Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-05-14
HIS LAST BALLOON ASCENSION.

II was Late i'll the afternoon, and the
rays OF the setting sun streamed
through the open windows into the
slIting-room of a small Cottage on the
outskirts of the town OF Concord, y.
III. This room contained two occu-
pants, a gentleman and a lady. Fort =
live summers had traced a few WITH
kles on the gent'eman's brow, and
placed few silver threads in his hall,
but lie was still IN the prime OF man
hood, robust and healthy. The lady
might have been several years younger,
and upon her hand time had scarcely
left an impress. Tie sprightly fresh
ness of youth had given place to kind
of tranquil dignity, which pervaded all
her movements, well becoming a per-
son OF her Years. Both seemed alb
sorbed i'll deep +, tlection, the lady, with
her elbow testing upon the arm of her
chair, her head supported by her hand,
seemed lost IN reyeries OF the past,
never once rais ng her eyes from the
carpet. The gentleman with folded
arms, leaned back i'll his char.
For some time neither spoke; the
lady basy with the past; the gentleman
with the future.
At length sound struck their ears
was the church-bell tolllng the hour of
eight.
Eight O'Clock, tomorrow will be the
Fourth of July, the anniversary of our
country's independence, and also our
marriage anniyer rsary, which L shall
celebrate by taking q trip into tine
skies
1t was the gentleman who spoke, and
the lady turned 10 him, with a half
surprised expression on her counte-
nance.
a tip to the skies; what do you
mean by that?'
Can't you guess. Didn't you know
there was SO lie a balloon ascension to-
mOTros!'
TO he snre l did, but there are only
two persons going up; Prcf. CroZier.
and Mr. Smith, the man who came
from Boston with him, SO you cannot
be one of the party
There's where you are mistaken,
Mary. Mr.. Smith relInquished his
privilege to me, fer the consideration
# twenty-five dollars, which l have
paid. ] also saw the professor at the
tavern, about four O'Clock this after
noon, and made all necessary aTrangC-
ments with I'm for the aerial voyage,
and precisely at ten O'Clock to-morro n
for. noon | shall shake hands with such
of my friends as happen TO be standing
by, step into the car, and up We go,
waving our hats to the envio-s crowd
that will strain their eyeDillS after US
TIL we are lost i'll the clouds. Won t
1t be grand? Just like starting on a
trip to another world
Yes, and so may prove; what if
Istf
10 sea? how would you like salt waller
bath in the Atlantic ocean, several
leagues from Iand?'
Mr.. Thorn laughed.
AT present, my DEAR he said, there
is every prospect OF a pleasant voyage.
However, If the wind shifts alter We
have mingled with the stars, We shall
alight upon the nearest planet and wait
till the bow is over; after which we
may condeScend TO descend to our for
mer dwelling place
Il see you are III a mood for joking;
but, really. George. L dislike 10 have
you undertake this voyage. l feel a
pIesentiment of evil, which L cannot
shake off. l met Professor Crozier on
the street yesteIda and L experienced
a sudden instinct of dread. 1t struck
me that he was my enemy, and if l am
not very much mistaken, L heard him
mutter these words: Oar accounts Will
soon be squaIe, my laiy; the glass Is
most run out What do you think of
that, George?'
Il think You are nming very nerv-
Gus, my dear, and you are evlden ly
mistaken about the words you think
you heard lin utter. There is not The
slightest cause of alarm What possible
grUdge could Mr.. CIoZler have against
two pei sons he never saw before!'
That is what / am not so sure of,
George. | think he must be some one
who knew Inc years ago, for certainly,
when l met him yesterday, something
ike a flash Of recognition passed over
ms face, though. fer the life of me, l
could not recall one familiar feature in
his face. You may think lightly of
what | have said, but 1 feel positive
that lie is not what he 5 ems
Well, We'll, Mary. We won't discuss
this subject any more tonight; i am
getting rather sleepy over such nonsense,
AID as L intend to rise earlier than
usual tomorrow, l believe l will retire
Goodnight
Mr.. Thorn lighted lamp, and passed
through door leading from the sitting
room. Mrs. Thorn sat till the last
,treak or daylight disappeared in the
vest, and then followed her husband.
The sun rose bright and unclouded,
the citizens OF Concord were all astir,
md all the air resounded with the eX-
plosions Of torIedoes and fire-crackers.
By eight O'Clock quite crowd had
,ongregated around the inclosure where
the balloon was being inflated. Mr..
Ial, tfsr