isa-normaladvance-1903-00125

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE.125A Witch and an Air-snip.It was nearing midnight as Jack Thornton satsmoking in the luxurious cabin of his air-ship, theZella, speeding on its way from New York Cityto Boston. Far away on the horizon an occasional flash of lightning, followed by a low rumbleof thunder, foretold a coming storm. The engineer was crowding the machine to its utmost andthe irregular throbbing of the engine, beating likea fevered pulse, forced itself upon Jacks ears andadded to the disturbance running riot in his brain.Confound it all, he exclaimed, those cursedengines will drive me mad if I stay in here.Rising he strode out upon the narrow deck thatextended around the air-ship and tossed his Havana over the rail. Not a star was to be seen, onlyan impenetrable inky vault above and murkyblackness below, broken here and there by the glareof electric lights from scattered towns, or the dullglimmer of a lighted express train moving lazilyalong some five hundred feet below. He movedaround to the stern and sat down near the rapidlywhirling propeller listening to its steady whir andletting its mystic sound steal over his troubledsenses.Well, I suppose I am pretty much of a bruteafter all to think that Helen alone is to blame forthis. I have half a mind to go and see her againwhen I am in Boston and tell her that I dont carea rap for that rattle-brained Jessie Clifton andask her to take the ring again. But, no, she emphatically ordered that I should never try to seeher again and I suppose that ends it. If it hadnot been for that harmless little affair with Jessieat the Springs,—Oh well, hang it, its all overnow, but Helen is a deucedly fine girl and it cutslike a knife to lose her.Jack lighted a fresh cigar and drawing hiscoat closer about him, for it was cool at his elevation, sank back on a deck bench and closed hiseyes to the hum of the propeller. Suddenly hewas startled by a shrill whistle of alarm from thefront, followed by a quick reversing of the engine.He sprang to his feet and ran around to the engineer in time to see him drag the form of a badlyfrightened but uninjured old woman upon thedeck.What is the matter, Franak ? he exclaimed. .Nothing, except that I ran into this old lady.She is not much hurt, I think, but you had bettertake her into the cabin.Jack led the trembling old woman into thelighted room and looked at her in astonishment.He saw before him a little, weazened creature, agedand bent. Her long, gray hair, disorded by thewind, hung over her shoulders and down her back.Shining through some of these stray locks, twopiercing black eyes were turned upon Jack in wonder and alarm. She was clad in an old fashionedfull skirt and bodice and wore a large kerchiefabout her neck and shoulders. On her head wasan immense peaked hat and in one hand she carried a bottle of green liquid in the other an oldand battered broom.Madam, are you hurt? inquired Jack kindly.No, not much, but where am I ? she replied,looking about her with a frightened look.You are aboard the air-ship, Zella, aboutseventy miles from New York, bound for Boston.I am Jack Thornton at your service. But may Iask how you came here? returned Jack as heplaced a chair for his strange visitor.An air-ship! Well did I ever! cried the oldwoman sinking into the chair apparently much relieved, but still clutching her bottle and broom,while her peaked bonnet nodded violently aboveher.But who are you, Madam, and how did youcome here ? insisted Jack.Oh, I cannot tell you my name, but I am awitch from Salem, she replied. You see, I wason my way from Boston to New York on an errandfor a Boston girl and was sailing along on mybroom when a bright light flashed in my eyes andblinded me. The next thing I knew a man hadgrasped me and drawn me aboard, so here I am.I am glad he caught me for it would have been anawful fall on those rocks below.Thornton leaned back in his chair and laughed
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/33898
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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