The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-08-28
(copYR,eHT 1919
WG.c CHAPMAN


and every single window was. In my
imagination, filled with the forms OF
earlier owners; great lords and fair
ladies' who had played each his or her
part In the history OF Clichy and left
the scene. Something OF the sense OF
this continuity made my surroundings
singuiarly unreal. The Comte and
Charles mother seemed now hardly
more than phantoms upon ghostly
stage In mysterious setting. But
such fancies we're morbid. ! turned
my face resolutely away and started
the motor. ] felt the wheels reyolve
and take the soft sod under me: there
was q moment OF swift gliding. and the
ground shot from beneath me.
II pressed the lever that controlled
the rudder and few upward Now
was cool and calm as though this we're
the flight OF an experienced aeronaut.
was. In thought. again flying with
Charles in the English aviation meet
Ing. Right and left the monoplane
turned at my insistence. skimming the
soft airs lightly as swallow. ! rose
above the tops of the old elms and
circled the grounds. Once, twice l
made this course, and then. rising to
two hundred feet. shot straight as a
bee eastward toward Paris.
Towns and villages unrolled them
selves beneath me IA | sped over the
fair panorama OF northern France.
kept an altitude OF about four hundred
feet; In this manner ! was enabled
TO travel by the bright ribbons of the
railway line, clearly perceptible below
me. and, at the same time, to escape
any too intimate contact with the deni-
Gems OF the district: for above all
things | wished to avoid awakening
curiosity as to my Identity and desti-
nation. Several times railroad train,
| unrolling like caterpillar out of the
ground, swept past me; twice, too. |
| OUTRAGED trains Paris bound. The ma
chine seemed like sentient thing.
| no longer wondered that we had beat
en- all our competitors In London, for
we seemed SO to harmonize that we
were no longer twain; was an aerial
centaur. and this mechanism of steel
and aluminium was part OF me.
After an hour and half dark blur
beginning to spread over the horizon
told me that | was approaching Paris,
had resolved not to fly over the capt.
| tai lest some too adventurous news
paper should send out Its aeroplane
correspondent In search OF me. One
thing | longed for greatly-a news
paper, that might learn how Charles
Jared, what was the latest news OF the
trial. and whether the flight that |
was to make had yet become public
knowledge. But overcame my long
Ing and. wheeling In southeasterly
direction. mounted to an altitude OF a
thousand feet and shot over the green
tracery OF the Bots. which from that
height appeared exactly like a field
OF corn In tassel, set on an indistin-
guishable brown background. At this
height. though 1t was July. the air
was crisp and keen, the wind sang
past my ears. every sense tingled with
exuberance. must save Charles
Now It was impossible no longer; no
longer dangerous even. flashed over
the poplar-lined roads of the environs
and. gradually descending to a height
OF four hundred feet again. made my
way along the highway In the direc.
tion OF Troyes. where | descended al
noon In u large field to lunch and to
inspect my motor.
Everything was satisfactory
stepped out. little cramped, and
lying upon bank of softest turf
snatched a few morsels of bread and
cheese. washing them down with q
draft OF clearest spring water from q
rill near by The sight OF the great
bird had already aroused the interest
of the nelghborhood. and knew that
my sojourn must be brief one. In
fact. hardly had | rinsed my hands
after my meal when the advance guart
of the rustic population came running
up In the shape of a farmers boy
who. seeing me. threw up his hand:
In dumfounded Amusement, suffering.
ITS woman Holy Virgin. 1
woman!"
Seeing that little group was NOV
J I ing over the brow of the hill, and no
! wishing TO communicate anything o
my purpose or identity, | entered tn,
machine again and started the motor
AS the wheels revolved they shoutet
: and ran forward threateningly, thei
: first impulse. after fear. being hate
] q phenomenon common eyerywher
among the unintelligent. For me
E ment l feared that the long gras
+ would hold my fight; then. just a
e the first came painting up, the mono
y plane rose. almost sweeping him froT
d his feet with whir of it's might
d wings; l heard cries OF anger beneat
q me- ! looked down and waved NJ
8 hand. What were these Doors TO m
y when Charles honor and liberty weF
J. at stake! Charles! The wind san
D his name through the steel stays, tn
y. motor hummed It. | was high in a
once more. sweeping along the grea
sr white, dusty road toward Dijon.
X The sun sank lower, the air gre
a | keener vet. oiOuda rnfJfuo M 90,