The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-04-20
HOME CIRCLE MAGAZINE SECTION

quick response OF the delicate machine
to the slightest deviation of the rudder,
the trembling of the light framework,
all combined o.tell the story. felt
to the full the deep exhilaration of
rapid movement, the consciousness
of power. This was indeed life, an
experience wherein an hour was well
worth year of ordinary existence.
We swept swiftly past the great city,
blazing with lights along its water front,
still sleeping in its night shadow, as
though we were wild bird breasting
its way northward in search of soil
,tude We glimpsed the curving line
of shore, the blacker outlines of piers,
the dim tracery of vessels, still illumined
by harbor lights; watching them all
disappear as though some mysterious
power had swept them from existence.
Every instant, every throb of the
motor, brought with it new vista,
a fresh revelation, an unexpected
marvel We were on wing, buoyant,
free, sweeping through the gray sky,
the paling stars still visible in the
west, the sweet morning air fresh on
our faces. All that was sordid and
mean had been left far below; about
us, uncharted, vast eXpanse, was
the clear, pure atmosphere of the
heights We were alone in another
world, isolated from our race, and
all its hatred and strifes, the masters
of new realm, the bold navigators of
new sea.
Once, way down below, a tiny thing
to our eyes as we swept breathlessly
past, a vessel showed dimly, steaming
southwark, q great white passenger
boat, no doubt, heading for the harbor.
A glimpse, and we were gone. Once
we encountered pocket" and glided
down, swift as falling arrow, until
we saw the white caps cresting the
waves, only to mount again, like some
frightened bird into the higher levels,
renewed pressure of air. Then
pointed our course into the northeast,
my eyes on the compass screwed into
the arm of my seat, The shore line
disappeared, and we swept forward
into the increasing mist, now golden
tinged all about us by the first pene-
trating rays of the sun, but below
dull gray cloud, hiding the distant
waters. We were alone-alone; mere
atom, winging silent passage through
the sky, in world of our own.
For the first time turned my head
and looked at her, my heart throbbing
to the sudden recollection of her
presence This was not all new to
me; | had felt the rare exhilaration
of such flight often before, but how
would the strange experience appeal
to her? Her silence her strained
attitude, the shapeless figure, muffled
in the great coat, told nothing. l
could see the contour of her face beneath
the cap shadow, and it appeared white
in the spectral glare, her eyes staring
straight ahead into the gray smother.
touched the glove1 hand, where It
still grasped the arm of the seat, and
she glanced around quickly, smiling
bravely as her eyes met mine.
"You are not frightened then
Mademoiselle, / said, relieved in
stantly by their expression. The
: height does not trouble you"
"No," she answered, shading hel
mouth with one hand, so as to speak
freely 81 do not seem to have
had time; it has been so swift, so UNI
expected, so marvellous. hardly knew
when we left the earth; there was nc
sensation whatever"
"You expected to be dizzy? to ex-
, perience the same feeling as wher
: gazing down from great height?'
'"Yes, of counsel could never bear
: that, and the very thought sickeneo
me Bilt | have not felt so in the