Helena weekly herald., 1889-09-05
one! A touching scruple-easily satisfied

only dupe! The exception was fattering
permit me to thank you! In truth, Lea,
it has been for you piQuant role to play.
You would have made most excellent
coincidence, you to whom love is but poet
ical aspirations ethereal dreams, aimless
flights into the azure-you who have the
voic. of siren, the face of an angel, the
heart-ah, we'll, we will not talk of your
heart mon ami, but of your whim of the
moment! Behold it realized behold your
dream-a page from your own fantasy!
We are here, as you 80 often wi he'd to be
alone-soaring in an eagles flight
alone in the skies! 1t was
YOUR own idea this hiring the
balloon of the aeronaut, mounting 1t, and
departing with me thus; caprice of the
season, to finish wOrthily the day of the
Neapoliton carnival accepted tit was
my revenge you offered mel seized it, /
saw: learned the art we are together;
and now it is to vengeance that l deliver
you-the vengeance OF the heavens Knocked
by your poetical fctions, your sacrilegious
lies and ironies. Ah, but they will aveDge
themselves cruelty, those impossible
Judges! And know you the punishment
they will infict? Listen while 1 tell you.
One day two adventures of the air, too
bold and ventnresome like US, experienced
it. They were found in their aerial cradle,
rigid and trozed, the visage tumefed, the
flood running from their ears, their eyes
their mouths-the end that awaits you.
"Soon my dearest, red foam will
heighten the carmine of your smiling lips,
red drc ps show themselves at the tips of
your ears like pendants of coral, and your
beautiful eyes shed tears of blood"
The young woman wild with horror,
threw herself upon her knees trembling
convulsively.
"You would not do this, Oliver; you
could not it is too cruel. For Gods sake
do not make me die this frightful DEATH"
Oliver shrugged his shoulders.
II could not hinder it if would" he
answered. 81 am not able"
Then" cried Lea finging herself upon
him and seizing the knife that he still held
in his hand, II will save myself II will
pierce this wicked web!" And she raised
her eyes to the rounded belly of the bal
loon so far above them.
"Try it." said Oliver, coldly.
And Lea did, grasping the cordage with
her delicate fingers, placing her foot upon
the edge of the car, and striving with all
her strength to lift herself within striking
reach. Vertigo seized her; she fell to her
knees gasping for breath; the knife escaped
from her hold and turned in the air. She
remained where she had fallen, half un
cOnsci.
"See," cried Oliver, in his mocking
voice. show the hot sun of the south warns
the balloon and dilates the gas! We shall
rise now with redounded speedw Lea
raised her head, contemplating the clouds
about them, the man beside her, with be-
wildered air.
"You would do this ?" she murmured.
"You who love me"
All at once, even as she spoke, she started
with Joy; the light of hope illumined her
face. Slowly, softly she carried her hands
to the folds of her dress and drew forth an
object, small, glittering, and that she care
fully dissimulated behind the folds of her
handkerchief.
Reason is lost upon a madman," said
she. Nevertheless, my dear, you have
reckoned without your host. A good Amer
ican travels not without her revolver"
She raised her arm; two reports followed
and, traversed from end to end BY two
balls. the "Aerostat" began to descend.
For an instant Oliver paled and leaned
from the basket, but quickly rose.
$50 be it," he answered.; I'VE are in the
middle of the sea-blue for blue. We car
die there the water-the same as ir
the sky"
The balloon, growing smaller and smaller
as the gas escaped, went faster and faster
the speed had become frightful-the speed
of the thunderbolt
Oliver himself, blinded, suffocated, his
lungs like fire, knelt upon the floor of thu
car awaiting the end. And in the silenct
of the suniit heavens the air-ship pursued
its dizzying course.
NAPLES, March 10, 1888.-My Dear Sir
| have but this moment received news O.
you. They assure me that you are better
that you will live. l am charmed.
am better also you will certainly learr
| this with pleasure. l have bestowed 9
roll of bank bills upon the fisherman who
rescued us and brought us to land in hi
| barque-both of us. it appears unconscious
and you half drowned.
Behold one poor devil who will be able
to say without metaphor that fortune fell
upou him from the skies!
| Travelling, however, my friend, is de-
cidedly too dangerous in your company.
| have come to believe that some day OF
other it will bring me misfortune. Par
| don this superstition, Matched in my brain
| in the classic country of the jettatura, and
suffer that henceforth pursue alone my
voyage to the country of the blue
Then. by dear assassin, without toe