The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-09-05
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
a Fair Ones Warning That Was
Read Too Late.

"Walford! Are you "a wild beast, or
god, that you delight in such soli-
tude?" ] asked, Withdrawing my eyes
from the far-off haziness of the aerial
infnitude, wherein the balloon held
suspended us two waits of humanity.
A peculiar smile broke the immobil-
ity of my companions fair, proud face,
as he worked the windlass, in order to
lower the guide-rope.
Neither, mon ami but, unhappily, a
rational animal, irrationally fuctuating
between those self-same extremes.
What say you? Will it end in my being
debased into the one, or sublimated into
the other?'
AS he put the question, his eyes met
mine with look that seemed to defy,
while it invited criticism.
81 should prefer to feel your pulse
and sound your heart before 1 answer
that question" Iparried; for while ad-
mitting to myself that like the fair
favored Paris, he was at least sin form
a god" felt it would have puzzled a
keener penetration than mine to have
discovered what lay beneath his soft
moving speech, and pleasing outward
Show"
Muttering something about the guide
rope, he turned from the windlass and
looked over the side of the car
And now l bethought me of the let
ter that a breathless boy had thrust into
my hand just as Walford ordered the
grimy gasmen "to let CO." and which l
had since peen holding in tight, unwit-
ting grasp.
CHANGING at the envelope, saw to
my surprise that the address-that of
my hambers-was in my Annie's hand
writing and had the word immediate"
superadded.
Tearing it open, withdrew hastily
written scrawl:
DEAR ALLEN: Why have you not told me
what l learnt last night from my brother
Geof--that you intend ascending with Mr..
Walford this morning? Allen, l implore you,
don't go-don't place yourself IN the power of
Cecil Walford the man made your bitterest
enemy when promised to be your wife. l feel
very wretched, for, my dearest, 1 dreamt last
night that 1 saw you two in the car of the
Stella, high above the clouds, and he was try
ing to throw you out. He looked so cruel so
mercieSs. 1 shrieked and awoke myself. Ny
heart tells me that this is warning. Let it,
beseech you save you from that mans hatred
/ shall be tortured with fears until 1 see you.
Come, come, and make glad your distracted
ANNIE"
Ny feelings on reading this impetu-
GUS appeal were complex. At first,
vexation at that hair-brained Geoff
having divulged my project Then
came surprise and annoyance. l had
never before known that had would
be rival in Cecil Walford. And then
felt inclined to blame Annie for never
before having enlightened me that
such rivalship existed. But was soon
moved to tenderness by the thought of
her fond alarm, though not little
amused at its exaggerated outcome
that tragic dream. The idea of such a
slightly-built fellow attempting to
throw overheard great muscular ath-
lete made me tug at my mustache to re-
press smile.
CHANGING up at that moment l sur
prised Walford's eyes bent on the en-
velope that lay at my feet.
IA BILLET d'amour' in realms celes-
tial-you are Fortunate" he remarked,
the suavity of his voice ill according
with the dark veins swelling on his
temples.
My own opinion" replied, consign-
ing the dear little alarmist's dispatch
to my pocket. She must have been up
betimes, for it was dated six a. m.
l was glad it did not reach me in time
for me to have sent an answer-an an
swer that she would have construed
into q heartless disregard of her wishes,
for of course withdrawal from the pro-
posed ascent would have been out of
the question.
l glanced at the chronometer, S55,
twenty-five ;hiLutes since the Stella
rose ;rom the Worcester gas works.
Doubtless Annie's blue eyes were now
watching 'or me. Thought of the dis
may that would fill them when shortly
she would listen to the messengers re-
port of how, directly he had delivered