Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-06-16

"My name IS JOhn Wlnuen, re-
marked the intruder. 81 tell you SO
that you will know if any one inquiries
after me. But I don't imagine any
body will"
Then Captain Cowgirl babe farewell
to the party, the ropes were loosed, and
the balloon went sailing swiftly toward
the clouds. DR.. O'Hagan was the navi-
gator in charge. Presently q northeast
eerly current Of wind struck the air ship,
and it began to move with great rapid
ity upon a horizontal line.
For a long time nobody in the cal
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
beneath. But after awhile, MI. Crutter
gazing at Miss Dermott, said:
care you fully resolved upon self
destruction"
eyes," she replied.
$50 am l." said Mr.. Crutter.
$50 am l." remarked Mr.. Winden.
$50 am L." observed MI. Jarnville.
"And I, also," added DR.. O'Hagan.
s.Even if we reach the Pole safely,
and return, 1 shall not want to live"
said MIR. Crutter.
"Neither shall l." said Miss Dermott.
''Nor l." remarked MI. Winden.
.Nor l." added DR.. O'Hagan and
Mr.. Jarnville, in a breath.
Then there was a silence for the space
of half an hour or more
Mr.. Crutter then remarked: do you
know, I find this rather a pleasant ex-
perience, sailing along here through the
ether calmly, far above the distraction
of the world? If 1 were not SO miser-
able I think / should really enjoy it,"
II am too unhappy to enjoy any
thing" said Miss Dermott, ''but this I
confess is not unpleasant"
pleasant enough" remarked Mr..
Winden, elf a man had no anguish in
his SOUL"
81 had no idea there was so much ex-
h%ilaration in the upper regions of the
atmosphere" said DR.. O'Hagan, rather
cheerily.
81 think 1 feel better myself" said
Mr.. Jarnville.
cit is very strange" observed MI.
Crutter, addressing Miss Dermott, 'sthat
young people like you and Mr.. Winden
here should be weary of life. That an
old man like me should long for death
is comprehensive. But why do you
wish to diep"
Neither Mr.. Winden nor Miss Der
mott made any response.
81 tell you," said DR.. O'Hagan,
throwing a bag of ballast overheard, to
check the descent of the balloon. ''We
are going to destruction together; and
why should we not, as companions in
misery, unfold our griefs to each
otherp"
cit would be very proper, I think"
said Mr.. Crutter; land l will begin if
the rest will consent to follow"
The other four travellers agreed to
do SO.
"Well, 1 haven't much to TELL" said
Mr.. Crutter. ''The fact is, I have al
ways had plenty of money with which
to live in idleness and luxury, and I
have so lived. I have tried every kind
of pleasure life can afford and money
buy, and / have reached a condition Of
safety. Moreover, I have ruined my
digestion, and am now a sufferer from
chronic dyspepsia of a horrid kind.
This makes existence a burden. I am
eager to quit it. This is the whole
story"
"How strange the difference between
us!" said DR.. O'Hagan. 81 have been
deeply engaged in the practice of my
profession for many years; 1 am utterly
worn out and broken down with over
work. I am nervous, exhausted, irrita.
bic and wretched, but I have lost my
savings in a speculative venture and
cannot rest. must work or die"
"That is partly my case," said Miss
Dermott. 81 am friendless and poor.
[ cannot carr enough by sewing to buy
sufficient food, and l can no longer face
the misery that I have endured for &C
many years. 1 prefer death a thousand
times"
"And l." said MI. Jarnville, "am 8
disappointed inventor. / have for years
labored upon the construction of 8
smoke consumer; but now that it is
done l have not money enough to pay
for a patent; and 1 am starving. Aftel
trying everywhere to obtain assistance,
l have resolved to give up the struggle
and to find refuge in the grave"
Mr. Winden cleared his throat once OF
twice before beginning his story. He
T seemed to labor under some embarrass.
ment. ''The truth is" he said, II was
J rejected last night by the young lady
whom l love, and I made up my minc
that life without her would not be worth
having"
Nobody spoke for some time, and
!, then DIR. O'Hagan said: .sThe balloon is
falling, and instead of throwing out bal
last, [ think it might be better, perhaps,
to let it come down and to tie it to {
tree, and make a fresh start with add
tional gas in the morning"
The other @ronauts gave their ap.
ploval to this plan, and DR.. O'Hagar
threw out the grapnel. 1t caught upo1
, a treetop, and after some difficulty the
balloon was brought down and tied fast
while the whole party stepped out of the
car.
) 1t was a wild and desolate place, bu,
the four men soon started a fire, anc
while Mr.. Winden and Mr.. Jarnvillt
prepared supper, DR.. O'Hagan and Mr.
Crutter went to work to arrange som
: kind of shelter for Miss Dermott for thu
| night.
After supper the five people gathered