The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-04-07
HOME CIRCLE MAGAZINE SECTION

singing through the taut wires, the
quick response of the delicate machine
to the slightest deviation of the rudder,
the trembling of the light framework,
all combined to tell the story. l 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 a year of ordinary existence.
We swept swiftly past the great city,
blazing with lights along It's water front,
still sleeping In its night shadow, as
though we were a wild bird breasting
its way northward In search of soil
tude. We glimpsed the eurving 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 1T a 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 cir fresh on
our faces. All that was -sordid and
mean had been left far below; about
US, uneharted, a vast expanse, was
the clear, pure atmosphere of the
world, Isolated from our race, and
all its hatred and strifes, the masters
of new realm, the bold navigatoTs of
q new sea.
Once, way down below, q tiny thing
to our eyes as we swept bTeathlessly
past, vessel showed dimly, steaming
southwark, a great white passenger
boat, no doubt, heading for the harbOr.
A glimpse, and we were gone. Once
\ 4 , i Il L
down, swift as 8 falling arrow, until
we saw the white caps cresting the
waves, only to mount again, ike some
frightened bird into the higher levels,
our great wings swooping to the
renewed pressure of air. Then 1
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
a dull gray cloud, hiding the distant
waters. We were alone-alone; q mere
atom, winging silent passage through
the sky, In a world of our own
For the first time l turned my head
and looked at her, my heart throbblng
to the sudden recollection OF her
presence This was not all new to
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.
1 touched the gloved 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
MademoiseIle," 1 said, relieved in
stantly by their expression The
height does not trouble you?
NO" she answered, shading her
mouth with one hand, so as to speak
freely IL do not seem to have
had time; 1t has been so swift, so un-
expected, so marvellous. I hardly knew
when we left the earth; there was no
sensation whatever"
"You expected to be dizzy? to ez-
perience the same feeling as when
gazing down from a great height"
eyes, of counsel 1 could never bear