Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-08-01
WAS IT JUsfIRIABLR /?

you tomorrow, Tom r! said nv
wife to me. "I wish you would
take some one else."
"Why, Norah ?" asked.
"He's 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 il he is, poor fellow.
don't know q sadder case. He'd
only been married q week. Such q
horrible death, too ! It's enough
to turn Q mans brain, and i must
confess, Tom, | wish Jack was not
going with you."
Nonsense, Norah ! People al
ways exaggerate and make the worst
OF things, as You know. IL mans
at all original or eccentric it's at
once assumed that he's non compos.
OF course, Joe is low-spirited and
absent-minded, and perhaps a bit
peculiar at times. How can he help
brooding over his terrible loss !?
He wants some exciting occupation
to take his thoughts from bis trou-
BILE. 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 aud myself took place on
the evening before the day which /
had fixed for q balloon ascent.
had conceived liking for it on my
very first ascent. This liking had
become q "craze." for the novel
experience and strange sensation Of
sailing over houses and trees and
of soaring into the clouds had q pc.
culiar fascination for me.
Recently | had tried to com bine
utility with pleasure, and had made
some ascents solely for scientific
purposes. l had found kindred
spirit in young Tunniciiffe and we
had had many delightful and sue
cessful 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, l felt anxious to resume these
expeditions, and as Tunnicliffe had
expressed his willingness to accom-
pany me, q day had been fixed for
our next trip. II was when / was
talking to my wife about this self.
same trip that she expressed her re-
gret that Jack Tunnicliffe was GO
ing with me.
l had not much difficulty, how.
ever, in overcoming her objections
and allaying her fears.
Accordingly, next day. at the ap.
pointed time, everything being in
readiness, we started on our aeros.
tatic journey. Tupnicliffe, contra.
rY to his usual demeanor, seemed q
trifle excited, but this caused me
no apprehension. His interest had
apparently been awakened. and il
was only natural that he should be
animated on such an occasion.
The balloon was set at liberty as
soon as we had taken our seats, and
the machine rose beautifully. There
was gentle breeze, which bore us
slightly southwark. We rose slow.
lv 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 cumulus and we're surround
ed BY chilling mist, which induced
rs to put on the wraps we had
brought. When we emerged from
the cloud scene Of fairly-like beau
ty suddenly burst upon us. We
were in kind Of basin, surround
ed by mountains Of cloud Of the
most fantastic shapes, Of enormous
size, and of dazzling brightness.
Now and then. as We rose, we caught
sight, also, Of wondsrous rayines OF
curious shape and great depth.
These mountains Of clouds, with
their silvery and golden sides, their
dark shadows. their varied tints
and SUBMITS Of dazzling bright.
ness, presented to our wondering
gaze o scene Of surpassing beauty
and grandeur.
This sublime spectacle evoked
my highest admiration, while the
silence and vastness Of space in
spired me with awe. ! drank in
these exquisite and varied delights
with such absorbing interest that
had scarcely looked at or spoken to
my companion since we had started.