The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-09-14
y A MAD RIDE.

- E
els Jack Tunnicliffe going with you TO-
morrow, Tomf'' said my wife to me. "I
wish you would take some one else''
why, Norahf' asked
Hes been stranger than ever In his
manner since his wife died, hear. In
fact, I've been told by moro than one per-
son that he's quite insane at times. It's
not to be wondered at II he Is, poor fellow.
! don't know sadder case. He'd only
been married a week. Such a horrible
death tool It's enough to turn mans
brain, and must confess, Tom, wish
Jack was not going with you."
Nonsense, Norahi People always ex-
aggerato and make the worst bf things, as
you know. II mans at all original or
eccentric, it's at once assumed that he's
non compos. OF course, Jacks low spirit
cd and absentmipded and perhaps bit
peculiar at times How can he help brood
ing over his terrible lossf He wants some
exciting occupation to take off his thoughts
from his trouble. He's as fond Of balloon
ing as am, and a trip will do him all the
good in the world"
The above conversation between my
"ho esiN my ott took PAtioo VII tllt tNtUlHR
before the day which had fixed for bal
loon ascent. Ballooning was my hobby.
had conceived liking for 1t on my very
first ascent. This liking had become a
"craze," for tho novel experience and
strange sensation Of sailing over houses
and trees and of soaring into the clouds
had q peculiar fascination for me.
Recently had tried to combine utility
with pleasure and had made some ascents
sololy for scientific purposes. had found
a kindred spirit in young Tunnicliffe, and
we had had many delightful and success
ful trips together. Owing to the untimely
death of my friends wife, our aerial expe-
ditions had been suspended for awhile
AS several weeks had elapsed since that
sad event, l felt anxious to resume these
expeditions, and as Tunnicliffe had ex-
pressed his willingness to accompany mo
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 that Jack Tunnicliffe was going
with me.
had not much difficulty, however, in
overcoming her objections and allaying
her fears. She was not averse to my hob
by and had even accompanied me in one or
two OF my shorter journeys in the air.
Moreover, she sympathized with me in my
desire Ito make some useful discovery"
and was therefore unwilling to damp my
ardor or hinder the progress of my OBJ
servations. She had felt the exhilarating
effect of balloon ascent, and my reference
to the benefit young Tunnicliffe would
probably derive from the projected trip ap-
pealed to her experience as well as to her
tender heart.
Accordingly next day at the appointed
TINA varvthinar hatna In
started on our aerostatio journey. Tunni-
cliffe, contrary to his usual demeanor,
seomed little excited, but this caused me
no apprehension. His interest had appar-
emily been awakened, and 1t was only nat
ural that he should be animated ON such
an occasion. The balloon was set at lib
erty as soon rs we had taken our seats,
and the machine rose beautifully. There
was gentle breeze, which bore us slight
ly southwark. We rose slowly at first and
so had plenty OF time to gaze on the vast
and extending panorama below us.
Presently We entered huge bank or
mountain of cloud of the kind called Gu
mulus and were surrounded by u chilling
mist which induced us to put on the wraps
we had brought. When we emerged from
the cloud, scene of fairylike beauty sud
denly burst upon us. We were in kind
of basin surrounded by mountains of cloud
of tho 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 mountains of clouds,
with their silyery and golden Sides their
dark shadows their varied tints and sum
mits of dazzling Wilderness, presented to
our wondering gaze q scene of surprising
beauty and grandeur.
This sublime spectacle evoked my high
est admiration, while the silence and vast
ness Of space inspired me with awe.
drank in these exquisite and varied de-
lights with such ayidity and with such alb
sorbing interest that had scarcely looked
at or spoken to my companion since we
had started. But an exclamation from
him now diverted my attention, and,
glancing at him, was surprised to see
that he had risen and was much excited.
"What Is 1t, Jack2' asked.
isn't 1t glorious9" he replied "I won
der IL heaven is much moro beautiful?
How delightful 1t would be II We could
reach It'll should SEQ my Ada again,
then."
MY dear fellowl" i interposod hastily,
somewhat alarmed-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'-
tAt any rate" cried he vehemently,
it's worth trying; so hero goes" And seiz-
ing one of the sand bags he threw it over
The lightened balloon at once began to rise
moro quickly.
What arc you doing, Jackf" shouted.
For heavens sake, keep calm. We are
good height already. We shan't be able
To breathe II we go much higher. It's
getting uncomfortable as It is"
"Shan't wes We shall see about that.
I'm going to try, anyhow. Besides, don't
care IL can't breathe. want to see my
Ada. That's all caro- about"
began to fear the worst Was he 60
ing mad' We're the reports my wife had
heard literally true and not exaggerated
after allP What fool had been not to
be more oautiousl Whether he was mad
or not, he was in a dangerous mood, and
my position was far from pleasant TO
Ii II =