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HITTCSIIXSOX, Editor.
IIlTCIIIiVSOX, Publislicr.
I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT THAN PRESIDENT. Hxset Clay
8.
TSRMS:3'00lEK AKKIJM.
I S2.00 IX ADVAXC12.
.Viu.il KITTELL, Attorney at
L:rr- 1807.
;T7vTfENL0N, Attorney at Law,
.TC2ce opposite the Bank. rjan24
OKGK M. READE, Attorney at
r Law, Ebensburg, Pa.
1 ... ... r.i i- t - r: o
TriKllNKr, Attorney at Law,
, F.lcnsburg, Cambria county, Pa.
..5-OiIice ia Colonnade How. jan24
ILNSION & SCANLAN, Attorneys
at Law, Ebensburg, Ta.
y Office opposite the Court House.
Vunsto.v. jan24j J. S. SCAKLAX.
3 C. EASLY, Attorney at Law,
:rroi;town, Cambria county, Pa.
Vcliitcctural Drawings ana fcpecin
'i?. jan24
KfTlIOE MAKER, Attorney at
Law. Ebeusbure. l'a.
r .;-;!:! r attention paid to collections.
j o rice one door east of Lloyd & Co.'
:' House.
jan24
-MlTL SINGLETON, Attorney at
Law, Ebensburg, Pa. Office oa High
:, u est of Foster's Hotel.
;:'j.rKctice ia the Courts of Cambria and
r.iur counties.
f Attends also to the collection of claims
iier3 against the Government. janli4
L011GE W. O ATM AN, Attoruey at
Law and Claim Agent, Ebensburg,
:,4 county, l'a.
.-yeusions, Back Pay and Bounty, and
v',.;rv Claima collected. RchI Estate
. ecld, and payment of Taxes at-1-6.
Book Accounts, Notes, Due B1JI3,
fci-., collected. Deeds, Mortga-i-rea's
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XiiVEllEAUX, M. D., Physician
, and Surgeon, Summit, Pa.
Cilice east of Mansion House, onltail-.-trtet.
Night calls promptly altended
: Lis office. iaay23
LMISTIIY.
Dit. D. W. Zeiqlkk, having opened an
ia the rooms over It. K. Thomaa' store,
Lis professional services to the citizens
mslurg and vicinity. apl8-4m
iNTISTltY.
The undersigned, Graduate f tae Bal
1 College of Dental Surgery, respectfully
Lis professional services to the citizens
wouauurg. He baa spared bo cleans
lUirbU acquaint himself with every im-
'. cuiv x ia his art. To nianv yeara f per-
Mience, be has Eought to add the
'".Vi: experience ot the highest authorities
Science. He eiuiply asks that an
:uuity may be given for his work to
its own praise.
SAMUEL BELFOKD, D. D. S.
VflifH.- Prof. C. A. Harris ; T. K. 3ond,
V.R. Uandy; A. A. Blandy,P. H. Aus-
wftbe Baltimore College.
bTVTill be at Ebea3burg on the fourth
:y of each month, to stay one wjek.
a nary 2t, 18u7.
UYD k CO., Banker
LuKK6ucaa, Pa.
kj GoM, SiLrer, Government Loans and
r securities bought and 6old. Interest
eloa 2 irue Deposits. Collectins made
Av. Visible points in the United States,
a OcntTii banking Business transacted.
nioY!) & Utters
Altooka, Pa.
'is on the principal cities, and Silver
'.i for sale. Collections made. Mon
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: interest, or upou time, with interest
Mtc3. jan24
li-'od, J'res't. jou.n novo, Caef4cr.
-cX NATIONAL HANK
OF ALTOONA.
GO VJ-IIXMEXT A GEA'Cl",
AND
'atj:d depository of the uni
ted status.
'Carner Virginia and Annie etg., North
'-'toona, Pa.
';'.:) CAriTAi. $300,000 00
TlTAL I'AIU IN 150,000 00
;-ess pertaining to Banking done on
'"e tones.
r'-?' l'evenue Stamps of all dcaotaina-
r'areha?iT3 of Stamjp, percentage, in
sul le allowed, as follows : $.r0 to
' -r-r cent.; $10C to $200, S per cent.
upwards, -1 i.er cent. fian24
a,
t. iL'i-JS J. LLOYD,
. . ..,.,
AINTS,
E
'niCrnSlXD MEDICINES, TAI
" ";, r, In'E-STUTFS, verfcm:
t.l f .1 Vl'V ATTfT t.-o nnnii
UsES, PATENT MEDICINES, &c.
Y'P, and Note Papers,
'as, Pencils, Superior Ink,
And other articles kept
by Druggists generally.
1rt' prescriptions carefully compounded.
. ...am cireet, opposite tne Jloun
("se, Ebensbur-, Pa. rjan21
suaiuu:tts dvseut, w,
rin,n. 7 S.mat JatiJ, Grain-
i lZtU,a l.t notice, and satis-
. ".vvu. cuon in i.o o,, ., . r
Tr ,. JU(J1J
"-m, Ebensburg, pa.
rnyO-Cm
'LL SINGLETOV v
lie, Ebensburg, Pa.
ea High street, west of Foster' IIo
- jan2l
I oUULG SUN STOVElrUsiI
. beauty of polish, saving of labor
,vi and cheaim.K ..
1
iiu uiuvr. J: or
GEO. HUNTLEY'S.
EBENSBURG, PA., THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1867.
NUMBER 31.
ADRIFT IB ft BflLLOOH.
"Mr. Hey ytoocI, -what have you done ?"
"Out the etay-rope of the balloon, Miss
Kensetr, and I am alone with you at last."
There v?as a gleam of strange triumph
in the young man's haodsome eyes as he
epoke, and tho young lady ilung back the
thick vail that had until now Bhrouded
her head, and turoed a beautiful pale face
awaylrom him to look for help. It was
too late to hope for any aid. As he had
said, Ilalph Heyvrood had severed with a
Btrorj, 6harp knife, the cable that was to
retuuiu attached to tho balloon during its
perilous voyage, and in an instant it had
risen tejond any reach of those below.
&he taw the Bwaying crowd that had come
to witness the ascent, presenting to her
view a eea of upturned faces, each ono
white with the horror of the catastropho
that had occurred ; is lie saw the men cn
the platform looking with amaze at the
cut rope, and the professional aeronaut who
was to have accompanied them gazing
alter them and stretching out his arms in
a gesture of despair ; she could hear the
murmur of the excited throng, and even
catch the shouts of some of the men who
were trying to explain the accident, but
at every second the sounds grew fainter,
tho man of people moro indistinct as tho
balloon roso steadily higher and higher,
until the park, with its crowd, became a
mere small portion of tho great city that
whs spread out below them.
And so Kate Kensctt and Ralph Hey
wood were alone together once more.
a . m
A jcar ago tnis nad not been so rare a
thing. These two had 6peut loug summer
hours in rambles through tho woods, in
rides by the sparkling ocean, in chats on
the moonlight piazza, and seemed never
tierd of the solitude a dzux.
Kate Kensett was a handsome, imperi
ous woman, an only child, and mistress
for the many years since her mother's
death, of her father's Hue establishment.
A haughty beauty, who bad refused &
scora of offers, and thought herself proof
against love, when she had attained the
age of twenty-Eeven, still heart-whole.
Ilalph lleywooi was two years her
junior, an impulsive young fellow, who
kdured Kate from the first moment he
saw her, and was hopelessly and over
whelmingly in love with her by tho time he
bad been three months with her so much
iu Jgyj that, dre.uing he had somo en
couragement in the softer light of her
gray eyes, and finding himself wholly
UBfcLle any longer to affect indifference,
he made a mad, dcperata avowal of his
lling, only to be refused with eold
decision.
Kalph went out from Kate's presence
after that, utterly stunned and overcome.
It was all over, then, and the hopes that
hi4 bean so dear to him must ho given
up. Yet be surely had had some reason
to indulge his pasaion, soma encourage
ment to success from his haughty beauty.
No ! it must be his own vanity alone which
had led him to this error : he was a con
ceited coxcomb, who deserved to suffer
for his lolly, and heartsore and crushed,
tha poor fellow went from the dsngerous
country where Kate resided, back to town.
A little while after this, Ifeywood, by
the sudden death of an uncle, became the
inheritor of a handsomo fortune. Tho
moderate competence he had before pos
sessed expanded to wealth, and llalph was
ona of the richest single men in New York.
Soon after this Kate came to the eity.
Kalph saw her again. At their first meet
ing a quick flufch overspread tha whiteness
of her eomplcxicn, and his heart beat high
with a new hope, lie lingered about her
whenever he could. She did not repulse
him, and then one day, when he chanced
to find her alone, he burst out with a pas
eicnate renewal of his suit.
"Oh; Kate, Kato ! I love you so desper
ately ! Do listen to me, at least, and try
to love me. I am rich now, you know.
Do let me share my wealth with you."
Miss Kennsett started up and turned
very pale at these words.
"Mr. Heywood, do you think I am to
be bought!"' she demanded haughtily.
"Oh, no, not that, Kato ! But it does
not seem so preposterous for me to ask you
to marry me now. You are so glorious
that you ought to have all the luxury that
money can buy, and that I will givo you."
"You remember, Mr. Ileywood, what
my answer was to you last summer. You
must understand my character very poorly
if you fancy your added fortune can make
me change it."
"Don't you really care for me at all ?"
ho asked, pleadiugly, as ho came and stood
closo beside her, his blue eyes full of
passionate entreaty.
Miss Kcnsett's voice trembled a little
as she said :
"You know I liked you as a friend."
"Aa a friend I" ho repeated, impetuous
ly. "Oh, Kate, Katei have you never
loved me at all V and he held out his
hand, imploringly.
She drew back a 6tcp, and her paleness
increased.
"All this is folly," she said. "You are
younger than
to talk of
I am, Kalph
marriage
let us do inends, as we
ail this."
It is absurd
between ' us. ." Come,
were, ana
forgot
"Porget it, Kato I I can never do that.
I love you, and shall love you to my dying
day ! I cannot pretend to be only your
friend."
Misa Kensett's lip curled.
"You are bo young, Ralph, you will
outlive this fancy.
"You ridicule me, ho said, sadly.-
"Well, Kate, I can only piove my lovo by
endurance, and that time alone can mani
fest. Oh, I know you think my character
weak, and that I am not like the man
you would chooso for your husband.
Perhaps you think I have forgotton that
description you gave me one day last
summer of your ideal man. I recolleot
every word. Ho was utterly unlike me, I
remember well. lie has to bo thirty-six
years old, with black hair and eyes, stern,
cold, reserved to all the world but you.
Kate, Kate ! do you really think you could
love such a man better than you ever
could love me V
He put the question bo suddenly that
Kate was unprepared for it, and be had
clasped one of her hands in his and pressed
it to hia lipa before sho oould prevent
him.
A vivid color dyed her face as sho felt
the touch of that passionate kiss.
"Kate Kate 1 my own ! my lovo 1" ha
murmured.
lut she snatched back her hand, and
turned quickly away.
"I will not listen to you any longer,
Ralph," she said, quickly. "Leave me,
now, and do not come to see me any more.
It will be useless, I tell you, for I never
will bo alona with you again."
"I will go if you insist," he said. "I
would not persecute you with an unwel
come suit, but I will not promise not to
eome here, Kato. I shall see you as often
as possible; It will be my only happiness."
lie went out, and when the echo of his
footsteps died away Miss Kensett sank
down on a Eota and hid her faoe iu her
hands.
Could he have seen her then, perhaps
Ilalph would not have despaired.
Even as it was, ho showed good pluck
in his pursuit, for all winter he scarcely
allowed a day to pass without seeing her ;
in the park, at the opera, at receptions or
balls, he was sear her, but for months
Kato succeeded in keeping to her resolu
tion, and they were never alone together.
As the time passed on, and Ralph saw
her surrounded with other admirers and
always inaccessible, he grew desperate.
He was resolved he would see her alone,
at all hazards, and when chance threw in
his way this strange, meeting, ho could
not resist tho temptation of procuring one
last interview with the woman he adored.
As tha balloon slowly rose, there was
silence between the two for many min
utes. Gradually the great city unrolled
before them like a map. Thev could see
the lines of the streets, tho greeu reach of
tho great iark, and at last tha sparkling
waters of the two rivers, and tho broad
bay with its innumerable ships. It was
a bright May afternoon, and the sky had
seemed almost cloudless, but as they rose
higher a chill struck them, and on a sud
den they passed within a thin band of
vapor, and the world beneath was shut
out from them entirely. They wero ut
terly alone now.
Kate shivered as the damp struck har
heart, and llalph drew near to her with a
large Bhawl.
"You are cold ; let me wrap this about
you," ho said, gentiy.
Tho haughty woman seemed almost
conquered. She permitted him to draw
the warm folds around her, and her large
eyee, as they wero turned ou his for the
first lime, had a shadow of fear in their
depths.
"Kate," said Ralph, and he half encir
cled her with his arm, "you think I am a
madman and have resolved to kill you."
"You are in tho. same peril yourself,"
she replied.
"But the danger is not so great as you
imagine. 1 have been up in this same
bal loon several times before. Do you re
member my telling you last summer how
I had always had a fancy far aeronautics,
or have you forgotten everything about
that happy summer?"
"I do remember it," sho said.
"I have read a good deal on the sub
ject," he coutinued, "and this winter
almost the only thing I have thought of
but you has been these ascensions. As
soon as this balloon was brought here, I
came to examine it, and have been up in
it nearly every Saturday 6ince."
"But it was always attached to a rope."
"Yes, that is true; still that makes
very little real differonco in the danger.
I understand the management of it per
fedtlyj but I had never dreamed .of seeing
you at one of these ascensions."
A sudden flush dyed Kate's face.
"No," she said, "I ought not to have
come, bvt you know I have always had a
fancy for investigating anything out of
the way, and ever aince I saw tho adver
tisement of these ascensions I have longed
to try one. This afternoon father was out j
I wrapped myself np and put on a thick
vail, and came up here, not thinking to be
recognized."
"I knew you -at once," said Ralph; "the
moment I caught sight of your figure, I
did not need to hear your voice. When
you spoko to the professor, though, that
would have set at rest any doubt."
VAnd 1 did not sec you until I steeled
into the car, or "
"You would not haveoome,' ho added,
sadly. 4' Well, Kate, I will not persecute
you, now that wo are so really alo.no to
gether. I was resolved to 6eo you once
more before I go away."
"You are going away ?"
"Yes, to Europe. I was determined to
bid you good-by alono at every risk, and
when I saw that we two were the only
passengers, I could not resist the impulse
that seized me to make the trip alone with
you."
"You are very rash, Ralph."
"You have only yourself to blame for
it," ho said. "Bus-there really is no
danger; if we wish to go higher we have
only to. throw out some of these sand-bags,
and when you wish to descend I will open
the vhlve, the gas will escape, and we shall
reach terra firma quickly and safely."
As he spoke they passed beyond the
shrouding vapor, and Kate, turned to look
below her. The balloon was floating
across the East Ri7er ; beneath them they
could see the broad stretch of tho waters,
the green shores dotted with neat country
seats, the islands with their stalwart buil
dings. They were so remote now that
they could no longer distinguish any hu
man beings, and the ships seemed to move
over tho waves as by enchantment, the
vehicles on shore to glide along as in
some fairy pinorama, while the intense
and strange stillness around them was
unbroken by any sound. The effect was
inexpressibly weird of this looking down
on aoity and country all wrapped in utter
silenco, and to float there, with only the
vast heavens above them and the drifting
clouds for companions.
"Is it not beautiful?' said Ralph.
"It is, indeed, awfully beautiful," and
her eyes lit up with enthusiasm ; "and I
should enjoy it intensely if "
"If it were not for me." said Ralph,
bitterly.
"No, not that," she replied, quickly;
"if it wero not for the danger.
"There is no danger, Kate," ho said ;
"we will go down at once it you wish it."
cried
we aro
Oh, not here," she
directly over tho water."
"Not just yet ; the wind is a little north
of west, and we shall soon be above Green
point; then, if you wish to descend, we
will eome down, and, as we can easily find
a carriage there, we shall bo back in town
ia an hour."
"I think we had better descend as soon
as we can," said Kate ; "it would be ter
ribla if I were to be out late ; even as it
is, I"tear there will-be an unpleasant no
toriety about the adventure."
"And you are vexed with me for that ?
But, Kate, there is no need of any one
knowing your name. I will take eare of
all that. Oh, do not be angry with me !"
"I am not angry, Ralph. Do you really
mean ti go away ?"
"Yes ; why should I stay here longer,
to be made wretched ? After thL?, you
w:n
never see me again;
Kate changed color a little, but she set
her lips resolutely and turned away her
face.
44 We are over the land now," she said ;
"I think we had belter go down,"
"You really wish it ?"
"Yes."
"Oh, Kate ! I might keep you here if
I willed it, for I am master novr. Sup
pose I refuse to let you descend ?' and
there was a strange fire in his eyes as he
spoke.
"llalph, would you detain mo here
against my will ?"
"I don't know, Kate. You have
thought me weak in character, I know ; I
uelieve it has been one reason why you
have not loved me. Suppose for once I
prove myself the master, and keep you
here, my beautiful prisoner, in mid-air ?"
He had risen and laid his hand on the
string which communicated with the valve
in the upper part of the balloon, but he
paused as he poke. and the car sped on
its course. Miss Kensett looked up at
her companion with a strange expression
of fear and entreaty iu her eyes.
"Ralph ! don't trifle with my anxiety !"
"You ask me to have pity for you, when
you had none for me," he said.
Kate turned away her head and looked
out with real terror.
"Ralph, we are rising higher ! Oh, it
is awful I" and she hid her face iu her
hands.
He was by her side in an instant.
"My love my love !" h'e said, "do not
be distressed ! I do not wish to trouble
you. Oh 1 Kate Kate! I am more mer
ciful than you. I would lay down my
life to make you happy. Even to keep
you with me a little longer, which ia the
highest joy I know, I would not givo you
one second's uneasiness."
"I was foolish to doubt your generosity,
Ralph ," said Kate, "but there is something
bo frightful in our position.'
"Wo will go down at onoe, if it is safe,"
he replied. "But before we begin to de
scend, I must see that wo aro really over
tho land.'
Ralph swung the pmall telescope fas
tened to the side of the car into position
and looked down.
"Wo are quite right," ho said; "sure,
at least, to descend on tho land. In a
few moments, Kate, our romantic voyage
will be over."
He raised his hand to the cord and
pulled it; it did not yield to his touch.
A sudden look of alarm passed over his
face as he again essayed to move it. Miss
Kensett watched him with keen apprehension.
"Ralph, what is the matter?"
"It is nothing," ho answered, with an
attempt to look unconcerned ; "the ropa !
is entangled in some way, that is all."
He again strove to control tho valve
that would relieve tha balloon of the
buoyant gas, but all his efforts were un
availing. The obstructiou was somewhere
out of sight, too, and he could do nothing
to help them in his present position. His
face was very white as he sat down beside
Kate and took her hand in his.
."Kate," he said, "I do not ask you to
forgive me for the awful peril infco'which
we have come ; but I have lost all control
of the balloou !"
There was a moment of silence. Miss
Kcnsett's face lost every vestige of color;
but to Ralph's surprise, he saw a wonder
ful calmness come over it, though she
clasped hi3 hands tightly as she said :
"Is thare, indeed, no hops left us but
to await our fate pationtly ?"
"There is but ono chance left' ho said.
"What is that ?"
"I will tell you' presently, when you
say you have forgiven me."
"I have already done that, Ralph," she
said, and her voice wa3 very gentle now.
"Oh, Kate ! do you really forgive me
for having risked your life?"
"You did not intend it; Ralph."
"No; God knows I thought only of
seeing you alone a little whi'e, and never
dreamed of the possibility of this horror.
Even now I do not understand how it
happened."
"But you eay there is a chance?"
"Yes; you know that as the gas in the
balloon is lighter than air, it cannot escape
except from an opeuing at the top. Now,
as I cannot control tho valve, it may be
that it is loosened and will open of itself.
We will waif a little while for that; then,
if there is no help in that way, wo must,
indeed, prepare for the worst, though I
promise you, Kate, I will save your life if
1 can, even at the fiacrinco of my own."
As he spoke, it did indeed seem as if
the chance Ralph had suggested niiht
come to their aid. Certainly the balloon
descended somewhat. Looking over the
side, the voyagers could see more distinct
ly the earth beneath them, and cheered
by the hope of soon reaching it in safety,
for a little while could enjoy tho beauties
of tho wonderful scene around and below
them.
They, were drifting always over Long
Island; passing above its green plain,
they could see the villages that dot so
thickly its western shore, the lone farm
houses on the southern coast, tho long
sand beach that bars off the ocean, and
the islets that are scattered on its edge.
On the one side of tho strip of land that
Beemed so narrow was the placid Sound,
with its tranquil waters scattered over
with many ships, while ou the other was
the great sea dashing its restless billows
in a long line of foam on the white sands.
As they sank down slowly and silently
through the air, Kate and llalph wero so
relieved from apprehension that they
could enjoy turning their telescope to one
point of interest after another, watching
with amusement the groups of people that
in some of the villages marking tho line
of the railroad wero pointing out eagerly
the distant balloon ; and when they saw,
from time to time, some spyglass directed
toward them from below, they knew that
humau sympathy still followed them.
Meantime, the afternoon faded rapidly
away.- Now that there was no help for
it, Kato no longer reproached Ralph for
the long detention from home which must
result from their adventure; but as both
of them felt confident of reaching the
ground ero long, sho wa3 resolved to make
the best of the position.
Slowly the sun sank down lower and
lower over the land, that was fading into
a gray line; the clouds that wero above
them now turned yellow and orange iu
the vanishing light, and iu the darkening
sky a bright star gleamed out. Still the
balloou approached no nearer to the
ground. The ever-iucreasicg wind bore
it on swiftly; th twilight gathered so
fast that the telescope was useless, and
silence fell upon the voyagers in mid-air.
The land beneath them was a little
wrapped in shadow, only visible in con
trast with the white gleam of the tea ; on
either hand then a red light shone across
the eastwise waters, and the moon's disk
rose above the sea. Atthesame moment
it faded suddenly from sight, and au
awful chill struck to those two humsn
hearts that were alone among the clouds.
"Kate ! Kate i" cried Ralph, "we aro
rising higher; wo have been deceived by
a false hope."
Kato shivered, and as Ralph clasped
his arms about her, let her head drop on
his breast.
"My love ! my darling V he murmured ;
"but you shall not die even yet, if my Hfe
can save yours."
An awful stillness was around them,
and the mist struck sharply oa their faces
a3 they sped through it. They were en
veloped in total darkuess, rushing blindly
on to what dread fate !
Many moments passed thus, while these
two clung there together in this aerial
solitude; then a faint light etole in upou
them, and they floated above the cloud.
They had indued reached a feaiful alti
tude now. Tho land below them was a
mere dark outline, scarcely distinguishable
from the clouds that huug beneath. Thev
seemed to be alono in mid-heavens, above
the earth, abovo the moon, with only the
stars beyond them.
As soon as they were once more in tha
pale radiance, Ralph drew away gently
from Kate, and stepped on to the seat.
"What are you going to do?" sho asked.
looking up in terror.
"I am going to make tho attempt to
save your life."
"ilow ?"
"By climbing to tho top of the balloou
and opening the valve ; then it will fcurely
desceud." .
"But, Ralph 1 Ralph I" she cried, start
ing up, "you can never reach there ia
safety ; you will fall down aud be killed.'.'
He looked at her with a calm smile aa
he answered :
"That will not matter if I have opened
the valve ; there is very little danger of
my falling in the ascent, and I shall have
saved your life. It is only what I inten
ded to do ever since I discovert tha
accident; but I thought until just now
that it would be unnecessary."
She stood looking at him, holding his
hand, her pale face lit up by tha moon
light to unearthly beauty.
"Ralph, Ralph, you are going to die to
save me I" '
"Perhaps I shall not die, Kate; but I
am going to save you at all hazards."
A sudden softness spread over her face,
and her voice trembled with intense pas
sion as she said :
"Ilalph, do not go ! I love you, Ralph!
I love you ! Stay here and let us dia
together I"
"You love me, Kate !" and for a moment
the young man paused.
"Yes, yes !" said Miss Kensett. Pride
was all gone now. "I love you. I had
resolved never to tell you so ; but, oh,
Ilalph, I love you with all my heart I Do
not leave me here. I had rather a thou
sand times die with you than live without
you I"
Tho young man stepped down beside
her and clasped her in his arms, with the
light of intense joy shining in his eyes.
"You love me ! Then, Kate, I will not
die. Tho knowledge of your love will
give me courago I could never otherwise
have had. I will save us both, and wo
will be happy together yet 1"
He pressed his lips to hers, and thea
before she could detain him, sprang away
from her and began to mount the ropes.
Kate uttered one wild cry, and thed
cowered down on the floor of the car,
hiding her face in her hands, as she wait
ed in mortal agony for his return.
Steadily up over the great balloon tho
young man climbed his perilous way. But
his nerves never quailed for an instant.
He was a practical gymnast, and calmly,
as if on solid ground, he disentangled tho
cord, opened the valve, and theu com
menced the still more dangerous descent.
To Kate the seconds passed in slow",
awful agony, and when llalph again
clasped her in his arms, she could only sob
out her thankfulness in a voico choked
with passionate tears.
They were falling now. There was no
doubt of that. -
The billowy clouds, that were all sil
vered on their edges with the moon's light,
rose gradually above them, as they sank
down through .the air, until they were
beneath the floating vapor, aud could see
oucc more the outline of ocean and shore.
llalph shuddered as ho looked out, they
were so near the extreme cud of the island.
They could see the glancing waters of the
great bays that divide it, and for a while
it seemed doubtful whether they would
descend ou sea or laud.
They sat silent, hand clasped in hand,
as the end ot their voyage approached,
and the chances of life or death still hung
in the balance. All tho sea wa3 - alight
now with silvery rays, the eand was sleep-
ing like an enchanted country uuder the
radiance, and aa they drew nearer they
could trace the alterations of shadow and
light on lorest aud plain.
They were coming very near thesouth
cru shore, but their full was so swift that
there was danger of death at last by their
being dashed too suddenly from tho car.
llalph threw out sonieTf the bag9 of
sand, which lightened the balloon and re
tarded their progress downward; but all
the time the west wind bore them swiftly
toward the sea. They were almost down
again, when they perceived a little bay
beneath them, llalph, in all haste, threw
out more ballast; they passed over the
silver waters in safety, and in a moment
the balloon was wavering above eome low
trees on the further shore.
The laot danger was upon them now.
As the car swayed and struck among tho
branches, it seemed impossible even yet
to reach the grouud in safety, but pres
ently they swung on to a clearer space.
llalph flung out tho anchors, and oo at
last brought tho car to the earth, where
it rested like a stranded boat, with the
great balloon, collapsed aud helpless,
hangiog beside it.
There wero houses near, and they were
safe at last, though a long distance from
their homes. Their dangerous voyage
was over, and in the happiuess ot her
after life, Kate has never regretted the
confession she made to llalph when they
wero adrift in a balloon.
Six hundred thousand pcrson.3 died
oi the Orissa (Iudia) faminj.
IF