El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-28
HIS SACRIFICE.

en- the entertainment the manager had ar
ranged for an aerial marriage.
OF course. when it was known to Belle
fort that Fred Bowen and Lille Grey
were 70 I've married under such unusual
circumstances crowds 1ocked to the in
closure surrounding the circus.
The huge silken bag had already been
partially filed with gas and tossed rest
lesslv TO and fro. The necessary prepa
rations we're completed. The bride took
her seat in the car, and Professor Archer
hal turned to- give last order before en-
tering with his companions when a sud-
den gust of wind tore the balloon from
her mornings. With startling cry the
young bridegroom clutched trailing
rope. and before a single one of the
alarmed crowd could come to his assist
ance he had been swept from his feet and
hung dangling in the air above their up
turned heads. while the girl looked down
from her aerial prison with blanched and
terror stricken face
The very imminence of his danger
however. reused him at last to action.
Keeping his eyes fixed only on the car
above him. not daring to look down lest
he should be seized with vertigo and re-
lease his grasp. he clambered slowly up
the rope. Hand over hand he assembled
the swaying cord
Slowly, inch by inch. he mounted and,
reaching the basket. raised himself by
one last effort and fell painting and ex-
hausted beside his bride. Relieved from
the terrible strain to which his muscles
had been subjected. Bowen endeavored
To inspire Lille with hopes he scarcely
dared to entertain himself His knowl-
edge of balloons was slight, but he well
knew that If the silken bag was not
checked in it's ascent it would burst and
prccipitate them to the earth.
Selling what he supposed to be the
valve rope. the young man endeavored
TO open the valve and permit portion of
the gas to escape. Despite his utmost
efforts. the valve refused to open.
a glance at the blanched face of his
young bride nerved him to renewed effort.
Taking a knife from his pocket, he
kissed the young girls colorless lips and
said:
Lille. have courage. 1 will save you
Jet"
Then, turning hastily away, he grasped
the ropes supporting the basket and be-
gan to Chamber upward toward the bal
loon
Reaching the valve, he tried again to
open it. and again he failed. Then, with
hands firmly clutching the netting. he
renewed his ascent and mounted higher
On the swaying bag. Twining his feet
within the netting and clutching desper-
ateiy with one hand. he cut an opening
in the swelling balloon, and the gas
rushed out. Almost instantly their as
cent was checked.
Seeing that he had accomplished his
task and hoping now that earth might
be safely reached again, Bowen descend
ed the ropes and swung himself within
the car once more For time their de-
scent seemed easy and gradual
No motion was perceptible. The in
creasing distinctness with which the OBJ
5ecrs below spread out before their view
was all that assured them they were
nearing the Garth
With his arm clasped around his bride.
Bowen congratulated himself and her
that all danger was over.
May we not fall more rapidly than
you expect ~ Lille asked
-'Oh. no: we are all right now" replied
Bowen. "When we get lower down, I'll
throw out some of these sand bags, and
they'll act as brakes"
Almost as he spoke a loud, tearing noise
startled them from their fancied security.
Looking upward, Bowen saw, with terror,
that the escaping gas had increased the
opening made in the side of the balloon.
The effect of this disaster was felt at
snce. Down, down they fell, with n
speed which almost deprived them of
breath and promised to lay their mangled
bodies at the feet of those who were still
gazing upward with such intense anxiety.
Lille turned to her companion, and his
pale face and silent tongue told her more
plainly than words that he had lost all
hope
IL seemed useless even to attempt to
struggle against their fate. But Bowen
at last reused himself from the apathy
into which he had fallen and determined
MT least to neglect no possible effort
Selling the sand bags from the bottom
OF the car. he hurled them over the side.
The rapidity of the descent was checked.
The balloon even paused for a moment
In its fall But each moment increased
the rapidity of their fall. which had been
checked a moment before
The tall church spire and roof tops on
their right, the upturned faces of the
plying spectators could now be distinctly
seen- Another minute-not even a min
ute. perhaps-and all would be over.
NO, 1 will save herr cried Bowen.
starting to his feet. Pressing one kiss to
Lilies lips and whispering "Goodby"
he sprang from the car.
One loud cry of horror burst from hun
dreds of threats as they saw his body
whirling through the air. Another mo-
nent, and it had fallen with a splash into
the waters of the river at their feet.
A moment later, and the balloon rested !
en- the earth again. In the car lay the |
fainhng, unconscious form, arrayed in
her bridal garments. Kind hands minis |
tered to the young bride. and her eyes !
were soon opened to life again.
Terror had almost deprived her of rea-
so1- Her fret words were a piteous cry |
for Fred. Before an answer could be |
given the crowd parted, and a form, drip |
ping with water and wild with excite |
0ent, clasped the young girl to his breast. |
4 single glance told her that 1t was in I!
deed the one who he'd shown his love by |