The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-09-28
From Inc FtMch Of J. Moa.st.

| city reduced 10 tue proportional OF @ hlYe.
But to the right and left before and be-
hind them, what a marvellous horizon
Vesuvius vas there sleeping her un4ui-
ct sleep; then, further along, the jagged
line Ut the Apennines and OF tho other
coast; and further than the eye could
reach the vast sea, blue and, scintillat.
ing under the yellow sun.
Suddenly in the profound stillAess Of
the azure woman's voice resounded
clear as the tinkllng crystal.
"Olivier,n she said, "0livier, give me
your hand"
with pleasure, Lea; allow me-" and
this time the voice was that OF Ia mAA.
"ThanksI" and she whom he had call
cd Lea reseated herself and closed her
eyes with a shudder.
The man turned his head and regard
ed his companion wac, very pale, had
thrown herself upon bench euclrcling
the basket,
"What is the matter with your he
asked. "Are you illN
II was airaid-a vertigo seized ne
tits over now" passing hsr hand across
her eyes,
"Do you regret your fanCy2"
mo, certainly not, but 3 first expert
ence surprises tho nerves little. Don't
worry yourself" she added, " shall be.
come used to it,"
The gentleman made no reply, but up.
right before her he contemplated her
Rxedly. Truly charming picture in
her jaunty tourist dress, htting like a
glove the rounded outlines OF her supple
lgure, u mans cap coquettishly posed
upon the golden hair knotted CareIessly
at the back Of her neck, the dull pallor
that had settled upon her tacs but
frightening the light Of her splendid
eyes.
awe mount too rapidly" he said at
last, and Reizing cord that hung with.
in reach Of his hand, he drew upon it
lightly. Instantly there was sensation
OF slaCkenlng, then OF arrest and finally
OF movement In tho contrary direction.
"Are understanding for good and all ?"
Lea demanded.
NO." no responded, Eve shall ro-
mount Immediately"
"When, then2"
"When please. have only 10 re-
close the escape pipe which releases the
gas. You see this cord that l hold in
my hand? 1t is that which regulates
our course"
"And should it breakH"
at cannot; it is solid. Butif by asort
Of miracle It should disappear, We should
be lost"
"Loat!"
ayes, lost; the balloon is SO power.
fully inflated with hydrogen it would
carry us to the regions where the air be.
comes irrespirabIo. We should be as
phyxiated."
1Happily, it would require, it seems
to me, two miracles, for the Cord-it is
double, is it not2"
"In effect, yes; in reality, no. Lean
this way little more. Do you notice
above there something that looks like a
loop? The cord passes through it; these
arc its two ends that hold in my hands.
They are Joined, Of course, but stroke
OF kniiewould suffice toseparate them.
See, now that the ends are liberated l
have only TO draw upon one, the cord
glides through the link, falls at my feet,
aud, behold We start for the great voy-
age!" ,
The young man, as he spoke, suited
the action to the word. The rope rat.
tied through the fastening and dropped
to his hand, to be launched a second
later into space. The young woman
leaped to her feet, shivering and be-
wildered,
"Olivier!" she cried, "Olivier, what are
you doing2 Are you mad?"
"Mad,n he echoed, his tone ominously
calm mo, l am not mad"
"Then what do you mean2 What do
you wish2"
~ wish that which is going to happen.
| wish that We should die together, here
in the wide heaven, far from tho earth
that have cxeCrated ever BiACe learn
cd to know you there as you really are
ever since the mud OF which it Ii
made splNshed the idol that my supersti'
tuition adored, you"
Lea uttered a cry Of establishment in
which fright predominated,
ar" she stnmmered, "iS 1t Of Ho2"
"Protest not, continued Olivier, "al
pretense Is useless with 4 word will
convince you. For ten days | have
known that you had betrayed mS-thR
you had deceived me like gil.
know that you have q lover; yea, {
blockheaJ, an ilnbecile; that Count Ne
reno, who followed ~ from Venice
whom We found again At Milan, At Flor
ence, al Rome, whom yeu have iorcet
me TO receive a 4 travelling companion
10 whom have given my hand daily
fool that I an-And who dOubtlets la
laughed with you al my confidence
Yes, l know al tAist How have
learned ~ II matters little. Have /
that l followed you II yOu wish, that
spled upon yoN. Tho word doSs no
trouble me In the leest, l swear II. Tn
essential IL 10 kAaw Il, and | kAOw
with A certainty that admits Of ne doubt
my eyes have been scared by the fer!
points Of tho evidence. And II 10 yol
who have done this-you, tho nohlest
the purrst, the ideal even; for you wer
all this 10 me, AS you know too vol III
fact divinity before whom have bon
the knee OF respectful and mastered
passion, Yes, have respected You
never even daring 10 proiRne by 90 inuCl
as a thought the purity Of the ieelin
that binds %. But why should rspea
!, 10 YOU all this7 YOU know Il ~ well a
! L; that Six months before We left New
York yon had become widowed ant
/. liberated, and that /, atHAnced 10
beautiful girl who loved inc truly, brok
] with her and left her 10 follow you, A
: cording 10 a sacred promise. Since then
despite COnyCntionRlillPs and social con
vehiRnCes, / have travelled In your trail
aud travelled there with your permit
sion, dGiylng the opinion Of men, III
} gossip Of the prude and The pfeiudleed
"YOu wished 10 waltz YOU said 10 IN
: that the term OIL your widdOWhOod la
not expired, that you must give 10 Thu
tisages Of the world the pltliul aims {
this ConCesSiotii but that when the regt
lar delay had elapsed you would DO min
mime alone. 4 touching Bcruple-
easily satisfied since II pleased you thI
Z sknNlA Iva lhA mile flSnal ma AZ