Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-06-22

cuses pitched their tents, anG where
the annual county fairs were always
held, and swaying. half-filled, above
the heads of the people, though held
close to the ground by ropes, was the
balloon. The excited boys urged the
mare to her utmost speed with clucks
and shouts, and the spot was soon
reached at last.
Johnny and Willie, with little Tom
my at their heels, sped across the
field which lay between, leaving Joe
to fasten the mare to the fence among
crowd of other teams That done.
he followed after. and the four were
soon engaged in the inspection of the
wonderful object.
1t was not a big balloon, by any
means, but still large enough to at
tract "a great crowd of people. The
crowd was kept at little distance by
ropes stretched around, so that the
preparations could be made without
interference. Everything happened
just as it should, which is IA wonder
full thing in balloon ascensions, and
at three o'clock the globe was declar-
ed filled. Before getting into the
basket, the aerOnaut proposed 70 al
low those of the crowd who wished
to take short ascension, letting
them up a few hundred feet, and
then pulling them down by a long
rope attached. The fee was only
/ twenty five cents each, and several
seized the opportunity to "see what
the feeling was like" The number
being soon exhausted, the aeronaut
proclaimed that boys would be sent
up for ten cents apiece.
Lets go up!" sain Johnny, ex
citedly. "Pve got forty cents, and
| I'll pay twenty if Joe'l pay twenty"
"We might get killed. said Joe
cautiously, and then who'd take the
mare home?"
"Oh, you're always afraid" retort-
ed Johnny. willie aud nell go,
won't we, Willie?"
Willie expressed dhiswillingnesst togo
wherever Johnny led, and the two
crept under the ropes, Johnny with
twenty cents in hand, which vast ac-
cepted, and the two helped into the
basket.
Any more 10 Gomez" asked the
aernaut. Its he only chance. It's
got to be five o'clock, and want to
go up so as to land before sundown."
None else came forward, and the
rope slackened Up, up went the
balloon. while the boys waved their
hats and cheered in answer 70 the
shouts from below. All at once
struggle arose in the crowd near the
ropes. One man had pushed another
to get better sight, and was struck
in return. A rush was made, the
ropes broken down, and in the strug-
Gle the aeronaut lost his hold on the
rope attached to the balloon.
A cry of horror ut once burst from
the crowd.
IF they don't get frightened, and
try jump, said the aeronaut,~ they're
all right The balloon can't stay up
more than four or five hours at the
longest, and there isn't enough wind
to carry it many miles. Besides they
may come down in half an hour.
Balloons are uncertain"
The boys showed no signs OF fear,
however: they waved the flag which
they found in the car, and emptied
one Of the bags OF ballast upon the
crowd below. Then they rose high
er and higher and drifted away out of
sight.
When the ncws reached Bright
view. which it did an hour later, the
excitement in the little village was
intense. Every eye was turned TO
the sky in the vain hope Of catchinga
glimpse OF the wandering balloon.
The two stricken mothers wrung
their hands and wept. Wlllie's IA
ther was away IN business, but John
nys, when the news arrived, lost no
time in Harvesting his horse and set
ting out for town.
"Don't give way till the worst is
known" he said to his wife, as he
stepped into his wagon. There are
are five chances out OF ten that
they will turn up all right. As soon
as the balloon lands the news will be
telegraphed, and | shall not come
back until hear from them"
There was some comfort in the re-
Election, but not enough to set the
hearts of the women completely at
rest.
Meanwhile the two boys, mile high
were waited along by the afternoon
breeze, with no more apparent mo-
ton than if they had been seated on
the ground. The idea of being afraid
never entered their heads. They
/ could look over the edge of the bas-
ket and see the town below them,
with the fields and farms and rivers
/ spread out as on map. IL seemed
as il they were hanging still in the
air, ard the earth was turning slowly
/ beneath them.
Were getting our ten cents worth
o. ride, anyhow, said Johnny, after a
prolonged gaze at the earth. Il bet
that mans mad because he let the
rope slip. It's just as much Of
sight, though, to see us go up as
| him"
But how are We going TO get
down. Johnny?" asked Willie, who
was beginning to feel little hungry
and cold.
Il don't KNOW" answered Johnny.
"We don't want to get down now.
Time enough think of that by and
by"
There was an overcoat in the bas-
ket, and Willie pulled it over his
shoulders with shiver
Both boys were silent for some