Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-09-19
THE AERONAUTS STORY.

"Why, Norah?" ] asked.
Hes been stranger than ever In his
manner 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 II he is, poor
fellow. | don't know Il sadder case.
He'd ouly been married q week. Such
a horrible death, tool It's enough to
turn IA mans brain, and must confess,
Tom, wish Jack was not going with
you"
Nonsense, Norah! People always
exaggerate and make the worst OF
things, as you know II a mans at all
original or eccentric, It's at once
assumed that he's non compos. OF
course, Jacks lows pirited and absent
minded, and perhaps bit peculiar at
times. How can he help brooding over
his terrible loss? lie wants some ex-
citing occupation to take off his
thoughts from his trouble. He's fond
Of ballooning as am, and q 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
nxed for n balloon ascent. Ballooning
was my hobby. / had conceived a
liking for il 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 n peculiar
fascination for me.
Recently. I had tried utility with
pleasure, and had made some ascents
solely for scientific purposes. had
found o kindred spirit In young Tunni-
cliffe, 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,
felt anxious TO resume these expedi-
tions, and as Tunnicliffe had expressed
his Willingness TO accompany me, n
day had been fixed for our next trip.
1t was when was talking to my wife
about this self-sam trip that she ex-
pressed her regret that Jack Tunni-
cliffe was going with me.
had not much difficulty, however,
In overcoming her objections and al
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 mo 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 folt the cxhilarating
effect OF n balloon ascent, and my ref
erence TO the benefit young Tunnicliffe
would probably derive from the pro
jected trip appealed TO her experience
as well as 10 her tender heart.
Accordingly, next day Mt tho up
pointed time, everything boing In rcadi-
ness, we started on our acrostatic
Journey. Tunniclifre, contrsry to his
usual demeanor, seemed n little ex-
cited. but this caused mo no appre-
honsion. His interest had apparently
been awakened, aud IL was only natural
that he should be animated on such
an occasion. The balloon was set ut lib
erty as soon ns we had taken our seats,
and the machine roso beautifully. There
was u gentle breeze. which bore us
slightly southward. Wo rose slowly
at frst, and no had plenty OF time TO
gaze on the vast and extending panor-
anna below us
Presently we entered huge bank or
mountain OF cloud OF tho kind called
cumulus, ard were surrounded by n
chilling mist which induced us To put
on the wraps wo had brought When
we emerged from the cloud n scene OF
fairy-lilte beauty suddenly burst upon
us. We were In kind OF basin sur
rounded by mountains OF clouds Of the
most fantastic shapes, OF enormous
sizc, and Of dazzling brightness. Now
ana then. as 80 rose, we caught sight
also OF wondrous ravlnes Of curious
shape and great depth. These noun
taIns OF clouds. with their stlvcry and
golden sides their dark hadows, their
varied tints and summits OF dazzling
whitencss, presented To our wondering
gaze scene OF surpassing beauty and
GRANDEUR
This sublime Spectaclo evoked nay
highest admiration. whilo tho Hilcnce
and vastncsa OF space inspired mo with
awe. | drnnlt In these exquisite and
varied dclightB with such avidity and
with such absorbing interest that
had scarcely looked at, or spoken TO,
my companion since we had started.
But an exclamation from him now di-
verted my attention, and, glanclng at
him, ! wns surprihcd to SEQ that he had
risen and waa much excited.
what Ia IL. Jaclt2' asked.
Isn't IL glorIous2" no replied. II
wonder II Heaven IL much moro boauti-
ful2 How delightful II would be IL wo
could rcnch i'll should bee my Ada
again, then"
"My dear followi" ! interponed,
hnstily, somewhat nlarmed--not no
much by his words ns by bis excited
manner and wild look; you think too
much of theae thinga You have boon
brooding over your loss more than 1.
good for you win you"
"At any rate" cried he, vehemently y.
"it'a worth trying, no here goeH." and
rcizlng one Of the gnudbngs he threw
IL over The lightcncd balloon at once
began 10 rise more quickly.
"What are you doing, Jack7" shout
cd. For heavens sake keep calm.
We nro good height already. We
hh1n't bc able 10 breathe IL We 20
much higher. TIN getting uncomfort-
able, hs IL Is"
"Shnn't wc7 We shall Beo about
that. I'm going To try, anyhow. Be
sidcH, don't care II can't breathe.
want to hee my Ada. That's all ! care
about"
began 10 fear the worat. Was ho
going mnd2 We're the reports my wife
had heard literally true, and not oI-
aggerctcd after ALP What fool had
been not 10 bc morc cnutiousl Whether
he wan mad or not, he was In IA danger
Qua mood, and my position was far
from plcnaant To oppose him would
evidently aggravato him and make
matters worBe. To humor him was un-
doubtcdly the wiacst course.
"Loolt here, Jaclr' | cried. you
Bay you want % Bee Ada. can tell
you OF better and hurcr way Of going
TO her than this. II you will listcn TO
me-(hore involuntarily moved my
hand toward the valve cord) If you
wall listen To me I"
"Nonc Of your blnrnoy, mani I'm
not 90 be whccdled no. I'm too old n
boy for that LcaYe the G9Fd alQne,