The Monticellonian., 1895-09-06
THE AERONAUTS STORY.

l I1E h LilO1N h U l D t0 OIb
 .Is Jack Tunnicliffe going with you tomorrow, Tom?" said my wife to me ''I wish you would take some one else.
 "Why, Norah2" I asked.
 Hes been stranger than ever in his manner since his wife died, I hear. Ir fact, I've been told by more than one person that he's quite insane at times. It's not to be wondered at if he is, poor fellow. I don't know a sadder case. He'd only been married week. Such horrible death. tool It's enough tc turn mans brain. and I must confess Tom, l wish Jack was not going with you"
 Nonsense, Norahl People always exaggerate and make the worst oi things, as you know. If a mans at all original or eccentric, it's at once assumed that he's non compos. Of course, Jacks low-spirited and absent minded, and perhaps bit peculiar at times. How can he help breeding over his terrible loss? He wants some ex- citing occupation to take off his thoughts from his trouble. He's fond of ballooning as l am, and trip will do him all the good in the world"
 The above conversation between my wife and myself took place on the evening before the day which l had fixed for balloon ascent. Ballooning was my hobby. 1 had conceived a liking for 1t on my first ascent. This liking had become "craze, for the novel experience and strange sensation of sailing over houses and trees, and of soaring into the clouds, had peculiar fascination for me.
 Recently, I had tried utility with pleasure, and had made some ascents solely for scientific purposes. l had found kindred spirit in young Tunni. eliffe, and we had had many delightful and successful trips together Owing to the untimely death of my friends wife, our aerial expeditions had been suspended for awhile. As several weeks had elapsed since that sad event, l felt anxious to resume these eXpedi tions, and as Tunnieliffe had expressed his willingness to accompany me, a day had been fixed for our next trip. It was when l was talking to my wife about this self same trip that she ex- pressed her regret that Jack Tunni- cliffe was going with me.
 l had not much difficulty, however in overcoming her objections and al laying her fears. She was not averse to my hobby, and had even accom- panied me in one or two of my jour neys in the air. Moreover, she sym pathized with me in my desire ito make some useful discovery" and was therefore unwilling to damp my ardor, or hinder the progress of my observa- tions. She had felt the exhilarating effect of a balloon ascent and my ref erence to the benefit young funnicliffe would probably derive from the pro- jected trip appealed to her experience as well as to her tender heart
 Accordingly, next day at the ap- pointed time, verything being in readi- ness, we started on our aerostatic journey Tunnicliffe, contrary to his usual demeanor, seemed a little ex- cited but this caused me no appre- hcnsiop. His interest had apparently been awakened, and it was only natural that he should be animated on such an occasion. The balloon was set at lib- erty as soon as we had taken our seats, and the machine rose beautifully. There w"9 s- gentle breeze, which bore us DIE n'S soeshwarcl. We rose slowly "V III S'' an" SD haa- nlenty of time to gaze on the vast and extending panor- anna below us.
 Presently we entered huge bank or mountain of cloud of the kind eaIIaa eumulus, and were surrounaea hv . chilling mist which induced us to o,,t on the wraps we had brought. When we emerged from the cloud a scene of fairy-like beauty suddenly burst upon us We were in kind of basin sur. rounded by mountains of clouds of the most fantastic shapes, of enormous size, and of dazzling brightness. Now and then, as we rose, we caught sight also of wondrous ravines of curious shape and great depth These noun tains of clouds, with their silvery and golden sides, their dark shadows, their varied tints and summits of dazzling whiteness, presented to our wondering gaze a scene of surpassing beauty and grandeur
 This sublime spectacle evoked my highest admiration, while the silence and vastness of space inspired me with awe. l drank in these exquisite and varied delights with such avidity and with such absorbing interest that 1 had scarcely looked at, or spoken to, my companion since we had started. But an exclamation from him now dl- verted my attention, and, glancing at him, was surprised to see that he had risen and was much excited.
 What is it. Jack?" l asked.
 Isn't it glorious?n he replied. II wonder if Heaven is much more beauti- ful? How delightful it would be if we could reach itl I should see my Ada again, then"
 My dear fellow" l interposed, hastily, somewhat alarmed-not so much by his words as by his excited manner and wild look; you think too much of these things You have been breeding over your loss more than is good for you. Will you"
 At any rate, cried he, vehemently. tits worth trying, so here goes and seizing one of the sandbags he threw it over. The frightened balloon at once | began to rise more quickly
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