The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-10-03

staring intently down, his hand on the
valve rope. "BY Georgel I wouldn't
have believed itl We've struck a cur
rent that's going to carry US right
amlekagaE4he 9aae@reunds"
It was true; the race track, crowd,
booths and stalls were almost directly
below them, and lay in their line Of
advance. Hubbard began to descend.
The shouting of the crowd could now
be heard, the crowd itself was visible,
and disentangled itself into individu-
ais, like ants running about an ant
heap.
Hester chung in silence to her lovers
arm. She was dressed in all the hnery
a mountain belle could command, for
she had expected to go to the celebra-
ton at Garyville-indeed, she was GO
ing to it now, and to her own wedding
as well. You reckon Fain's down
there?" she inquired finally, looking at
the ant hill and the ants. 1t was very
difficult to be afraid Of a brother at
such long range, and when your unin-
terrupted view was permitted + re-
duce him to such contemplate dimen-
sions.
The balloon, however, was now so
much lower that people began to look
like people, though strangely fore
shortened and distorted. Hester, Mace
and Brother Pusey gazed fascinated,
and no wonder; for, from this height,
a man directly below presented him
self as a hat moving along upon the
ground, from which were thrust a pair
Of feet, and beside which two short
arms waggled.
Hubbard undid a package of hand
bills, and all four Joined in throwing
them out. The aeronaut, knowing
nothing of mountain people and noun
tain ways, failed to appreciate the dam
ger in which not only his passengers
but his beloved balloon might be from
Bushares' rifle. The Reverend Zeb,
however, touched his sleeve, caution.
ing, Better not git down too close.
Fain Bushares is a good shot; but the
way this here thing wobbles, he's
mighty apt to miss Mace an hit you
or me-
How far will a rife ball carry?"
Hubbard inquired in some alarm.
"I sh'd think he mought hit a man
at 600 or 500 yards; but this old bal
loon is a far mark-looks like he
mought hit it's fairs cd see it. That
OIL Winchester o. his'n II kerry a
plump mile"
81 don't want the Bird o. Paradise
shot into, of course" Hubbard said,
"but a rifle ball wouldn't make hole
enough to do us much damage. I'll
keep 300 or 400 feet above. the crowd;
but l ort to get where I can holler To
'em, and tell 'em that the marryin' iS
goin' on. I'll go down close first
won't do any harm till the man recog-
nizes you fOlks-maybe he amt there
anyhow"
They could hear the popping of fire.
crackers now, the band playing away
for dear life, and the hoarse, delighted
shouts Of the people below them. AS
the last handful went over the edge of
the a Hubbard took out the big tin
horn Of the spieler. y
''The wedding is now taking place.
he rOared, g 1000 feet n ta-a-air!" This
latter was simply a rhetorical flour
ish, but it pleased the crowd, which
rOared again.
Join your right hands," Hubbard
prompted irTitably, turning from his
horn. Stand up before the preacher,
and join your right hands"
Nothing loath, the young people did
so. During the arrangement of the
wedding scene the balloon had de-
scended perilOusly close to the settle
ment. Suddenly the bride-it is al
ways the woman who has her wits
about her at such times-saw a mar
run a little away from those about
him, pick up a rife and bring it to his
shoulder. Its Fain," she cried. He's
saw us and knows us. Oh, please
Mr.. Balloon man, make it go up quick
The frightened Hubbard heavet
overheard most of his sand; and SC
close was he above the heads Of the
gaping crowd that the sand descended
upon them in a cloud. The balloon
shot upward, leaving a choking, sput
tering group below-and it was nearly
"a thousand feet in air that Mace Tai
lent and Hester Bushares were mar
ried.
They could see other atonies run t,
Fain and disarm him; before they go
too far away they could ever hear tn,
laughter with which this u~nexpecte,
turn was received.
Hubbard radiated satisfaction. "Tl
bet that's the most successful ascent
ever made" he remarked. q neve
seen a crowd so ticlled."
You could drap us wherever yol
choose now" the happy bridegroom
suggested. THE boys has got G-hol
Of Fain, an we're all right"
81 reckon" unused the Reveren
Pussy, whose good humor was quit
restored, that these young friends /
yoTrn will be wantin' you to chang
the name O. your balloon from the Biz
/, o. Paradise to the Gyardeen Angel.%
. And four people, one thousand fee
in air. laughed together as they set
= tied gracefully toward Folks Station
{ and the railway which was to carr
Mace and Hester Talent to safety, an
q indirectly to the little waiting cabi