Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-10-02

There was to be balloon ascension, |
and Tom Arlington was to be one OF the
party of aeronauts. He had been on
several such expeditions before, and was
quite an enthusiast on the subject OF
aerial navigation-had even tried his
hand at inventing a steering apparatus
for balloons, but had always failed OF
discovering the one thing needful 10
make it a complete success:
There was a crowd collected around
the Enclosure when the big oil silk bag
was being inflated with gas. Tom was
inside the Enclosure with Jenny, her two
maiden aunts and Morley, who had
ioined them, much to the young aero
naut's chagrin.
chow should you like to go up in her,
Jenny 2" he asked. =, .,
40. I think it would be splendid, II |
wasn't frightened, as ! am sure should
be-" replied Jenny.
III don't mean to make the trip; but
Just little way"
"How could we do that"
"Easv enough. Well get in the car,
and the man will pay out the rope until
we are a hundred feet or so from the
ground. and when you have seen what
It is like they'll pull US down again
Come, get in and try it; you've no IDEA
how nice it is
Jennie hesitated, looking at her aunts
"No. Jenny" said Aunt Jane, for whom
she had been named, "pll not permit
you to try any such experiment pup
pose the rope were to break; Where
would you be then2"
Tom said there was no danger OF the
rope breaking, and Aunt Sarah, who
had made up her mind to be one OF the
party, said she didn't believe there was.
"Will YOU 90, aunty?n asked Jenny,
whose heart was all in a fluttcr between
excitement and fear at the idea
" Yes.n replied the maiden lady decid,
edlv. GIVE always wished that | could
90 IN in balloon, and now that I've got
chance to do it without danger-there
is no danger, Mr.. Arlington
'sNone whatever said Tom.
''Then I'll 60"
"Whv. Sarah I" cried Miss Jane. I'm
astenished at your encouraging Jenny
in such wild, harum-scarum adven-
ture.o
"Theres nothing wild or harum,
! scarum about it that | can see, saio
/, Miss Sarah; everyone, l dare say, has
natural curiosity to know from eX
perience what ballooning is like, and III
: 60" ~
Tom soon had his arrangements al
made, and helped the two ladies into th'
J car
.sWill you gop' he said, not very cor
. daily, to Morley.
!, mo, thank you, was the reply.
"Why, you are not afraid"
s.No. I'm not afraid, but will stay OF
terra rirma.
sAll right said Tom, stepping int
the car where the ladies were already
seated. 'Let her out, - to the men a
= the rope. 'eThat fellow hasn't the plucF
= = of a woman, he growled, as they SLOWLY
arose.
ooh. how nicer exclaimed Jenny
when the balloon came to a stand, abou
$50 feet from the ground. isn't H.
! auntyp
= "Are you sure there is no danger Q
= the rope breaking, Mr.. Arlington
! asked Miss Sarah, instead of replying t
- her niece
3 SIT is brand new replied Tom.
"Thenit lisa very agreeable sensation,
said the lady.
After giving his companions suflicien
time to fully enjoy the pleasures OF thel
. novel situation, Tom made a sign t
= the man below, and they commenced t
= haul in the rope. The balloon seemed
rather reluctant to leave her native ele
;, ment-if one may call it so-but was
i last secured near enough to the groun'
for the occupants to alight from tn
10 car.
After giving his assistance to Mis-
, Sarah. Tom turned to Jenny, who wa
: preparing to follow her aunt:
> ''How would you like to try 1t AGAIN.
a he said, in low tone.
- 80, so much,n was the reply.
In an instant he was back in the car
! the signal was given to the men to pa,
70 out the rope, and when Aunt Sara
! looked around her niece was fifty fee
above her in the air.
II | don't know if Tom Arlington hat
had any such intention from the begin
ming: but while Jenny was. looking owe
- the edge of she car, waving her handkel
chief to those below, he took his per
knife out of his pocket and cut the rop
- and the balloon shot up in the blue SIX
~ like a wild bird set free from captivity.
at