Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-04-12

theless, an irresistible impulse, tha
dreadful attraction which draws us in
spite of ourselves to look on what i:
horrible and approach to The very
verge of danger, impelled her to seek
the very sight she most feared to en-
counter. Her mind indeed recoiled
but her limbs, as by volition superior
to her own dragged her to the brink o.
the abyss she hadIpropheticalIy painted
where the reality presented itself with q
startling resemblance to the ideal pic
ture.
Yes, there yawned that dark chasm
unfathOmable by the human eye, q
great gulf fxed-perhaps eternally fix.
ed-between herself and the earth,
with all it contained of most dear and
precious to the heart of a wife and a
mother. Three-only the three up
permost steps ofthe gigantic staircase
still remained in their glance, land even
these as they gazed at them suddenly
plunged into the dreary void; and af-
ter an interval which indicated the
frightful depth they had to plumb,
reached the bottom with crash "a
was followed by aroll Of hollow sS1oes
from the subterranean vaults!
AS the sound ceased, the English
woman turned away with a grasp and
avlsible shudder from the, horrid chasm.
1t was with the utmost difficulty that
she had mastered mechanical iGcIi-
nation TO throw herself after the falling
nassau impulse very commonly in
duced by the unexpected descent Of a
large body from our own level. But
what had she gained? Perhaps but a
more lingering and horrible fate-a lit
tie more time to break her heart in
so many more wrelched hours to la
ment for her lost treasures-her cheer
full home-her married feIicity-her
maternal joys, and to look with una
vailing warnings toward Coblenz.
But that sunny landscape had become
intolerable; and she hastily closed her
eyes and covered her face with
her hands. Alas! she only be-
held the more wildly the household
images, and dear familiar faces that
distractingly associated the happiness
of the past with the misery ofthe pres
ent-for out of the very sweetness o
her life came intenser bitterness and
from its brightest phases On eXtremel
darkness, even as the smiling valley
beneath her had changed into that O
the Shadow ofDeath! The Destroyer
had indeed assumed almost visible
presence, and like poor trembling
bird, conscious Of the STOPPING falcon
the devoted victim sank down anc
covered on the hard, cold, rugged roo
of the fatal Tower!
The German girl, in the meanwhile
had thrown herself on her knees anC
with her neck at full stretch over the
low parapet, looked eagerly from cas-
to west for succor--but from the mil
up the stream to the ferry down below
along the road on either side 9th riv
er, she could not descry a living object
neutrality-suspicious. was one on thu
m ountain itself, moving among tn,
brushwood, and even approaching thu
castle; closer he came-and closer yet
to the very base of the Tower
But his search, whatever it was, ten
ded earthwards, for he never lookeC
upwards.
Observation-Disclosures
and the agitated speaker hurrie1l,
beckoned to her companion in misor
tune-''we must make a cry both to
geder, and so loud as we CAM" an
setting the example she raised her voc
to its utmost pitch; but the air was s.
rarifed that the sound seemed feell
: even to herself.
: AT any rate it aid not reach the fg
ure below-nor would far louder alarm
: for the figure was little Kranz, The de-
: and dumb boy ofLahnstein; who wa
gathering branches Of the valley-lillit
! for sale TO the company at the inn. Al
f cordingly after a desultory ramb
? round the ruins he descended to Il
} road and slowly proceeded along Il
water side toward the ferry, when /
= disappeared.
"Lieber Gott!" exclaimed the POT
j. girl; "'it is TOO far to make any or
: hear!"
So saying she sprang to her fee
: aud with her white handkerchief ke
$ waving signals of distress, till fro
d sheer exhaustion her arms refused the
e Office. But not one OF those pleasur
parties so frequent on fine summe
! days in that favorite valley had visite
y the spot. There was Kirch- We
e at Neundorf, down the Rhine, and Il
e holiday-makers had all proceeded wi
d their characteristic uniformity in til
I, direction.
It "Dere is nobody at ALL" said t
German, dropping her arms and he;
: in utter dependence, ''not one to 8
e u.s."
l. "And if there were," added a hc
low voice, "what human help cou