Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-10-30

OARS were grouped about the southern
boundary, aud now they were dew wet
and smelled family aromatic.
Ellen approached the machine, which
lay shrouded in its canvas blanket. aud
SIS very bigDess suddenly attacked her
with terror OF the prospective journey
and the danger that menaced her hrs-
band She wrung her hands nervous
~, striving TO think of some method
that would deter Hiram from flying
that night Under the blue sky and
sunshine II would not seem SO dread
ful-so dangerous.
Fifteen minutes later she was return
ing from the barn Juggling at a long
rope az the end of which q small
anchor bumped over or stuck into the
ground with annoying frequency. In
the shadow OF what she knew to be
the rear of the machine Ellen paused
and lifted the canvas. She surveyed
the intricate machinery with a grow
ing conviction that her husband must
be deferred from making an ascension
above the ground. Suppose some part
SnOulu give way
She had determined upon what es-
pecial rod she would tie the rope and
thus anchor Hiram 10 the ground until
she could by wit or vile prevail upon
him to give up the risky adventure,
when she heard his approaching steps.
She whisked away in the shadow
OF the machine just in time to receive
the mufiiing folds of canvas In a
cloud upon her form. She freed her
head and shoulders and crOuched I'M
seen BY her husband. Carefully he
examined the air fiier. trying each
bolt and nut. lingering delicate ad-
: justment here and there. his face stern
and close Tipped in the light of small
brass lantern held in one hand.
Then he moved forward; there was
the heavy chugging of the engine, and
Ellen's heart almost stopped stu. In
another instant 1t would be too late
to detain him-he would be out of her
reach. beyond her touch, and he could
not hear her plea for pardon.
1t had flown above the house. Ellen
darted desperately forward, CROPPED
for and found the anchor, tied the
rope hastily and clumsily 10 the near
est projecting rod. paused to tie an
other hard. square knot before JAM
ming the fiukes on the anchor into the
soft turf.
With a whirring rush the machine
started down the slope. the wheels re-
volving dizzily. The anchor whipped
after, and somehow Ellen's hands
closed desperately about the fukes,
and then she felt herself rising up
ward with terrifying velocity.
Clutching the anchor. Ellen swept
up with the machine very much like
the. tail to a gigantic kite. She heard
Hiram's voice swearing vigorously.
and she felt no horror. She closed her
eyes tightly and held on Her feet
brushed treetops once or twice, and
she knew she was above the cedar
grove. Then one foot tangled in some
crooked branch, and she lost her hold
on the anchor. With a frightened cry
she fell into the embracing arms or
the close limbed cedars. Through an
aperture in the branches she saw the
air fier dart upward and away
through the moonlight. the anchor
dangling like twisted thread. until
the noise of the engine died away and
all was still.
Graded in the treetops. Ellen dared
not stir for fear Of falling. She was a
slight woman, and she had fallen
snugly into strong branches that curv-
ed upward Ike the ribs OF a ship
Her hands were torn and bleeding.
her face was scratched, and her twist
ed ankle panied horribly. But above
all was the agony of belief that her
husband had gone forth into space
and would never return
Too wretched to cry aloud more
than once. she huddied. cold and sim,
through the long hours Of the night
Owls booted unpleasantly near. whip
poorwiils throbbed in the thickets. and
all around were the sleepy twitter or
birds and the soft brush OF WIND in
the trees.
C4le udNt AdACG ooANCP' W. Wv
sound of her name called in Hiram >
stentorian tones awakened her to pale
daylight. There was anxious terror In
his voice
Here I am" she called feebly, and
then louder. until at last he came won
deringIy 10 her rescue 1t was no;
until they were within the house and
she had scbbed out her wretchedness
on his breast that Hiram spoke sooth-
ingly.
"Do you know what you did, Ellen
Butier?- he asked. Il was in doubt
about making a successful fight. but
I didn't know what was the matter
with the machine. That there anchor
was the additional weight that bal
anced her perfectly. Whatever saved
-