light so made
haste 10 dress, and then went to the green
room to see after Mr.. Rice, and hear some
thing of what was going forward. 'n
Nj, Rice was there, and three gentlemen
with him, namely, Colonel Steward, Captain
Crawford, and sydney Baird. Esq. They
were fine handsome looking gentlemen. all
three-cspecinlly Sidney Baird, Esq, who
was, as have since been told, play-writcr.
and one Of the clcycrost men of the day.
was going to draw back when saw them
sitting there with their wine and cigars; htt
they would have me in to take a glass of port.
and shouk hands with me all round rs polite
as possible, and treated me as handsome %
any gentlemen could.
Here's hcalthh and success TO YOU. my
Thaa,c fellow" says Colonel Steward, and a
pleasant trip TO us all (, and then found
that 'hey were going up in the car with Mr.,
Stanes.
And now, what with their light cheerful
ways and pleasant talking, and what with the
glass OF wine that had taken, and the excite
mcnt and the hum of voices from the crowd
outside, was in iirsi-ratc spirits, aud as inn
patient 10 he of ms d rnccr II the aiariing
point. Presently one OF the gentlemen look
ed at his watch.
"What are we waiting for ?" said he at
is ten minutes past SIX already"
And 80 Il was. Ten minutes past the hour
and Gritfiths had not yet been seen or heard
.nI---rM,ell. Mr.. liicc grex-vory ry-upsass, and.
the crowd very noisy, and so twenty minutes
more went by. Then we made up our minds
TO go without him, and Mr.. Rice made little
speech and explained il 10 the people and
then there was cheer, and great hustle {,
and the gentlemen took their seats in the
carr and n hamper full of champagne and
cold chicken was put in with them and I
was made fast by one leg to the base Of the
trapezei and Mr.. Stoines was just about To
get in himself and give the signal to cut
loose, when who should we see forcing his
way through the crowd but GrifHths,
OF course there was another cheer at this
and delay of eight or ten minutes more
while he was dressing. At last he came, and
II was now just a quarter to seven O'Clock. -
lie looked very sullcn when he found that he
was to be the undermostj but there was no
time to change ANYTHING now. even il | had
been willing; so his left wrist and my right
were bound together by eathern strap, the
signal WAS given, the haHa-SttHek- p,-the
crowd applauded like mad and the balloon
rose straight and steady above the heads of
the people.
Down sank the trees and the fountains,
and the pavement of upturned faces. Down
sank the roof of the theatre, and fainter grew
the sound Of the hurrahing and the music
The sensation was so strange that for the
first moment, was forced to- close my ewes,
and felt / must fall and be dashed to pieces.
But that soon passed away, and by the time
we had risen TO about three hundred feet
was as comfortable as if had been born and
bred in the mir with my LnAd lnMnMnrd.