St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-21
JEALOUSY IN MIDAIR.

| straight up into the azure space, borne
away with lightning speed. Now the
| heads OF the two aeronautS could barely
| be distinguished at the edge of the car.
Leaning over the slight OZier side
they watched the forms and dimensions
OF terrestrial objects diminish and fade
away below them. What was that
vague white aud gray heap streaked in
every direction by black lines? Was it
Naples? Yes, Naples. which they had
just quitted-a city reduced to the pro-
portions of a beehive.
But to the right, before, behind, what
4 marvellous horizon! NeSuVluS was
there, sleeping its alarming sleep; then,
farther away, the Jagged line of the
Apeninnes, and on the other side, as far
as the eye could reach, the sea, the vast
blue sea, sparkling in the broad SUN
light.
Suddenly, amid the profound silence
of the azure space wOman'S voice re-
sounded, clear as the tinkling of
crystal.
"OIiver," said she, ''your baud"
"Here it is, Lea" answered mans
voice.
THANK you," said the woman, who
Strengthened herself up, closing her eyes
with little Shiver.
The man raised his head and glanced
at his companion, who, very pale, had
seated herself upon light bamboo
stool.
what is the matter with you?" he
asked.
II was afraid" she said. 81 felt dir
illness seizinZ upon me; but it is over"
hn ~ "A ia U
hand across her eyes.
"DO you regret your whim?'
"NO, certainly not. But 4 first eX-
pertinent may unstring the nerves. On,
| will inure myself to it; rest easy OH
that score"
The man, standing erect. contem-
plated her. She was charming In her
clOSe-ftting tourist costume, with the
jaunty, masculine hat placed coqu ct
tishly upon her golden hair. fastened at
the nape of the neck, and the pall0r
which Increased the brightness of her
black eyes.
The young woman contemplated her
companion, whose manly visage, which
had muSing expression, was framed
by thick and closely cut blonde beard.
As she saw he was frOWning, she said
to him in her turn, in her musical voice:
And you? Why have you that gloomy
air?"
He did not answer the question, but.
leaning a tride over the edge OF the car,
said
I'VE are ascending too rapidlyw
And, seiZing a rope which hung within
reach of his hand. he gave it pull.
Almost InSIantaneouSly the young
woman felt the balloon slacken its
speed. then stop, and finally move. i'll
the opposite direction.
Are we descending for good?' she
asked
NO" replied Oliver. presently we
shall ascend again."
"Wheu?"
"When | wish. l have only to close
the valve which controls the gas. DO
you see this rope hold in my hand? 1t
regulates our course"
"And if it should break?''
SIT will not break! It is strong. But
If, by miracle. it should happen to dis
appear, we should be lost"
"How?"
The balloon is sufficiently charged
with hydrogen to carry us to the re-
gions where the air cannot be breathed.
We should be aSphyXiated."
Happily it would make two mira
ces, it seems to me, for the rope is
double, is it nOt?''
IL appears to be double now, but in
reality there is only single rope. Lean
over the edge of the car little. Do
you see that ring up there? The rope
passes through it and its two ends |
hold in my hand. They are tied to-
gether, but cut from knife will Suf-
flee to separate them. See! Now the
two ends are free. l have but to pull
one of them when the rope will slip
through the ring and fall at my feet,
and we are off for the grand voyage.
He had suited the action to the word.
The rope had fallen at his feet. He
curled it about his arm and hurled it
into space.
The young woman had risen, trem-
bling, with frightened look.
OLIVER" cried she, ''What have you
done? Are you out of your SenseS?
The young man looked her full in the
face aud SAID in calm tone:
II am not out of my senses"
"'rhen what do you want?'
81 want what is going TO happen. /
desire that we shall die together, here,
in the broad heavens, far from the
earth have cursed since you there APP
peared 10 me such as you are, since the
mud of which it is formed despatched
the idol Of my superstition adored in
yOu!"
The young woman stared at him in
amaZement and terror.
"Oh, do not protest" exclaimed
Oliver. Every feint is useless. In
word will convince you of what say.
For two days past l have known that
you were decelving me, that you were
listening to another suffer. Yes, fool,
a fOp: that Count Moreno, who followed
you from Venice, whom we found in
Milan, In Florence, in Rome. Well,
you are caught in the trap of your own
within, Tor it was you who yesterday
took the notion of buying this balloon
from the aerOnaut who was going to as
cend in it and of departing in it with
me. Seasonable caprice, was 1t not. to
worthily finish the Neapolitan carni
val? 1t was my vengeance you offered
me! | seized it. The END of all awaits
you. Soon a red foam will heighten
the carmine of your lips and red
drops will hang like coral pendants
from your delicate ears, while your
beautiful eyes will weep tears OF
blood"
The young woman had straighte ned
herself, seized by c0nvulsive tren-
bling. 8
You will not do that, Oliverw she
cried. at is too horrible! l do not
want to die that frightful deathp'
Oliver had crossed his arms upon his
breast.
IF wished to PREVENT it 1 could not
| do so now"
She sprang upon him and tore from
him the knife he yet held in his hand.
"But with this" cried she, II can cut
| open the balloon"
She raised her eyes to the round bulk
| of the 3roStat.
cry" said Oliver, coldly.
She grasped the ropes, put one foot on
the edge of the car, and StrOve to raise
herself by the strength of her wrists.
| But dizziness overcame her, and she
fell backward, breathless. The knife,