Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-12-16


apon horizontal line.
For Il long time nobody in the car
spoke. Indeed, the voyagers scarcely
looked at each other; and none had
enough curiosity to peer over the side
upon the glorious landscape that lay be
meath. But after awhile, Mr.. Crutter,
gazing at Miss Defmott, said:
care you fully resolved upon self
destruction o.
YES" she replied
$50 am I, said Mr.. Crutter
80 am /, remarked Mr., Winden.
$50 am /. " observed Mr.. Jarnville.
And |. also. added DR.. O'Hagm.
Gwen if we reach the Pole safely.
and return, / shall not want to live, "
said Mr. Crutter.
"Neither shall 7, said Miss Dermott.
''Nor l.. " remarked Mr.. Winden.
''Nor |" added DR.. O'Hagan and Mr..
Jarnville, in breath.
Then there was Il silence for the space
of half an hour or more.
Mr.. Crutter then remarked: "Do Won
know. find this to he rather pleasant
experience. sailing alone here through
the ether, calmly, far above the distrac-
tions of the world? If | were not so
miserable / think I should really enjoy
it,
Il am too unhappy to enjoy anything, '
said Miss Dermott; but this, | confess,
is not unpleasant.
Pleasant enough. remarked Mr.
Winden, If a man had no anguish in
his soul.
81 had no idea that there was SO much
!
atmosphere" said Dr. O'Hagan. rather
cheerily.
! Il think I feel better, myself, said
Mr. Jamville.
1T IS very strange, observed Mr.
Crutter, addressing Miss Dermoti ''that
young people like you and Mr. Ninden
here, should be weary of life That an
old man like me should long lor death is
comprehensive. But why do you wish
to die?"
Neither Mr.. Winden nor Miss Der
mott made any response.
I'm tell you, said DR.. OHagan.
throwing bag of ballast overheard. to
check the descent OF the balloon. 1--WE
are MI going to destruction together: and
why should we not. as companions in
misery. unfold om griefs to each
other?"
''It would be very proper. | think, -
said Mr.. Cruttcr; ''and | will begin if
| the rest will consent to follow"
The other four travellers agreed to do
well | haven't much to tell, said
Mr. Crutter "The fact is | have al
WAYS had plenty of money with which To
live in idleness and luxury. and have 50
lived. | have tried every kind of pleas
ure life can afford, and money buy. and
| have reached a condition of safety
! Moreover. | have mined my digestion.
and | am now n sufferer from chronic
dyspepsia of a horrible kind.
This makes existence burden. I
am eager to quit it. That is the whole
story.
"How strange the difference between
us = said Dir. O'HaGan. Il have been
deeply engaged III the practice of my
profession for many years and am ut
terlv worn out and broken down with
overwork. am nervous. exhausted, IL
ritable and wretched. but have lost my
savings i'll speculative venture and cam
not rest. | must either work or die.
That is partly my case, said Miss
Dermott. Il am friendlcss and poor
cannot earn enough by sewing to buy
sufficient food, and can no longer face
the misery that [ have endured for so
many years. prefer death a thousand
times.
''And T." said Mr.. Jamville, cam Il
disappointed inventor | have for years
labored upon the construction of Il smoke
consumer. but now that it is done, | have
not money enough to pay for patent /;
and | sam starving. After trying every
where to obtain assistance l have re-
solved to give up the struggle and to find
refuge i'll the grave.
Mr.. Winden cleared his throat once or
twice before beginning his story. He
seemed to labor under some embamass-
ment
The truth is, he said, II was re-
iected last night by Il young lady whom
| love, and | made mp my mind that life
without her would not he worth having "
Nobody spoke for some time, and then
DIR, O'Hagan said
The balloon is falling, and instead of
throwing ont ballast, think it might be
better, perhaps, to let it come down and
to tie it to a tree, and make a fresh start
with additional gas i'll the morning.
The other aeronauts gave their ap-
provai to this plan. and DIR. O'Hagan
threw ont the grapnel 1t caught upon
tree top, and after some difficulty the
balloon was brought down and tied fast,
while the whole party stepped out OF the
car.
1t was wild and desolate place,
but the four men soon started Il fire,
and while Mr.. Winden and Mr.
Jarnville prepared supper, DR.. O'Hagal
and Mr.. Crutter went to work tc
arrange some kind of shelter for Miss
Dermott for the night.
After supper the five people gathered
about the fire, and there really seemed
to be a growth of cheerfulness in the
party.
I've been thinking, said Mr. Crutter,
''what an outrageous shame it is that
this poor child here" pointing to Miss
Dermott, ''should actually be i'll want OF
food, while have more money than ]
know what to do with I'll tell YOU what
Miss Dermott, if you will agree to so
back you can have my whole fortune I've
left it to an asylum, but I'll write new
will now and tell you where you can FIND
the other one, so rs to tear it up
Il don't want to go back, said Miss
Dermott
II would if ] we're you, said Mr.. Win,
den. 'It's a shame for you to go upon
such an awful Journey aS fbis And I've