Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-04-27

suar 6etuees France and Germany. ne ,uds ]
dysgn INFO conference seifh the French General
border. adams declares fI,i
fefrf. He arges balloon reconnaissance to the
northeast. and defaitol troops TO 6loeh Advance.
Etve thoEsand aafowo6iies are i1isyessea, pied
GsnTrai Martini, Recheye teepeyf 6akioonisf,
and q wiysfess teisgyaPhy, lead fAs advance, car
ryisg q ned w1r Balloon. The ascent IS made
s &C. s Io.,s Saa s,f Sss s1sVs, ,1s S
Gernd1 shell and beg7Hs 10 tall szpifty into the
m,dsf of the tYoots.
CHAPTER IL
The balloon was now within half a
mile of the earth, and settling steadily.
Beneath us was sea of troops. The
bullets came in q shower. Rechere
gave groan and sank by my side,
shot through the heart. Martins hand
was shattered as it gripped the rail |
Of the basket. | expected death, and
stood erect again, grasping the sup
It seemed miserable to be thus a tar
get for the bullets of a thousand SOL |
diers with no opportunity to reply. |
Suddenly the basket gave q violent |
ened on the supporting cable; and well
1t was. for at that instant a we'll d.
rected shell from rapid-irer cut the
cable at the other end. and the car
wire rope; drew myself up and got
o firm hold of the network surround
ing the gas bag. There / hung, grip
ping for my very life with both hands;
whirling over and over in mid air, and
the body of poor dead >Rechere falling
like n plummet. Then the single sup
port gave way, and the basket went
down after them.
I closed my eyes, sick with horror
lar efforts. AS in dream / was con-
scious of swift flight through the air.
The sounds of shooting became fainter.
The whistle of bullets ceased. real
lied that. tho balloon. freed of its
weight of passengers, apparatus, and
basket. was rising rapidly into the up
per air. All, then ! would escape, after
all. ! tried to. collect my thoughts,
knowing that should / lose conscious
ness my grip would weaken.
Suddenly felt that l had entered
stratum of cold air. 1t was sweet and
pure. 1t stimulated me, opened my
eyes, and glanced below me. Earth
esuld not be seen. was in the clouds.
Remember, now, that hung by the
grip Of two hands, from a coarse net
made OF half-inch rope forming cas-
ing for the balloon. I knew that
should soon be compelled to rest or
must let go and follow my late COM
panions. Summoning all my nerve,
threw UP one leg, and as luck would
have 1t, caught my foot in mesh Of
the net. / pushed my leg through un-
I'll the rope was under my knee; then
rested for a few sweet minutes hang
ing there like a crab, one leg swing
ing free. Presently l secured similar
hold with the other foot; then working
slowly and carefully, managed to get
both arms into the meshes, and for a
blessed interval was relieved of severe
strain, though my hold was by no
means secure.
The balloon seemed now to he NOV.
ing swiftly. in the wind, but neither
rising nor falling. The steady gliding
motion, the absolute quiet, and the
tight grip Of the net, produced ten
talk to myself to keep awake, ant
finding that even this would not SUITE,
At imminent risk. for ! was getting
woefully cramped. let go with m!
right hand, and reaching In my poke
I cut through half dozen meshes O
the net and thus made a hole larg,
enough to admit my head and shout
ders, pushing away the .envelopint
BY degrees worked my whole bod.
through, and finally, with a prayer o
thanks to God found myself lying fla
upon the strong net work, my bacl
relief Of this position that sank IN,
instant sleep.
1t seemed an age later when / awokt
hearing my name spoken by the voic
of woman. ] opened my eyes an
looked around me-. I lay in be-
surrounded by silken drapery. M
whole body ached. and my head seem
ed to be several times its ordinary size
spoke again, In soft, ripping French
Monsieur must be quiet. 1t Is bes
Monsieur Is safe and will soon be wei
again"
and saw approaching me what
thought to be the most beautiful wo
man | had ever seen. Fair and tall,
the old French type. she seemed a yer
a white lace cap, which served onl
partially to restrain her brown curll
Her dress was simple-of white, wit
a touch Of blue at throat and shoulder
over me- / shall remember to my dy
ing day her soft, cool hands presse
upon my aching brow. Her loose slice
yes showed her fair, plump arms mig
the desire. as fell asleep, that coul
have those arms about my neck.
awoke again, some time later, fee
ing mGcm refreshed sias of MY Yo, fa nf,r nurI
held my head in the hollow. of her ar
as I drank, smiling and nodding at m
Then / lay quiet for a while, ar
i a% ri %y wss n aSs rs
tion.
She told me that I was in the CHI
teau Lagunay, on the west bank or Il
Mouse River, some distance northwe
Of Verdun. In the prettiest Frenc
which could readily understan
though my own pronunciation VI
execrable, she told me how at dav
my balloon had come crashing in
grove of trees near the Chateau; he
the gardeners had released me frt
my prison in the net; and how h
been brought into the house, by
fathers Instructions, and cared
through the night. was serious
bruised about the head and shoulde
and they thought at first that I W
dead. Later her father, a Fren
nobleman Of the old regime, came
the bedside. expressed his pleasu
that Monsieur Ad-dams" (they h
learned my name from papers found
my pockets) had recovered, assuri
me that need have no concern as
my perfect welcome to remain as
guest, until should be completely l
stored to health.
1 suppose 1t was the shock that bio
ted out, for the next few days.
recollection OF my identity, or my I
cent experience. / knew simply that
was, in Paradise, with this adorat
angel always at hand to minister
hunger or thirst and to talk softly
me at intervals between maps. S
teid me much about herself She W
bat twenty, an only child, with
mother that she could remember. S
and her father and the faithful &C