The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-09-04

CSn not think Tor crushing woe,
Still I, kneellng, faithful, falter:
Keep him, God-I love him sol"
Ella Htgginson, in West Shore.
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
A Fair Ones Warning That Was
1aad Too Lats.
"Walford! Are you a wild beast O.
god. that you delight in such soli-
tude?" asked, Withdrawing nv ewes
from tho far.of haziness of the aerial
infinitude, wherein the balloon held
suspended US two waits of humanity.
peculiar smile broke the immobil.
ity of my companions fair, proud face,
IS he worked tho windlass, in order to
lower the guide-rope.
Neither, mon ami but, unhappily, a
rational animal, irrationally fluctuating
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
while it invited criticism.
II should prefer to feel your pulse
and sound your heart before / answer
that question" Iparried; for while ad-
uniting to myself that like the fair
favored Paris, he was at least lin form
= god" felt it would have puzzled
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 bethought me of tie let
ter that breathless boy had thrust into
my hand just as Walford ordered the
grimy gasmen ito let co." and which
had since been holding in tight unwit-
ting grasp.
CHANGING at the envelope, I saw to
my surprise that the address-that of
my chambers-was in my Armies hand
writing and had the word 'immediate''
\ superadded.
Tearing it open, withdrew hastily
written scrawl:
DEAR ALLEN: Why have you not told me
what I learnt last night from my brother
Geof-that you intend ascending with Mr.
Wsford this morning! Allen, 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. feel
very wretched, for, my dearest, dreamt last
night that saw you two in tho car OF the
Stella high above the clouds, and he was try
Ing to throw you out He looked 80 cruel SO
merctless. shrieked and awoke myself. My
heart tells me that this is warning Let it,
Oeseech you, save you from that mans hatred
shall be tortured with fears until see you.
Come come and make glad your distracted
'ANN1E''
My 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. I 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 1T 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 q smile.
CHANGING up at that moment I sur
prised Walford's eyes bent on the on.
velope that lay at my feet.
"A billet d'amour' in realms celes-
tial-you are Fortunate" he remarked,
the suavity of his voice i'll 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 w
betimes, for it was dated six a. m.
l was glad it did not reach me in time
Tor me to have sent an answer-an an
swer that she would have construed
into hoartless disregard of her wishes
for of course withdrawal from the pro
posed ascent would have been out Of
the question.
twenty-five minutes since the Stell.
rose from the Worcester gas works
Doubtless Annie's blue eyes were nov
watching for me. l thought Of the dis
may that would fill them when shortl!
she would listen to the messengers re
port, of how, directly he had delivere,
her letter, the balloon had shot up int
cloud and was seen no more. That
though, made me resolve to wire he
the assurance that l was alive and in
tact a. soon as possible on our return
earth.
What do you make our alti.ude?"
asked, seeing the aerOnaut consultin
the barometer.
mime thousand. eight hundred an
afty feet, and according to the anemc
meter this Southwestern must havo q
ready carried US good score of miles,
he answered from where he bent owe
the instrument-board. Then, openin
his og-book, he began jotting down OF
servations; . proceeding that to my r.
lief, obviated any necessity for COZ
versatiop. -2
Silently we floated in the midst q
silence silence such as never rested o.
earth or ocean. gave myself up
Watching the clouds that were no,
surging in mountainous pillows arouu
and shove the balloon, combining tn
view to their own deeoy forms. As
watched they almost imperceptibly sui
sided, 1T least so at first it appeared
me; but presently glancing up at til
buoyant sphere overhead, saw dis
tion OF gas was taking place, OWN
doubtless to the heat of the solar beam,
resulting in the renewal Of the balloon
sscsntive force Soon she rose abov