Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-12-15

structlon?
"Yes," she replied.
$50 am l, said Mr.. Crutter.
$50 am l, remarked Mr.. Winden.
$50 am L, observed Mr.. Jarnviile.
"And l, Also added DIR. O'Hagan.
Even if we reach the Pole safely and
return, I shall not want to live, said MIR.
Crutter.
Neither shall |, " said Miss Dermott.
"Nor |, remarked Mr. Winden.
"Nor H. added DIR. O'Hagan and Mr.
Jarnville, in n breath.
Then there was n silence for the space
of half an hour or more.
Mr.. Crutter then remarked: 'Do you
know, find this to be rather pleasant
experience, sailing alone here through
the ether, calmly, far above the distrac-
tions of the world ? If | were not so
miserable I think I should really ENJOY
it ~
~ am too unhappy to enjoy anything, =
said Miss Dermott "but this, | confess,
is not unpleasant.
pheasant enough, remarked Mr.. Win
den, ''if man had no anguish IN ms
soul.
81 had 10 idea that there was SO much
exhilaration in the upper regions OF the
cheerily.
u thinl, / feel better, myself, said
Mr.. Jarnville.
at is very strange observed Mr..
Cruttcr, addressing Miss Dcrmott, "thnt
Young people, like You and Mr.. Windcn
| mere should be weary of life. That an
| old man like nc should long for death is
comprehensive. Bnt why do you wish
! to die 2
! Neither Mr.. Windon nor Miss Dcrmott
made any response.
I'm tell you," said DIR. O'llagan,
throwing bag Of ballast overheard, to
check the descent of the balloon. I've
are all going to destruction together and
! why should we not, as companions Ill
misery, unfold our griefs to each othcr?.
ut would be very proper, think,
said Mr.. Cruttcr "and J will begin if
the rest will consent to follow.
The other four travellers agreed TO do
"Wcll. / haven't much to tell, SAID
Mr. Crutter. "Thc fact is, | have al
ways had plenty of money with which to
live in idloness and luxury, and | have so
lived. / have tried every kind of pleas
IRE life can afford. and money buy, and |
have reached condition of safety.
Moreover, | have ruined my digestion,
and ] am now sufferer from chronic dys-
pepsia of horrible kind. This makes
existence burden. ! am eager to quit
it. That is the whole story
Chow strange the difference between
us :" said DIR. OHagan 81 have been
deeply engaged in the practice of my pro-
iession for many years and ] am utterly
worn out and broken down with over
work. am nervous, exhausted, irrita-
bic and wretchcd, but | have lost my
savings in IL speculative venture and can
not rest. | must either work or die
''That is partly my case, said Miss
Dcrmott. II am friendless and poor. !
cannot earn enough by sewing to buy
sufficient food, and | can no longer face
the misery that | have endured for 50
many years prefer death Il thousand
times.
"And l., said Mr.. Janevlle, Fam Il
disappointed inventor. | have for years
labored upon the construction of smoke.
consumer, but now that it is done, | have
and ] am starving. After trying every
I where to obtain assistance, | have resolv
ed to give up the struggle and to find ref
uge in the grave.
Mr. Winden cleared his throat once Oh
, twice before beginning his story. H,
seemed to labor under some embarrass
ment. 'The truth is" he said, Il wa'
rejected last night by young lady whom
| l love, and ! made up my mind that life
without her would not be worth hav
ing.
t Nobody spoke for some time, and thci
Dr. o Hagan said: "The balloon is fall
f, ing, and instead Of throwing out ballast
| think it might be better, perhaps to lie
/, 1t come down and to tie it to n tree, an,
make a fresh start with additional gas il
e the morning"
The other ieronauts gave their approval
! to this plan, and DR.. O'Hagan threw on
Il the grapnel. 1t caught upon II tree top
: and after some difficulty the balloon wa
brought down and tied fast, while tn
whole party stepped out of the car.
u 1t was a wild and desolate place, bu
!, the four men soon started fire, ant
while Mr. Winden and Mr.. Jarnville pre-
: pared supper, DIR. O'Hagan and Mr.. Crut
ter went to work to arrange some kind q
shelter for Miss Dermott for the night
;, After supper the five people gathere,
u about the fire, and there really seemed t
be growth of cheerfulness in the party
!. "lve been thinking" said Mr.. Cruttei
!. ''what an outrageous shame it is that thi
70 poor child here, pointing to Miss Dei
= mott, "should actually be in want of fooo
" while | have more money than ! kno'
what to do with. I'll tell you what, Mis-
Dormott, if you will agree to go back yo
-" can have my whole fortune I've left
!, TO an asylum, but I'll write new wi
u now, and tell you where to find the otho
:. one, so as to tear it up"
10 II don't want 10 go back" said Mis-
y Dermott.
4 81 would if ] were YOU" said NJ
Il Windcn. cts shame for You to G
Ii upon such an awful journey ms this. An
L. I've been thinking, Mr., Jarnville, sine
ar you spoke about your smoke consume
/ that my father, who is IL wealthy irol
y mill owner, has offered n large reward il
n. perfect continuance of that sort. g
ii yours is good one, he will help you to
ri fortune
u 81 wish had known that yesterday
in said Mr.. Jnrnville.
ut Eyes, said DR.. o Hagan, "andif / Ina
I'd known that Mr.. Crutter here was bei
ut driven to suicide by dyspepsia, | cou
so have helped him, for | have been vel
I'd successful in treating that complain
r. Let me examine you, Mr.. Crutter. Yes
said the DOCTOR after -expending fe
III moments looking at and talking to NJ
to Crutter. 81 feel certain j can cure you
10 81 would have given you half my 70
in tune yesterday for such an assurance
said Mr. Crutter. "But it is now t.
d, late"
to "If ! had met you, then," said IL
doctor, II should not have been he
ne now"