The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-03-26
BLOOMSBURY, PA, FRIDAY, MAR ge, 1869


or annihilation, taught by the religion
of the Burmans. After this, i thought
and felt no more, and must have been
for sometime as dead.
When consciousness come to me,
was reclining in small compartment
closed all round, which was made of
bamboo wicker work, and hung with
damask curtains. 1t was open at the
top; and, as ]. opened my eyes, i could
see above me the circular, shining side
of some great body, with great num-
Der OF cords running downward from it
and secured to the framework just over
my head. Beyond this could see tho
blue sky, with here and there floating
white cloud few feet from me, also
above, l saw the flag of France floating
in the breeze. was sensible of a sort
of motion, which gave me sensations
such as have felt when little girl in
a swing. Close by me sat Alexaid DIRE
Gerard, with some bales OF what / took
to be tarred hemp. He was gazing up
on me with joy in his eyes.
| "Oh, Alexandre!" / cried, "where
am I? Speak Am not at sea, on board
a ship?"
"Ah, no my love-" he replied 1--WE
are on the way to the enchanted home
tod you of-the Home OF the Blest.
were none can take you away from me
where we shall be happy forever. IT'S
trackless path, love; but I know the
way Are you not happy, dearest? Re-
move the curtain near you; take look,
and say If the wayi is not clear p,
felt sick with the swinging OF which
have spoken, and very Ianguid; but
did as he desired. l withdrew the
curtain, and looked out. Oh, the scene
which met my gaze. We were in mid
air
Yes, were in mid air; and, as / cast
my eyes downward, through the awful
depth between me and the earth, L saw
the country, spreading out toward the
horizon, looking less like map than
the bottom Of vast bowl. Through
themidst there was serpentine, ,silvery
line, that glittered like polished metal;
and in the centre, exactly beneath, lay
town with many bunrished spires.
"Great heaven!" l cried, with my
brain swimming. "Alexandre, tell me,
oh, l conjure you, tell me what means
all this 2" ...
at MEANS" he replied, "that we are
on the way to our future chateau in
cloud.land; and believe" rising up
and looking downward; "and believe
the stream you see is the Loire, and that
city the ancient one of Orleans Be
brave, my treasure, like Joan Of Arc =
that city witnessed the greatest Of her
triumphs." .....H
l cannot describe what my feelings
were then. l was speechless with hor.
ror and amazement, for 1 realized that
l was more than two miles from earth
in balloon, with an aeronaut whom
coquetry had deprived of reason. l sank
down and lay as one dead, for Iknow
not how long, in the bottom OF the car.
Aroused by the voice of Alexandra, /
started quickly to my feet, but was pre-
cipitated Immediately against the oppo-
site side. The balloon was driving
along at a fearful rate, and the wind was
blowing an awful gale. Oh how the car
didswing, and the wind whistle among
the ropes .-...
"Oh, God !" / cried, as sat up again,
81 am lostn .... ..I.-.5
Lost, darling? Why, no, you are
not. l know where we are exactly; and
II it were not that stratum OF clouds
lies between us and the earth, which
we have quilted forever, could show
you the city of Tours. We are not more
than eighteen or twenty miles to the
northward oft. BE calm. my love! l
am calm as n midsummer's eve."
"Oh, Alexandra" cried, ~ pray
you let this dreadful machine descend to
the earth, and will bless your name
forcver-nay, will give you myself,
body and soul !" ...4..-
Poor woman! you forgot that we
are already married, and that you are
mine while life lasts. Descend? All.
my cherub it grieves the to the soul to
deny you request made thus early
but would you return to that old chilly, |
ball, called earth had thought better
things Of you, Marie mine, than this.
Believe me, the world is not for such
as you; there is naught but disappoint-j !
ment there; none of our darling dreams |
are there realized; it is ever thus with !
those who live there, that just rs they !
expect their dearest hopes are about to |
be realized. that the cup of expectation
is just being changed to that Of enjoy
ment, it is rudely dashed from their !
hands, and they are miserable. Ask |
me anything but to descend, and will
grant it with JOY to my Marie" |
To my infinite joy, could presently
feel that the machine was rapidly set.
tling. A few minutes later, upon look
ing out, saw that we were among some |
dense clouds, which surrounded us
above, below, and upon every side. oh,
thought j, if it could only be that my
mad lovers supply of gas should be-
come exhausted AS this thought fash
ed across my brain, he, too, seemed i'm
pressed with the idea that we were gra-
vitating. ...
'Thc gas is running law, Marie"
said he, "and good aeronaut, like my
self or the Montgolfiers, should see that
the supply is kept up" ......
Then he took one OF the balls, and
carried it up into the upper part Of the
balloon. immediately felt that the |
machine was rising again. We shot up
out OF the clouds into the broad glare Of
the sun; and could see the shadow of
the machine driving along upon the
billowy surface at appalling speed. Then
swooned away again. ....... .....
HOW long 1 remained unconscious l
fln nnt kunW When / aNyaka lnxan-