The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-14
IN DREAMLAND.


nt1ul gusts, and tho boughs bent their
heads before it in harmony. It was
night L shall never forget, as coupled
with 1t is ono of the strangest adven-
lures of my eventful career.
was seated on tho veranda Of the
house i'll which boarded. 1t was quito
late-yes, remember hearing the tower
CLOCK strike IL. There is nothing in the
world that will occupy n mans atten-
ton when seated alone in the dark like
meditation. Suffice it to say that was
thinking.
How long would have sat there do
not know. But as happened to glance
Mt the sky 1 noticed faint light far off
coming toward me. At first it was moth
ing but speck dotting tho heavens, but
as 1t approached it grew momentarily
larger Bewildered, / watched it como
on, and, as it got within 200 feet of ME,
noticed that it was gigantic balloon.
at last it arrived within 90 feet of me
and landed. AT the expiration Of five
minutes form stepped out of the bas-
ket, and as the person got between my
self and the light which hung from tho
balloon noticed that it was a woman.
Sho walked straight up tho garden path
and OH to the veranda and then to me.
Placing her hand OH my shoulder, she
said:
My dear Henry, would you like to
take journey with mo in my balloon
OH peculiar errand?''
Her dear Henryl Tho woman was
evidently mistaken, rs my name was not
Henry.
But before I had time to reply or col
lect my thought she went on:
knew you would, and it was need
less to ask YOU Henry, when stated l
loved you centuries ago it was indeed
true, and when you died and left mo I
thought my heart would break, and
vowed then and there to watch over you
and sacredly guard your remains. When
you came-returned from-well, when
you entered upon this second life knew
your heart was no longer for me, but
still maintained my watchfulness, and
what did see? beheld you week aft
er your return to lifc-in n room with
your arms around her. Well to mako
long story short, have come tonight to
show you her infidelity.''
My God, was the woman insane?
What did she mean by second life?
what did she know about centuries ago?
And, then, who did she take me for?
However, 1 made up my mind to SEQ
tho thing out, so I replied:
'Wcll'-I was going to address her
by name, but 1 knew mono and would
not make a foolish gucss-"pet, how
was to know where you were? In vain
did I seek you r.
But she interrupted mo with:
Let it pass, Henry; let it pass. It
can make no material difference now.
But answer me. Would you like to sec
your present lover"
l admitted that would, and seated
myself i'll the basket and watched her
manipulate tho machinery of the bal
loon. 1t was unlike any other balloon
had ever seen-very large, but square in
form. She inflated it by simply touch.
ing lever and then reversing it. There
was no ballast III tho basket. I watched
her preparing for our aerial flight and
scanned her face closely. twas beau
tifui enc, ono which haunts me to this
very day.
Sho touched a small button, and tho
massive structure swayed for a moment,
then with tho graccfulness of bird
sprang into the mir and started upon its
journey.
will not attempt to describe what
followed. remember vaguely Of hold
ing that strange being in my arms and
rashly kissing her pretty lips us we
swoopcd through the air.
Releasing herself from my embrace,
she sprang to the mechanism of the bal
loon and pulled back the largest lever
with quick jerk. We seemed to hover
i'll one spot for moment and then shot
swiftly downward. How far wo dropped
/ had no means of ascertaining. But
had the satisfaction Of seeing tho thing
settle easily down and Heavens how
did the woman know that house? We
had settled by the side of the house in
which the young lady lived to whom I
was then engaged.
About ten feet from where we were
was window, through which a bright
light shone This was very unusual in
this house, considering the latencss OF
the hour.
Climbing ont. of the basket, 1 walked
noiselessly to the window and gazed ill.,
And what sight greeted my eyes! On
couch sat my Maud-my future hap
pincss--and at her side, his right arm
about her waist and holding her hand
with his left, sat Il man whom had
nevcrseen before
My first impulse was to crash through
the window and grasp him by tho
throat. But, Oh second thought. de-
cided to wait at least few moments
| and see what would occur.
In the meantime my companion had