n the bottom of the car, while Kenneth
Moore, bending over me, poured his horrible love into my ear:--

"Minnie! My Minnie! Why did you try to play me false? Didn't you know
your old playmate better than to suppose he would give you up? Thank
your stars, girl, you are now quit of that scoundrel, and that the very
steps he took to ruin you have put it in my power to save you from him
and from your wilful self."

I forgot that he did not know Phillip and I had been married that
morning, and, indignant that he should speak so of my husband, I accused
him in turn of seeking to destroy me. How dared he interfere with me?
How dared he speak ill of a man who was worth a thousand of himself--who
had not persecuted me all my life, who loved me honestly and truly, and
whom I loved with all my soul? I called Kenneth Moore a coward, a cruel,
cowardly villain, and commanded him to stop the balloon, to let me go
back to my home--back to Phillip Rutley, who was the only man I could
ever love in the whole wide world!

"You are out of your senses, Minnie," he answered, and he clasped me
tightly in his arms, while the balloon mounted higher and higher. "You
are angry with me now, but when you realize that you are mine for ever
and cannot escape, you will forgive me, and be grateful to me--yes, and
love me, for loving you so well."

"Never!" I cried, "never! You are a thief! You have stolen me, and I
hate you! I shall always hate you. Rather than endure you, I will make
the balloon fall right down, down, and we will both be dashed to
pieces."

I was so furious with him that I seized the valve-line that swung near
me at the moment, and tugged at it with all my might. He grasped my
hand, but I wound the cord about my arms, held on to it with my teeth,
and he could not drag it from me. In the struggle we nearly overturned
the car. I did not care. I would gladly have fallen out and lost my life
now that I had lost Phillip.

Then Kenneth took from his pocket a large knife and unclasped it. I
laughed aloud, for I thought he meant to frighten me into submission.
But I soon saw what he meant to do. He climbed up the cordage and cut
the valve-line through.

"Now you are conquered!" he cried, "and we will voyage together to the
world's end."

I had risen to my feet and watched him, listened to him with a thrill of
despair; but even as his triumphant words appalled me the car swayed
down upon the side opposite to where I stood--the side wh