The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-09-13


bottom of the car. Aroused by the
voice of Alexander, I started quickly
to my feet, bnt was precipitated imme-
diately against the opposite side. The
balloon was driving along at fearful
rate, and the wind was blowing an aw-
ful. Oh, how the car did swing, and
the wind whistle among the ropes!
ooh God!' cried, rs sat up again;
II am lost!'
"Lost, darling7 Why, no, you are
not. know where we are exactly;
and, If it were not that a stratum OF
clouds lies between us and the earth,
which we have quilted forever, l
conld show yon the city of Tonrs. We
are not more than eighteen or twenty
miles to the northward of it. BE calm,
my love! l am calm as midsummer's
eve"
"Oh, Alexander" said, ~ pray you
let this dreadful machine descend to
the earth, and I will bless your name
forever-nay, will give you myself,
body and soulr'
"Poor woman you forget that we
are already married, and that You are
mine whilst life lasts. Descend All
my cherRb! it grieres me to the soul
to deny yOna request made thus early;
but would you return to that old, chill
ly ball, called earth? I had thought
better things of yon, Marie mine, than
this! Believe me; the world is not for
such as You; there is naught but tIisap-
pOintment there; none OF Onr darling
dreams are there realized it is ever
thus with those who live there, that
Ijust as they expect their dearest hopes
are about to be realized, that the cup
of expectation is just being changed to
that of enjoyment, it is rudely dashed
from their hands. and they are misera-
BILE. Ask of me- anything but to des-
cend, and will grant it with joy to my
Marie"
T" my infinite JOY. could presently
feel that the machine was rapidly set
ting. A few minutes later, upon look.
!, ing ont, l saw that we were among
some dense clouds, which surrounded
us above, below, aud npon every side
Oh. thought I, if it could only be thai
| my mad lovers supply of gas should
r BECOME exhausted! As l'ths though
f flashed across my brain. he too, seemed
+ impressed with the idea that we wer,
, gravitating.
"The gas is running low Marie,
said he, "and n good eronant, like my
] self or the Montgolfiers should see that
the supply is kept mp"
Then he took one of the bales. and
carried it up into the upper part of the
; balloon. Immediately felt that the
, machine was rising again. We shot
E up ont 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
do not know. When awoke, Alexan
3 der had hold of my arm, trying tt
arouse me.
, "Ah, my love-" he began, 'there i,
t scene in store for you. Do not go tt
+ sleep again, but come here and lool
a out"
) He drew aside the curtain; ant
there not far away, in the direction il
9 which we were flying, lay great mas
D of compact, and awfully black clouds
They stretched away to the right an,
G left farther than the eye could reach
@ and were boiling and rolling like thu
;. smoke of the bottomless pit. Anoi
u the ligbtning's crimson tongues woul,
:. leap upward from them, and the thun
Y der's voice burst forth.
: "Now. my precious Marie," continu
: ed he, "you have an opportunity wlicl
It no balloonist ever yet habitat Q
sitting in the very laboratory of tn
b thunderstorm, and meeting the light
t ming eye to eyer Tie other day
e dearest, these fearless Rronants, Bio
e and Gay Lussac, thought themselve
e fortunate when, at about this hight
they could take some observations g
/ the movements of the magnetic needle
e How much more fortunate are we VIII
!, shall soon see Jove forging his thun
! derbolts !"
a In few seconds the machine wen
!. plunging into the black and tumblin
: vortex! And oh, Monsieur Raynol
e how my very soul shudders at til
: thought of the fearful rolling of I'll,
) thunder, and the kissing of the light
ming, which took place all around u:
y At one moment all was darkness; 9
,, the next, with dreadful burst, a
IS would be flooded with blaze! This wa
more horrible than all else, and
e swooncd again.
n Once more awoke to .sensibiiit,
p 81 think you are sick, my dear
u said the voice of Alexander. sThcs
'e airy voyages sometimes make I'll
u most experienced of us ill. Lea
,e YOUR head upon me: there ia no sicl