The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1905-12-07
I |

4
forehead.
Come on, then" said the manager.
leading the way.
They stepped from the gloom OF the
Office into the glare OF the afternoon
sunshine. the girl breathing fast and
cllnging tightly TO the mans arm; the
man stumbling along awkwardly. his
eyes fixed vacantly on the bits Of cloud
In the skv; and the manager moving |
along msJestically before them, his red
face wrsathed In smiles Of professional
courteEy for the benefit OF the crowd.
In the bandstand the musicians strug- |
slid manfully with the Mendelssohn
wedding march: and the great event Of |
the day---"an aerial wedding. 500 feet |
above the earth" as the posters an |
nounced it--having arrived at last the |
crowd let itself loose and howied. Thus
they made their way through the lane
opened up In the crowd. and came finally |
TO the balloon, where solemn-faced
young clergyman awaited them.
The manager turned and caught the
girl in his arms.
I'm we CO." he said, cheerfully, as he
lifted her into the car.
The groom-to-be clhmbered in clumsi-
ly. and the clergyman followed. his
method of embarkation detracting
somewhat from his dignity. The rope
was unreeled from the big windlass. and
as the balloon crept slowly upward, the
cheers of the crowd redoubled. The
young man slipped an arm about the
girl.
Don't look down." he cautioned.
Il amt scairt. jim" she replied.
bravely. although he felt her trembling.
Presently they we're aware the bal
loon was stationary. The clergyman
| opened book and began the ceremony.
| As the service droned on. the man es-
1 sayed one look over the side OF tho car.
| but those upturned faces far below gave
him a queer sensation, and drawing the
| girl yet closer to him. he fixed his eyes
on the clergyman's face.
A moment later there was a slight
1 shock. He was aware OF feeling of
giddiness; he heard a cry Of horror from
the crowd far below, The ceremony
stopped short Indeed. the clergyman
dropped the book from his nerveless
hands. The girl chung unsteadily TO the
side Of the car. while the two men
clutching the ropes, peered over the
side
What they saw struck terror to their
hearts The crowds the fair grounes.
the whole earth. was falling away from
them with sickening rapidity. Many
feet below them the broken end OF this
treacherous rope swayed and dangled In
the breeze.
We've broke loose!" gasped Jim. In
tones OF horror.
The three. white-faced and trembling,
stood staring at one another stunned by
the suddenness OF II all. II was the girl
who recovered her wits first.
"we-we-can'the help It," she faltered,
'but anyway. we'll be married"
II was indeed a strange wedding. The
clergyman chung TO one side OF the car,
which swayed and rocked dangerously,
and the contracting parties grasped the
other side But somehow the service
was hustled through. and Just as the
balloon was lost to sight In the cloud
bank the two we're pronounced man and
wife.
For nearly an hour they fioated along
above the clouds. Then the great ball
above them began TO shrivel somewhat,
and they sank gently. At sunset they
we're quite near the earth. travelling as
they could plainly see. rapidly towards
the northwest. Fields and villages few
past beneath them-and always they
sank lower as the hot air In the balloon
gradually cooled.
Presently they we're brushing the tree
tops, which tilted the car sharply and
threatened momentarily TO spill them
to earth. The clergyman, poliEg be
meath the seats on either side OF the car
emerged triumphantly with a grappls
anchor and coil OF light rope Breath
lessly he cast the anchor over the side
LFor a time Il swung to and fro like {
huge pendulum. then caught fast In th'
! branches OF an elm near a big, white
farmhouse. The rope pulled taut; thu
car jerked and tilted and swayed; ther
the balloon sank gently into thu
branches of huge apple tree, and thu
perilous voyage was at an end.
From their perch in the apple tre'
they saw men running towards then
with ladders. and three women follow
ing sturdily in the wake Of the men Int
few minutes the unwilling voyager
we're standing on solid earth again. an
; swering as best they could the man.
j questions OF the chatterlng group abou
them.
i MAY ask where we are?" the cler
syman ventured, when the curiosity o
Q their rescuers had been somewhat ap
peased.
!. you're in Clinton Mills. in the north
a. ern part OF Ridgeway county" one o
y the men replied.
The bride took a step forward.
y There amt Sereny Hawkins roun
here, Is there?" she asked. eagerly.
a Yes, dearie," said one OF the women
u "sereny Hawkins' place IL about mil
o beyond here"
! The bride pressed her husbands arr
! and turned TO him glowing face.
!, ooh, jim" she whispered. 'it's turne
y out beautiful weddin' journey, afte
all."--N. o. Times-Democrat.