Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-12-08

every opyect, animate and inanlmate, in one gene
raj gloom; the wind whisted through the desert
Gu sttees' at one time blowing perfect hurricane
at another, moaning in unison with the stormin.
elements archnd when post-chaise, completed
encased In mud, drawn by BUR fine but Jade,
horses, was seen to enter the city of Canterbury
and draw upat the - Hotel 1t contained ON,
solitary occupant, young man, dressed i'm a grea
coat ana travelling cap, who was apparently in ;
very excited state. No sooner had the carriaot
stopped than he let himself out, and instantly or
dered fresh horses. Although the order was wha,
most persons would call promptly obeyed, yet the
stranger did not appear to be influenced by those
feelings which generally affect most persons. Hc
therefore blamed the osters, in no very measured
TERMS for what he called their tilatoriness and Inv
word end gesture underworld TO quicken their &C
,lons Tic even assisted with his own hands, moi
only To remove the horses from the carriage but a!
SO 10 Tx the traces of the fresh ones; and it was
not TIL the Positions themselves were mounting
that he again took his seat in the chase. cali
Iight resounded from the lips of the waiter, who
nad oeen reused from his comfortable seat by the
nre-side, TO see IT the gentleman would take any,
thing "Al right" was re echoed from the lips of
The foremost postbo and our traveller was again
in motion.
The waiter had just reseated himself in his for
mer position, and thought how snug it was and
'he Pos'ooys, stripping off their well-soaked Jack
e's, Were bitterly lamenting the hardships of their
lot, which called them out ON such a niobt and
throwing out several hints as to tho propyietv of
dong so again without double their usual fee ::
wheh The cry for horses again resounded through
the yard Of the hotel. The ostlers. either not
having entirely lost that energetic spirit which had
oeen awakened IN them by the appearance of the
unArowh traveller, or being anxious speedily to es
cape the pitileSs peltng of the Storm responded to
the cry with more than usual CELEBRITY and quickly
brought out their fine warm animals to supply the
pace oil the poor worn out beasts which were be-
ing removed from the carriage.
1t contained two individuals, one a fine -looknp.
middle aged man. apparently about five and forty
years OF age, tall but well proportioned who, from
ms stern Tone ana hauty bearing, might safely have
oeeh pronounced to be officer in the army-
From his clouded brow and troubled demeanor il
was very apparent that something more than COM
mon had happened ID cause him to undertake the
present Journey and something, too, which pierced
me Utmost reccsses of his SOUL
His companion was tall, athletic man. with =
rough voice and torbdding countenance, and proba-
oiy ABOUT len years his senior. He seemed to take
no interest In the which shook so terribly the
equanImlty of the individual by his side on the
contrary, IT we might be uncharitabIe as to Judge
from appearances, he seemed TO be one who nos
sessed heart seeled TO the best feelings of our
ture; one utterly devoid of that grace, in itself so
lovely, and which shines the brightest amidst the
attributes of Deity itself-conIpassion. AS he
were being changed. brace of pistols might have
been perceived sticking in his belt, and a ccns,a
ble's staff hanging by his side.
HAS -chase been at this hotel or through
inc town within the last hour % inquired Colonel
Landon, Qor such was the name of the gentleman
we have introduced to the reader) at the same time
drawing down the window of the chaise
'Yls, Plase your honor" was the reply OF the
nearest ostler, touching his hat
yes, but how long since, sirrah % Instantly de-
manded the colonel, in stenioran tone
.Jist quarter of an hour since, phase your hon
or replied the dripping ostler
"A quarter of an hour since,--a quarter of an
hcur,-it is mpossible!' calculated the colonel !;
''you are dreaming, man.
mot at all, Sir" interrupted the waiter, who
had by this time found his way to the door OF the
post-chase and overheard the latter part of this
hurried conversation; ''for my own part, | reckon
II scarcely ten minutes since. viii you please to
walk in, Sir 2 we have nice warm fire in the
paror."
Without degning reply to this officious por-
sonage the colonel turned 10 the already mounted
positions, and in calm, firm voice exclaimed
"Hark We, my boys; if you overtake that pu5t-
chaise, which you have just heard has left here ten
minutes since, before we arrive at the next stage
I'll give you two guineas each"
The words had hardly proceeded from his lips,
when their magical effect was witnessed upon those
L
ing TO whip and spur, started off at full gailop, and
1t was not long before the quiet city of Canterbury
was left in their rear.
Mile after mile was thus passed over, in an
incredibly short space Of time; tho Positions.
anxious for gain. and animated by the speed at
winch they found themselves going, kept their
horses TO the task. The storm still continued
without intermission; the rain came down with
fearful vehemenco, while occasionally a vivid flash
OF lightning illuminated the horizon succeeded by
peals of thunder, which seemed 10 rend the very
heavens II was indeed en- awful night, and one
which, if the mission of our travellers had not been
Of an urgent nature, would most probably have
kept them within doors.
Il see him-God bless me! see him. sud
denly exclaimed the colonel in tone which show
ed the inward workings of his mind, as a bright
Hash discovered to his view the ost-chaise he was
IN pursuit Of, about five hundred yards ahead
Regardless Of the weather, he instantly pulled
down the window of the chaise, and did his utmost
to encourage the positions to proceed but they
wanted no! this stimulus; they had themselves re-
cOgnised the carriage, and the sight OF it alone
was sufficient TO cause them to 1edoublc their CT
forts.
On-on they went, at fearful rate indeed the
horses feet seemed hardly to touch the ground and
the chalsc rocked to and fro in a manner which eve
Ty instant threatened destruction. The pace
would have been dangerous nay hazardous i'm the
extreme, at mid day how douby hazardous, then
on night 50 dark, that the Positions could with
dihcuty sec half dozen yards before the heads of
the leading horses butour travellers or rather our
traveller, was blind to the danger. Flash succeed
ed flash, each for an instant developing in strong
outline the chalse which it their object to over
lake, and then shrouding every thing in dark ess
apparently deeper than before But though they
had proceeded at this rate for more than mile. il
was very apparent, 10 all who were interested that
they were not gaining, but if any thing losing
ground. The occupant of the chaise they were in
pursuit Of, seemed well aware of their proximity
and by the efforts which he in his turn made to en-
courage his positions TO proceed, proved how strong
was his 1reirn a., n.-niI cr.llirin,,