Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-01-05
4 FIGHT IN A BALLOON.

80 Astor Library, in New York, for a
.ne which he had long sought but never
po had. been able to obtain. He vas so
ys eoncc,,nied that he did not notice the ap-
pp roh Of stranger behind him, and, feel
,o touch upon his arm, he turned in
s considerable surprise. ~
so Me found himself face to face with me-
s;n,n.sized thick-set person of thirty or
W whom, as well as he remembered, he
IA never seen before.
n The man said: n 4 Al
aCaIyo tell me whether there's work
:, this library by Armand lie Compile, en-
,i,,ed Seven voyages to the Moon!' 1t is
rather rare affair, even in the way OF Gu
rio,,s literature; but 1 do not despair OF
getting 1t" 49,
sOh, yes" returned Mr. Thavies, II have
seen the book myself. Look into the cata-
Iogue, under the head Of sgss.las.s to
The stranger interrupted him by placing
both hands upon his shoulder and staring
with quiet laugh, into his face. s4 !.
Don't you recognize me, Harry Tha-
yies?" ,F4. - a
Chat is a merry jest r. returned the
man. laughing heartily aYou don't re-
member Joseph Steele" .f
what idle. good natured, perfectly
worthless Joe Steele!' exclaimed 'Thavies /;
..mv ouondom schoolfellow;; the very best
worst scamp in the world Of course l
recognize you now, dear old boy! Where,
in the name of heaven, have you been
f aasoed tosether?' Let me Think! Why,
Ice haven't set eyes upon you since that
niobt YOU ran away, when we were caught
steaJing cherries, have I?"fgaf tesjn1td 81
"Indeed you have not. The truth is,
Henry. / have been everywhere-all over
the world nearly, even to Australia and
china, too--that was getting low enough,
wasn't it? But let us go away from this.
live near by Quarters not particularly
gorgeous, but certainly comfortable"
Thavies signifed assent, and they started
off together. AS they went along the
street, IL was rather evident that in old
Joe's case the rolling stone, if it had not
gathered much moss, had unquestionably
accumulated plentiful quantity of dust.
Old Joe's coat was almost white his shoes
and hat the color of ashes. ~ -.
Joe'sqnalters were comprised ina little
room up five pairs Of stairs in neighbor-
ing lodging house The reaching OF this
apartnlent was like ascending a Amonu'
ment. :.
Here, you perceive said Joe, looking
cheerfully around, when he and his friend
had made their ascent, !" are my chambers!
feel quite as If l were lord Of castle.
This is my glibrary-a single volume, and
that volume an almanac; this is my 'bt-
reau-a hat-box; and this my bed-a cot
feebag in the corner! Not altogether an
elaborate display of furniture = but my
tastes were almost, you remember, plain
and unassuming! Now take seat If you
Mr. Thavies examined about him, some
what embarrassed 1
sAhlp said'old Joe, quickly, you don't
see chair, do you? Very well! l didn't
say take chair / said take o seat Hey,
presto, change! The bureau, at my COM
mand, transforms itself into divan!'
The visitor seated himself upon the hat
box. "Now, iJoe,' he said, 3" tell me your
story but don't make it long"
CAT once! Well, as | said to you in
the library, have been everywhere since
that night of the cherries Now l am
going to the moon"
"TO the moon?"
"Preciselyr' returned Joe, taking a
newspaper from his pocket. Read for
yourself"
Mr.. Thavies read an advertisement, in
forth that on that very afternoon q balloon
ascension would be made from Green
Gardens by Professor Leporello at pre-
cisely two O'clock"
"Are you the aeronaut?"
Harry, you will easily recall to your
mind that from boyhood's happy hour l
have had fancy fos being high up in the
world My ambition was Of the most ex-
allied character. This taste developed with
my years. 1t was apparent in my regular
choice of tallheeled shoes. 1t is apparent
even now in my selection of the attic OF
this mansion rather than any other por-
ton of this house" .s
"How many ascensions have you made 2"
"This will be my first on my own re-
sponsibility l have, however, been up
stairs at divers times under the direction of
others Now meet my frankness in kind (;
tell me how old friends have been getting
on, and all about your own affairs too, il
you choOse"
Well" returned Thavies, slowly, as if
abolftto touch upon a doubtful subject; ;
you know, suppose, that l am married. !"
Joe Steele became suddenly grave. "To
whom!' he asked, looking steadily at the
man before him. - s1fS e
"To Mary Graham, Of course" -
fell against the VIII I'll ---------
Al last, at last!' he murmured broken
ly.
Thavies went toward him quickly. "My
dear Joe, l did not expect this. You must
not give away to foolshness, You know.
thought you had got over your little whim
for Mary's love long since"
"The dream is over" returned the other
recovering himself with an effort. "All
is past, Thavies p
What do you means"
"What do mean ~ he cried, his voice
rising almost into shrill scream. /
mean that she promised me when l left
school that night to be true to me until we
should meet again--nay, if we did not meet
until after death o, loved her so, man!
loved her better than my soul! And,
Thavies, you remember how jealous | was
of you! / feared she might be false in my
absence. So / brought q Bible with me
and compelled her to swear-then and
there-that she would never be your wife.
i Through all my long, weary pilgrimage 1t
has been comfort in trial, vexati0n, and
L l.,