The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-11-01

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when the clouds thickened between, and
at an altitude of ten or ortwelve miles. My
tom of the basket with a confused SEN
sation of pain mingled with clear
sense of the purpose of my trip. Sud
blood was bounding through my veins
with force | never knew before. l
leaned over the basket and saw that |
had passed through the earth's atmo-
sphere, which is said to be only fifty
miles thick. The earth was a dark,
grayish looking ball, streaked with lines |
of black, and dim silver, the silver prob
ably indicating the oceans. l could see
by the rapidly diminishing size of the
earth that was travelling with fearful
velocity.
"Other planets began to appear as
large as that / had left. There were
some of dazzling brightness, and others
dark and shadowy. Soon appeared to
be in the center of the system, and the
earth but a small ball forming part of
one immense hollow sphere. l seemed
to be travelling toward one bright planet
which appeared to be nearer and brighter
than the rest The motion became vac
illating as l neared the range, l sup
pose, of the planets gravitation. The
balloon tumbled about, turning at times
almost upside down, while l in alarm
braced myself in the basket, and twisted
my feet in the ropes. Finally it really
turned upside down-became reversed,
and fitted as naturally into that posi-
ton when fully within the atmosphere
of the planet as in the strange space |
had just departed from. | was no
longer ascending, but descending. The
planet was no longer above but below
me, and the balloon was falling rapidly
at was a strange looking land that
was approaching. 1t bore the physical
characteristics of earth, but seemed
swathed in greenish tinted light, strong
and bright as that of calcium. Try to
imagine the strange feeling that over
came me as / landed and trod the new
earth. 1t was a scene of almost delir-
ious beauty, but wholly strange and
wonderful. The trees and flowers were
living intelligcnces which knew me and
knew my purpose. The air was filled
with strange sounds. The wind played
through the leaves of the trees, and
every leaf sounded like the chord of an
aeolian harp, while the waterfalls danced
and murmured in time to the cadences
of the music. Suddenly the songs
of birds struck my ear. They seemed
familiar, and as listened l caught the
strains of Robin Adair,' just as you
sang it last night. Every variety of
bird in the forest formed part of that
chorus, and then felt from that instant
4 that had succeeded in the object of my
journey"
ooh, what a delicious dream" ex.
claimed the little maiden clapping hel
hands. "And all about me too!'
eyes, rather pleasant" said Tom
"and what was especially so, at las
found you just before waking up. Ano
l would gladly undertake another sucf
trip every night for the enjoyment af
forded me by the quiet hour of you
society here"
When Tom told me the story tina
/. night in our room, he laughed over tn
impression it appeared to make on tn
, lady.
"Tom," said I, "you oughtn't to tai
, that way to girl. The first thing yo
4 4 know you'll have her desperately il
: love with you, and a man of your mag
: nifcent presence ought TO be careful"
"Pshaw! girls don't fall in love S
easily. 1 wish they did" And the
= he added musingly between the puffs 9
= his cigar. "I tell you, Ned, rather lik
! that girl"
"Then treat her as you would war
T your sister treated" I added, and 20
\ can do no wrong"
Il "Do you know that our three week
T will be up on Saturday. l suggeste
Il after long silence.
eyes, but | guess I'll wait until tE
: Chacc's go. They stay about thrt
q weeks longer, to gather autumn leave
~ which are said to wonderfully brillial
y here"
~ The next day brought from one of tt
- other hotels St. Louis family, whie
q. included tall and beautiful brunett
" Tom became interested again, and aske
Z me to take care of Miss Chace during tt
nf two or three remaining days of my sta
h. while he struck up Irritation with Il
s- new conner.
I'd Men are abominably mean in their r
of lations with women. had never know
8: Tom to care anything for the sex, but
ne he was really interested in Miss Chace
ms would help him. If not, would be 6
SIS tentive to her for her own sake. To
,ir became as attentive to the second beau
ci as he had been to the first, and the roul
ey of attentions was repeated.
n One or two afternoons afterward,
f. strolled with Miss Chace through t
he wood toward Arch Rock, and alol
:" the bank, to path through the birch,
10, poplars and pines, down to the roc
,st overhanging the mouth of the caves.
re- was pleasant and quiet spot: shad
he from the western sun, and overlook
at the broad stretch of Lake Huron, who
er- white stony bottom receding from t
.or shore appeared to dance under the bl
is waves as children do in trying to dod
he their shadows. My companion had be
on unusually silent all day, and appear
Mt to be unwilling to speak of Tom, or al
he body, or anything else. We soon hea
,m voices approaching along the beach a
ost although we could not see the parti
MS we soon recognized Toms voice, a
traced it to the very log whereon he h
iss first interested my companion. Neitf
on of us felt any disposition to talk, and
,re could not avoid overhearing the conv
sation below. Toms voice was earne
ne. and pitched on a key which he natura
ed used when spreading himself on sol
IS: lofty theme. Miss Chace started as S
in distinguished the word "balloon."
hy suspicion crossed my mind and eviden
on her own, which perhaps neither v
willing to entertain. 1 might ha
lat called to him as warning, but my co
hit panion appeared anxious to contin
the silence. Finally TOMS voice beca
.iss clearer, and the words began to reach
in distinctly. He was telling just such
len story as that he told few days befo
4dy 1t was becoming interesting. AS
at- heard him" and the waterfalls b.
sep time to the music of the trees, and I
| a birds sang The Sweet Bye and By
ow almost as sweetly as you sang it yourst
lev lastnight, -Icould refrain no longer a
ted laughed heartily. The tete-a-tete bel
of was broken, evidently to the annoyal
his of the pretty brunette, who failed
ion understand the situation, and perh,
; has not yet been enlightened. That '
q forced conversation ON the WAY ha