The morning times., 1895-08-04
| One Cent H5ap R5a
No advertisement less than 10s.
Mas Il JUStifiabl6Y

ulOErOW, ION! Sdlu my WIIe 10 Iue. 4
wish you would take some one else"
why, Norah?" 1 asked. 9
Hes been stranger than ever in his man.
ner since his wife died. hear. In 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 feliOw W. L
don't know a sadder case. He'd only been
married week. Such a horrible death,
tool It's enough to turn a mans brain,
and 1 must confess, Tom, 1 wish Jack was
not going with you"
Nonsense, Norah! People always exag-
gerate and make the worst OF things, as
you know. If 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 a bit pc
culiar at times. How can he help brOOding
over his terrible loss? He wants some excit-
ing occupation To take his thoughts from
his trouble. He's as fond OF ballOOning as
l am, and a 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 had fixed for a balloon as
cent. Ballooning was my hobby. / had
conceived liking Tor it TN my very first
ascent. This liking had become a craze"
for the novel experience and strange SEN
sation OF sailing over houses ana trees aud
OF soaring into the clouds had peculiar
fascination for me.
Recently, / mad tried to combine utility
with pleasure, aud had made some asceBts
solely for sCieutific purposes. ! had found
a kindre dspIrit in young Tunnlchlfe, and
1--WE had had many delightful and success
full trips together. Owing to the uDtInIely
death OF my friends wife, our aerial expedl-
tions had been suspended for while. As
several weeks had elapsed since that SAD
event, | felt anxious TO resume these eX-
peditiOns, and as Tunnicltfe had expressed
his willingness to accompany me, day had
been fixed for our next "Trip. 1t was when
was talking to my wife about this self same
trip that she expressed her regret thdJ JACK
TuuDicliffe was going with ne.
Ihad not much difficulty however. mover
coming her objections and allaying her fears.
Accordingly ,tneDextday ,attheappOlnjed
time, everything being in readiness, we
started on our aerostatic journey. TUnnI
cliffe, contrary to his usual demeanor,
seemed a trifle excited, but this caused me
no apprehension. His interest had appar'
eutly been awakened, and 1t was only nat
ural that he should be animated on such %
occasion The balloon was set at liberty as
soon as we had taken our seats, ana the
machine rose beautifully. There was
gentle breeze, which bore US gently south
ward. We rose slowly at first aud so mad
plenty OF time to gaze on the vast and e1
tending panorama below US.
Presently We eDtereda huge bank or rmOnu'
tain OF cloud OF the kind called cumulus, and
were surrounded by chilling mist which IN
duced us to PUT on the wraps We hau
| brought. When we emerged from tile cloud
a sceue OF fairy-like beauty suddenly burst
upon us. We were in kind or b7sln sur
rounded by mountains OF cloud u the most
dazzling brightness. Now and then, as we
rose. we caught sight, also, OF wondrous
| rayiues Of curious shape and great depth
These mountains OF clouds, with their sllvery
aud golden sides their dark shadows, theli
varied tints and SUBMITS OF dazzling white
ness, presented to our wondering gaze q
scene OF surprising beauty and grandeur.
This sublime spectacle evoked my hlghes'
admiration. while the silence and YastneSs
Of srace inspi red Die with awe. / dTdnh
i'm these exquisite and varied delights
with such avidity and with such absorbing
interest that / had scarcely looked al
or spoken to my companion since we haC
started, but an exclamation from him now
diverted MY attention, and, glancing al
him, and was surprised to see that he mao
risen, and was much excited
What is it, Jack?' / asked
Isn't it glorious" be replied II
wonder if heaven is much more beautiful?
How delightful IL would be if We coulC
reach it, | should see my Ada again
then"
My dear fellow" 1 interposed, hastily
somewhat alarmed-nOt so much by his
words as by his excited manner and look
you think too much of such things. You
have been brOoding over your loss more
than is good for you. VIII you
AT any rate" cried be, vehemently
Its worth trying, so here goes" aIC
seizing one of the sandbags he threw il
over. The lightened balloon at once
| began to rise more quickly.
'-What are you doing, Jack?" 1 shouted
For heavens sake, keep calm. We arr
a good height already. We shan't be
able TO breathe if we go much higher. 1t
getting uncomfortable a it is. y
''Shan't We? We shall see about that
I'm going to try, anyhow. Besides,
don't care if We can't breathe. / wan
to see my Ada. That's all 1 care about
began to fear the worst. Was he going
mad? Were the reports my wife had hearG
| literally true, and not exaggerated, aftel
| all? What a fool 1 had been not to b,
| more cautious. Whether he was mad or nO
| hewaS in a dangerous mood and my Do sitior
was far from pleasant. To oppose hin
would evidently aggravate him and max,
matters worse. TohumoThim Wa sundoubt
| edly the WlSeSt course.
Look here, Jack" 1 cried, ''you sa!
| want To see Ada; l can tell you of d bette
| and surer way of going to her than this
| II you will listen to me-here / voluntaril,
moved my.kand toward the valve Cord-i
| you will listen to ME +"
None OF your barney, man. l am no
| to be wheedled so. I'm too old a bird fol
| that. Leave the cord alone, can't you
l am not going down again to-day In
| going to see what's up there, ard don
| you try TO stop me, " and he glared fierCell
| at me.
l was almost frantic Knowing, how
ever, that in a few minutes l should be un
| conscious, and that then all would be owe
| with me, i nerved myself for one las
effort
| As 1 rose from my seat my eye fell or
| the grapnel. Fortunately it was on IN!
| side of the car. A sudden idea struck me
! Here was a weapon to hand. II was al
| awful thought-it would be a terrible
| deed But there was no alternative, NJ
| time for delay. My senses were going.
stretched out my hand, but the mailman
| who never took his eye off me, had de
tected my purpose. With a sudden move
| ment he darted forward ard seized th
| grapnel, but in his eagerness TO fOrestal
/ me he had precipitated himself too IA
| over the side of the car and almost los
| his balance. He made a desperate effOr
| to recover himself, but, seized with {
/ sudden and Irresistible impulse, 1 pusheC
| him over, and with a horrible yell-whicl
! rings in my ears whenever | recall the OC
! currence-the mailman disappeared froI
| my sight.
| Almost mad myself am not sure tina
! I was not quite so jIst ther-I climbed
! into the ring to reach the valve line. Bu
my hands were so stiff ard numb with COLI
that could not grasp the cord. BY kip'
of inspiration, which seemed ProviGential
| / seized the cord with my teeth, and afte
] t1r-n or roe t1ms the NaINn nnenel with