The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-08
UP IN A BALLOON,
From the French of Joseph Montet.

A roar of applause burst from thousand
throats; the balloon had started. Like a
falcon whose eyes the hunter had suddenly
uncovered, it rose into the air, superb, erect
and with the grace and rapidity Of bird.
Already it was scarcely possible to distin-
guish the edge of the basket and the heads
of the two aeronauts mounting with it.
Leaning from their fragile rampant of ose r
both of them saw, decreasing and effaciug
themselves from second to second, below
and around them, the forms and dimensions
of terrestrial objects. Wnat was the mass
of white and gray things above which they
| foated, irregular, notched on the edges. aud
threaded in all directions with lines of
black9 Naplesl Yes, Naples-which they
were quit ing, a city reduced to the proper
| lions of a hive.
But to the right and left, before and be-
hind thenl what marvellous horizon! We
suvius was there, sleeping her unquiet sleep
thel, farther along, the Jagged line of the
Apennines and Of the other coast, and,
farther than the eye could reach, the vast
sea, blue and scintillating under the yellow
sun.
Suddenly in the profound stiffness of the
azure a woman's voice resoUnded clear as a
tinkling crystal.
Olivier she said, "Olivier, your md :"
with pleasure, Lea. allow me- and this
time the voice was that of man.
"Thanks!" and she whom be had called
Lea reseated herself aud closed her eyes
with shudder. The man turned his head
aud regarded his companion, who, very
pale, had thrown herself upon the bench en-
circling the basket
WHAT is the matter with yous" he de-
manded. "Are you ill.,"
81 was afraid-vertigo seized met is
over now,n passing her hand across her
/ eyes.
do you regret your fancy"
"No, certainly not; but a first experience
| surprises the nerves a little. Don't worry
yourself" she added. 81 shall become in
ured to it."
The gentleman made no reply, but, up
| right beside her, contemplated her fixedly.
Truly a charming picture in her jaunty
tourist dress, fitting like glove the rounded
outlines of her supple figure, mans cap
coquettishly posed upon the golden hair
knUtted c4relessly at tho back of her neck,
tho dull pallor that had settled upon her
face but Tightening the light of her splendid
eyes. The young woman also reg trded her
companion, man Of grave and scholarly
mien, at the present moment, however,
troubled or mOrose.
"And you, Olivier" she said in turn IN
her singing voice, noticing his lowering
UTOW, WDBuC6 COMES UDdJ SOlOeT alrs
| Olivier still answered nothing. but leaning
again from the edge of the basket watched
tGeir. course.
"Wo mount too rapidly" he said at last,
and seizing a, cord that lung within reach
of his hand he drew upon it lightly. H.
stantly there wassa sensation Of slacksaing,
| then of arrest, and finally Of a movement
i'll the contrary direction.
Are we descending for good and all"
40 6hF a od
"No," he responded; 1--WE shall remount
Immediately"
"When, them"
when please. have only to recloso
the escape-pipe that releases the gas. You
see this cord that hold in my hand2 1t is
that which regulates our course"
And should it breakg
ut can not; it is solid. But if by a sort
of miracle it should disappear we should be
lost"
"Lostw
Eyes, lost; tho balloon is so powerfully
infia ted with hydrogen it would carry US to
the region where the air becomes irrespira-
bic. We should be asphyxlated."
Happily it would require, it seems to
me. two miracles, for the cord-it is double,
is it not?"
I'm effect, yes; in reality, no. Lean this
way little more. Do you notice above
there something that looks like loops The
cord passes through it; these are its two
ends that l hold in my hands. They are
joined, of course; but stroke of knife
would suffice to separate them. See, now
that the ends are lib rated [ have only to
draw upon one; the cord glides through the
link, falls to py feet, and, behold we start
for Che great voyagep
The young man, as he spoke, suited the
action to the word. The rope ratified
through the fas' eping and dropped to his
hand. tobe launched second later into
space. The young woman leaped to her
feet, shivering AID bewildered.
"Ohvierr she cried, "Olivier, what are
you doi0gs Are you madw
Mad" he echoed, his tone omipously
calmi mo, am not mad.n