The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-09-06
A MAD RIDE.

us Jack Tunnicliffc going with you TO-
morrow, TomP" said my vito to me. at
wish you would take some one else"
"Why, Norah?" asked.
"Ho's been stranger than ever in his
manner since his wife died, hear. In
fact, Two been told by moro than ono per
son that he's quito insane at times. It's
not to be wondered at if no is, poor fellow.
L don't know sadder case. He'd only
been married week. Such horrible
death too! It's enough to turn mans
brain, and 1 must confess, Tom, I wish
Jack was not going with you"
Nonsense, Norah! People always OK
aggcrato and make the worst of things. rs
you know. If n mans at all original or
eccentric, it's mt once assumed that hos
non compos. OF course, jacks low spirit
cd ana abscntmindcd and perhaps a bit
peculiar ut times. How can he help brood
ing over his terrible loss? He wants some
exciting occupation to take off his thoughts
from his trouble He's as fond of balloon
ing us am, and IL trip will do him all the
good in tho world
Tho above conversation between nv
wife and myself took place on the evening
before the day which had fixed for a bal
loon ascent. Balloonng was my hobby.
had conceived u liking for it on my very
first ascent. This liking had become n
craze" for the novel experience and
strange sensation of sailing over houses
and trees and of soaring into tho clouds
had peculiar fascination for me-
Recently 1 had tried to combine utility
with pleasure and had made some ascents
solely for scientific purposes | had found
Kindred spirit i'll young 'Tunniclifrc. and
we had had many delightful and success
1ul trips together. Owing TO the untimcly
death of my friends wife, our aerial cxpc-
ditions had been suspended for awhile.
AS several weeks had elapsed since that
sad event, felt anxious to resume these
expeditions, ana as Tunniclmc had cx-
pressed his Willingness 10 accompany Inc
II day had been fixed for our next trim. Ii
was when l was talking To my wife about
this self same trip that sho expressed her
regret that Jack Tunnicliirc was going
with me.
had not much difficulty, however, in
overcoming her objections and allaying
her fears. She was not nvcrsc to NV hob
by and had oven accompanied me in one or
two of my shorter journeys in the air.
Moreover, she sympathizcd with mo in my
desire Ito make some useful discovery"
and was therefore unwilling to damp my
ardor or hinder the progress of my OBJ
scrvatiOnS. She had felt tho cxhilarating
effect of u balloon ascent, and my reference
to the benefit young Tunnicliffo would
probably derive from the projected trip mp
pcaicd To her experience as well as to her
tender heart
Accordingly next day ut the appointed
time, everything being in readiness, we
started on our acrostatic journey. Tunni-
r. I,,y
seemed II little excited, but this caused mo
no apprehension. His interest had appar-
entity been awakened, and il was only nat
ural that no should be animated on such
an occasion. The balloon was set mt lib
crty as soon rs we had taken our seats
ana the machine rose beautifully There
was Il gentle breeze, which bore lis slight
ly southwark We rose slowly at first and
so had plenty of time to gaze on tho vast
and extending panorama below us
Presently We entered hugo bank or
mountain of cloud of tho kind called Gu
mulus and were surrounded by u chilling
mist which induced us to put on the wraps
wo had brought. When we emerged from
tho cloud, II scene of fniryliic beauty sud
denly burst upon us. We were in a kind
of basin surrounded by mountains of cloud
of tho most fantastic shapes of enormous
size and of dazzling brightness. Now
and then rs we rose we caught sight also
OF wondrous ravincs of curious shape and
great depth. These mountains of clouds,
with their silvcry and golden sides, their
dark shadows their varied tints and sum-
mits of dazzling Wilderness, presented to
our wondering gaZe a scene of surprising
beauty and grandeur.
This sublime spectacle evoked my high
est admiration, while the silence and vast
ness OF space inspired mo with awe. l
drank in these exquisite and varied de-
lights with such avidity and with such abb
sorbing interest that had scarcely looked
mt or spoken to my companion since we
had started. But an exclamation from
him now diverted my attention, and
giancing at him, 1 was surprised to SEQ
that nc had risen and was much excited.
What is it, .Jack?' 1 asked
Isn't it glorious?" he replied 81 won
der II heaven is much more beautiful?
HOW delightful 1t would DO if we could
reach it! l should SEQ my Ada again,
then"
MY dear fcllow!" 1 interposcd hastily.
somewhat alarmcd-not so much by his
words as by his excited manner and wild
look you think too much of such
things. You have been brooding over
your loss more than is good for you. Will
YOU
" AT any rate" cried he vehemcntly,
its worth trying; so here goes. :" And seiz.
ing one of the sand bags he threw it over.
Tho lightcned balloon at once began to rise
more quickly.
What are you doing, Jack?" shouted.
" For heavens sake, keep calm. We are a
good height already We shan't be able
to breathe if we go much higher. It's
getting uncomfortable as il isl
" Shan't wo2 We shall sec about that.
I'm going to f.y, anyhow. Besides, don't
care if can't breathe. want to see my
Ada Thut's nil 7 care nhout