Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-08-15
AN AERIAL CRIME.

q
by the hunter it escaped to the sky,
darting upward in straight line. Al
ready one could scarcely distinguish
above the rim of the basket the heads
of the two aeronauts who assembled.
Leaning ON the frail wicker bull
wark, they saw far down below the
mall terrestrial forms lessening every
second and vanishing. What was that
mass OF white and gray things crossed
every way oy black lines? Was that
the city? Yes, the city they had just
left city reduced to the proportions
of an ant hill. But right and left be-
fore and behind. what marvellous hor-
rizon! There, far away the serrated
line of the mountains, and on the other
side the sea- the vast blue ocean
sparkling in food of sunshine.
Suddenly. in the profound silence of
the azure, woman's voice resounded,
clear as tinkling of crystal.
Oliver, said she, give me your
handt'
Here is my hand, Laura. p" replied
a mans voice.
Thank you" said the fair voyager,
Strengthening herself and closing her
eyes with shudder.
The man raised his head and looked
ct his companion, who very pale, sat
down on light bamboo seat. What
is the matter with you?n he asked.
Il was afraid, said she. II was so
dizzy. But it is over" She passed
her pretty, gloved hand across her
eyes.
DO you regret your notion?"
NO; certainly not. But first trial
may surprise the nerves. oh. I shall
getused to it. Don't worry"
He remained erect, looking at her.
She was charming in her tight-itting
travelling dress, which revealed the
lines Of form harmonious and supple.
with little masculine hat couuetishly
posed on her golden hair knotted in
the neck, and with the dead pallor that
heightened the effect of her black eyes.
The young woman also looked at her
companion, whose blond beard-heavy
and closely trimmed framed manly,
noble face. Seeing him frown. she
said, in her turn, with her singing
voice:
And you, Oliver; why do you look
60 gloomy?n
He did not answer, but. leaning
slightly over the side of the basket:
I'VE are going up too quick, =" said he.
And seizing a rope which hung near
by he pulled on it.
Almost instantly the young man had
a sensation of their movement being
retarded, then of a stop and at last Of
descent.
Are you going down for goodpr she
asked.
No, replied Oliver. 1--WE will 20
up again presently"
when / choose. have only to
CLOSE the valve which secures the gas.
You see this rope hold in my hand?
That regulates our course.
"And if it should break?''
sit will not break-it is firm. But
II by kind Of miracle it should disap-
pear we should be lost
''HowP"
1.-THE balloon is sufficiently inflated
ITO carry us to regions where we could
mo longer breathe. We should be as
phyxiated."
Luckily it needs two miracles.
That rope is double, is it not?"
1T looks to be double now. but in
reality there is but one. Lean out a
little. Do you see that ring high UP
there? The rope passes through that
aud these are its two ends which / hold
In my hand. They are tied, beLides.
But it needs only blow with knife
to separate them. See, now. here are
the two ends free. have only to pull
one. The rope glides through the
ring and falls at my feet. and. behold!
we have started on the grand voyage!n
He had joined the action to the
word. The rope had fallen to his feet.
He coiled it with turn of his arm and
hastily flung it into the void beneath
them.
The young woman started TO her
feet trembling and Mortified. "Oliver,
what are you about? Are you mad?"
The young man looked her full in
the face and said very calmly: Il am
not mad. .
Then what are you doing that for?"
II have planned it all. / intend
that we shall die together, here in mid
air. far from that earth which l in
tensely hate since it is there you have
proved TO me what you are since the
mire Of which it is made has splashed
the idol that my superstition adored in
you"
The supplied girl made gesture as
If appalled,.
ooh! do not protest. cried Oliver
.'All feint is useless. l will convince
you in one sentence that you are lost
60 me--that you intended to marry
another. Yes, that fool, that insipid
Moreno who has followed us from
Venice, whom VIC have found every
where-M Milan, Florence, Rome, Lon
don, New York, Chicago. You made
me treat him as a companion. ] have
shaken hands with him daily-imbe-
,,fla that 7 ami Haua 7 not haay non