Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-01-04

! the balloon Went Salllng swiftly Toward
the clouds DIR. O'Hagan was the
navigator in charge. Presently a
northeasterly current of wind struck
the airship and it began to move with
great rapidity upon horizontal line.
For long time nobody in the car
spoke. Indeed, the yoyagers scarcely
loo.-ed at each other and none had
enough curiosity to peer over the side
upon the glorious landscape that lay
beneath. But after awhile Mr. Crut-
ter, gazing at Miss Dermott, said /:
Are you fully resolved upon self
destruction ?"
Yes," she replied.
80 am II said Mr.. Crutter.
so am r." remarked Mr.. Winden.
$50 am L. observed Mr.. Jarnville.
And, also,7 added DIR. O'Hagan.
Even if we reach the pole safely
and return, / shall not want to live"
said Mr.. Crutter.
"Neither shall T. said Miss Der
mott.
Nor l." remarked Mr.. Winden.
T" Nor l." added DR.. O'Hagan and
Mr.. Jarnyille in a breath.
Then there was silence for the space
of half an hour or more.
Mr.. Crutter then remarked: "Do
you know, / find this to be rather a
pleasant experience, sailing along here
through the ether, calmly, far above
the distractions of the world? If 1
were not so miserable I think I should
really enjoy ity'
az am too unhappy to enjoy any
thing said Miss Dermott. "But this,
1 confess, is not unpleasant
Pleasant enough remarked Mr..
Winden, if a man had no anguish in
his soul"
"I had no idea that there was SO
much exhilaration in the upper regions
of the atmosphere" said DIR. O'Hagan,
rather cheerily.
81 think ! feel better myself" said
Mr.. Jarnville.
1t is very strange" observed Mr..
Crutter, addressing Miss Dermott,
-'that 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 die?''
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 all going to destruction to-
gether; and why should we not, as
companions in misery, unfold our griefs
to each other ?"
:" 1t would be very proper, l think, "
said Mr.. Crutter, "and / will begin if
the rest will consent to follow"
The other four travellers agreed to
do SO.
"Weli, haven't much to tell,' said
Mr. Crutter. "The fact is l have al
ways had plenty of money with which
to live in idleness and luxury, and l
have SO lived. I have tried every kind
Of pleasure life can afford and money
buy, and l have reached condition of
safety. Moreover, | have ruined my
digestion, find I am now sufferer
from chronic dyspepsia Of a horrible
kind. This makes existence aburden.
l am eager to quit it. That is the
whole story"
"How strangethe difference between
us!'' said DR. O'Hagan. g l have been
deeply engaged in the practice of my
profession for many years, and l am
utterly worn out and broken-down
with overwork. l am nervous, ex-
hausted, irritable and wretched, but |
have lost my savings in speculative
venture and cannot rest. l must either
work or die.
"Thdt is partly my case,' said Miss
Dermott. "I am friendless and poor
l 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 q
thousand times"
"And l." said Mr.. Jarnville, "am a
disappointed inventor. I have fol
years labored upon the construction oi
a smoke consumer, but now that it i
done / have not money enough to pay
for a patent. and i am starving. Aftei
| trying everywhere to obtain assist
ance, / have resolved to give up thu
! struggle and to find refuge in tn,
grave
| Mr.. Winden cleared his throat ono,
| or twice before beginning his story
He seemed to labor under some embar
rasslnent. The truth is" he said
Il WIS rejected last night BY a young
/ lady whom love, and made up m.
I mind that life without her would no
bs VI yrth having