Love And Ballooning

"No," said the scientist, reflectively, to a bevy of girls who were watching the inflation oí' a monster balloon. in which a dar ing "Champion oí Aerial Navigation" was to ascend to a great altitude, and descend by means of a parachute. "No; neitherareof modern invention." "Who first thought of them?" queried Belle Chalmers, a saucy, black-eyed lass, ■who delighted in "poking fun" at the grayhaired oíd student. "The Montgolüer brothers, of Lyons, France, are entitled to the honor of a first success. though," with a merry twinkle iu his eyes, "it is recorded that one Icarus, son of Daedalus- " "What horrid ñames !" "Incurred the anger of Minos, King of Crete, and to escape his vengeance, fastened a pair of wings upon his shoulders with- hum, perhaps beeswax, and flew away." "Then he is entitled to the honor and not the Mont-something brothers." "Scarcely, for he carne to grief. Ven turing too near the sun, the adhesivo preparation melted, and Icarus carne tumbling down through space." "And was killed?" sympathetically. "Unquestionably," sarcaaticaüy. "I neverheard of itbefore, professor." "Very likcly, as it happened about 1425 R. C," replied the oíd man, with a dry cough. Then he continued : "In 1797 one Andrew Jacques Garnsrin in Paris descended some 6,000 feet by means of a parachute." "Alive, professor?" "Yes, but upon trying it again was maimed for life. The next attempt was by one Robert 'Crocker at Vauxhall Garden, London, in ÍS37." "Did he succeed?" " In being dashed to pieces. By the way, Miss Curiosity, the verdict of the coroner's jury in the case was curious," and he read from a book fllled with memoranda: "We find that the deceased, Robert Crocker, came to nis death casually, and by misfortune, in consequence of receiving divers severe injuries upon theearth in falling from a parachute of his own invention and contrivance, appended to a balloon, and we farther add that the parachute was moving toward the death of the deceased, and is therefore deodand and forfeit to the Queen." 'A very lucid explanation, i nave no doubt, professor, though I haven't the slightest idea what it means,1' laughed Belle; "but who next teinpted íate and broke his neck?" " For about üfty years the matter appears to have rested. Then ' Professor ' Baldwin demonstrated the practicability of such descents, and astonished the world. For the inflation he uses either coal gas or hydrogen generated from water by the vitrolio prooess, and - " "Pieaae don't indulge in any seientific jargon," exclaimed Belle, holding up her dainty hands as to ward off an avalancha of big word. " The verdict carne very near killing me, and a learned explanation would complete the murder." " Well, then, Miss Ignorance, he goes up -Ithiuk he has beon considerably over a mile - detaches his parachute and comes down - " " With a rush?" " Probably, but you wouldu't f all so f ast, young lady." " Why V' with questioning eyes as well as voice. "Because vanity is proverbially light," and having had his revenge, the old man passed on to auother group to air his erudition. Meanwhile the balloon was expandingita buge folds, and straining at the restraining ropes, with a gaping crowd watching the fastening of trapeze bar and parachute. The arrangements were superintended by a somewhat fine and deteraiined-looking young man, who soon became knovn as the daring aeronaut. With Belle Chalmers he was evidently well acquainted, for he lingered by her side, chatted faimüarly, and her rising color told that L words might have a deeper interest for her thau others understood. "No, Miss Chalmers," he said, in answer to a question, "dan;jer has been reduced to a minimum. Study and experimental science have become its master. At least while flying through the air there is littleto fear, and about all one has to guard against is landing." "It must be glorious, must be a thrilling sensation, to become as a bird," she said, glowing with enthusiasm. " Yes, it is an almost breathless swing, and-" hc hesitated. Then seeing that her companions had passed beyond hearing, he continued : "It would be the crowning glory of my life, Belle, to havo you with me ior even a single trip." "But not for life?" she questioned, archly, as she flashed the black diamond light of her beautiful eyes upon him. "You know what I mean, dear. The other has been already promised." "Hush ! That secret is as yet known only to our hearts," and she glanced around as ii fearful he had been overheard. "And faithfully will I keep it as I will tenderly keep you. But as rcgards my other wish, Belle!" "Above all things would I like to go, that is, for a little distance. My heart would fail if venturinK vory far, as it does when 1 losa sight of you in the clouds." "That would be very easy. Before I go upon my giuud ilight I will makc a little as. icencon, having the balloon fastened to the earth by ropes. Many ladies have done 80." "Have thcy, indeed! Let m catch you taking one again, sir?" and sho shook her Sngers vvith playful tbreatening. "Jealous!" ho laughed. "Go with me, then, and learn what a raro placa it is for love-making. " "If Ican." The difficulty Bello had in gaiumg the consent of her parents ("old fogies," sho disrespectfully called them) to making "sucU an exhibition of herself," even her most intímate girl friends knew nothing about. And though there was great commentwhen the fact was learned that she was "going up in a balloon," yet all agreed that she looked -the men "divine," and the unenvious of the girls " just too lovely for any thing," when she appeared. As to dress she wore a Bloomer costume of blue cloth, daintily fashioned, an edged and braided with white braid, with her black curls hanging loosely from under a jaunty little cap and long white plume, her cheeks as Jacquiminot roses, and her eyes twinkling as stars. Had she been anticiputing the trip for months, she could not have been better pre,pared. At least the lover thought so, but ;gave no expression to his surprise bevond lifting his eyebrows and a peculiar smile, whicb Belle answered by a saucy elevation of nose naturaily and decidedly retrousse. With every thing ready she stepped into the basket of the balloon, cheered by the waiting hundreds, and soared as some mon■ster bird, not far from one who was accustomed to be lost among the clouds, but very high for one who never beforehad ventured to thus leave the oarth. " It is grand 1 It is glorious, this freedom of motion and breath 1" she exclaimed, in the fullness of her happiness. "And gives you, Belle, a triflo of the feeling one has at an altitude where every thing you now see is lost to the eye ; when breathingis difflcult and the brain becomes dizzy." "I would not daro to go higher. As it is, I am awed, nay, my very soul shrinks in a realization of the intinite, as 1 never dreamed of before." "We vill not go higher. As long as you please we will drift about here, then descend." "What if an accident should happen? Oh, f the rope should break and we shoot upwardl" and he feit the hand resting within his tremble, and suddenly become as ice. "No danger of that," ho answered, with a re-assuring smile. "But probably we had better descend. You are becoming too nervous; too much terrified for enjoyment." "Wait j et a little. It is an experience I shall nev3r forget, and I would have it last as long as possible." "I remember well when I feit as you do, Belle, tLougli it is commonplace now, and-" "Merciful Heaven ! what does this sudden shooting up, this outcry, mean?" and the roses of her cheeks were blanched with horror. He knew but too well, needed not to be told that the balloon had become loosened. And knowiug as well that the life he loved more than his awn hung upon prompt action, he was not slow of decisión. "Belle," he said, taking both of her hands within his own, "you are a brave girl, and must do as I direct, or Heaven alone knows what the consequence will be." "What must I do I" was questioned in a hoarse, strained voice. "Must descend my means of a parachute or- " "I can not- can not. Rather would I dia with you." At another time such a confesión would have been the sweetest of earth. Now it nearly drove hitn to madness. Yet stil] keeping command of himself. he answered : "Keep up your courage, Üttle girl, and all will be well. Grasp the handles thus, and in an instant you will be in the arma waiting to receive you." The parachute was ready. He had secured her against falling by fastening her to it with a rope, knotted around her waist; had opened the valves and permitted tha gas to escape and the balloon to f all as lov as possible, without endangering the glossy silken folds. Then drawing her to him he kissed the girl again and again, told hei there was no danger, and realizing it to b her only chance, launched her into the air. Against tears and entreaties, with fort that could scarcely be called gentle, it waa done, and as she shot down, he feit that hia heart went with her, and that if any tbins serious huppencd to her it would break. Those below saw tbe comiug as of an immense blue bird and cage; at first verj fast; then slower. With open arins thej waited; with swittly-beating pulses thej reached upward, and when Belle Chalmers came within reach she was quickly seized upon, and, half fainting, she was carried in triumph to her distressed parents. It was a mighty shout that went up wheB she was rescued, and no ears welcomed ii more gladly than those of the aeronaut True, his own life was in danger, but what of that? Had death stared him in the fací he would have rejoioed, and, whirled madlj along as he was, the light of happinesi faded not from his eyes or the smile fron his lips. She was safe - that was enough. Nq very far from it. With the knowledge cam the desiro stronger than ever before to liv for her, to live with her, and instantly h did all possible to that end. lt was no easj task. The balloon had not been prepared for such a fight, but eoolness, daring and soienco at last triutnphed. He carne down uninjured, thouerh the balloon was sadlj rent. Little, however, ho gave thought to that, when a few hours later ho sat by the girl of his heart, with the trials througb which they had passed making each a thousand fold more dear to tke other. " So he is safe," was the comment of on of the bright-eyed girls who had listened to the iearned disquisition of the professor. " Safe? " laughed another, with a spiteful tossing of her long curls. "Safe? J don't know about that; isn't he going to marry Belle Chalmersi '