Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-09-13
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Ns~~~.,e,,s lsemtDmHm's story


Z. ,hc fall OF 184G, was travelling
Eastward in a stagc-coach iro," T"'sourS
- the mountains. My fellow-Passcn'
~. we're two gentlemen and lady
~ elder sentlem.n's appearance inter-
80 mo cxceedingIy. In years he seem
"a .,.o,n thirty; in air and manner he was
ss,.n l;vni6ed and polished; and the con-
BE features was singularly ntei-
$500 Iac conyersed freely on gene
- Io,,;c. until the road became more alb
,,,cs mi Dreciptous; but on my directing
80 .,,.nt;on 10 the great altitude OF pre-
-. on the verge Of which our coach
~heels were Ieisurly rolling. there came
.marked change over his whole counfe-
..nce. His eyes. SO lately filed with the
~ Of mild intelligence ,--beamed wild,
,ssfIess and anxious; the mouth twifched
.,.smodicaliy; and the forehead was bead
a With cold perspiraiion. With sharp,
eonyulsive shudder he turned his gaze
Som the giddy height. and clutclIng
nv. arm tightly with both hands. he chung
70 me like drowning man.
..jJse this Cologne said the lady hand
=. me a bottle with the instructive good
ness Of her sex.
I sorinkled a lille on his face. and he
ann became somewhat more composed.
rat Il was not until we had entirely trav-
.,.ed the mountains and descended TO
the country beneath. that his fine features
RELAXED from their perturbcd look, and as
susncd the placid, quiet dignity had first
noticed.
II owe an apology to the LADY, said he,
lVo,,I .,n;I., arl uontlp iucliua-
sion ef his head to our fair companion.
.and some explanation to my fel'ow-travel-
lcrs, also; and perhaps camno, better ac-
quit myself OF the double debt than by
Trcounting the cause ot my recent aS''a'
ton
1T may pain your feelings dclicately
urged the lady.
ION the contrary. it will relieve them,
was tive respectful reply.
Having signiticd our several desires to
hear more, the traveller thus proceeded.
al the age of eighteen. ] was light Of
heart. light Of foot, and fear, (here he
smiled, ~ light of head. 4 fine property
on the right bank Of the Ohio acknowl-
edged upe as sole owner. was hasten
ing home to enjoy il. and delighted TO get
frsc from college life. The month was
October, ,hc air bracing. and the mode OF
conscvancc a sta.c-coach like this; only
moro cuu,brou,. The other passengers
were fcw-an old grcyheadcd planter OF
louisiana, his daughter Il Joyous, bcwltch-
ing creature about seventeen, ana MS son
about ten years of age. They wcr" Just
returning from France. of wl'ch country
the Young lady discussed III terms 5" ell
o,uent a, to absorb my entire attention.
The father was tacIturn. but the daughter
was yivacius bv nature; and we soon be-
came SO mutually pleased with each 9TH
cr--shc as a t,lkcr,.l as a llstcncr--that
j, was not until sudden flash OF hight
ming and a heavy dash Of rain against the
g., ach windows elected an exclamation
from my charming companion, that no
ticed how night passed US. Presently
there was low rumbling sound. and then
several tremendous peals of thunder. ac-
co,npanicd by successive flashes OF light
MING. The rain descended in torrents.
aud al angry wind began TO howl and
moan by turns through the forcs, trees
looked out from the window of our We
hiclc: the night was as dark as ebony. but
the lichinin. revealed the danger of our
IL. n
iul precipicc. | could see. at intervals.
huge iu,tiny rocks far away down It's side:
and the sight made me solicitous for The
safety Of my fair companion. ! thought
Of the mere hairs-breadths that were be-
tween Us and eternity; a single little rock
in the track of our coach wheels-a tiny
billet Of wood--a stray root of tempest
torn tree-a FESTIVE horse. or Il careless
driver;--any of these might hurl us from
our sublunary existence with the speed of
thought.
This is a perfect tetnpes', observed the
lady as Withdrew my head from the win
dow. How love Il sudden storm there
is something 50 grand in the winds when
fairly loose among the hills. ! never en-
counter night like this, but Bvron's mag
Dificcnt description of Il thunder storm in
the Jura Immediately recurs to my mind.
But are we on the mountains vcf'
YES: We have begun the ascent
rs il not said to be dangerously
by no means,' replied. in as easy
tone as could assume.
Il only wish il were daylight, that we
might Ell loy the mountain scenerv.-But
Jesus Marie! what's thatl' and she COW
cred her eyes from the glare of IL sheet OF
lightning that illuminated the rugged
mountain with brilliant intensity Peal
after peal of crashing thunder Instantly
succeeded; there was very volume OF.
rain coming down at each thunder-burst;
and, with the deep moaning OF an animal
as II in dreadful agony. breaking on my
ears. found that the coach had come to u
dead halt. Louise. my beautiful fellow
traveller. became pale as ashes; she fixed
her searching eyes on mine with a look of
anxious dread, and. turning toner father.
hurriediy remarked, we are on the noun
tains!'
81 reckon so.' was the unconcerned re.
ply.
With instant activity put my head
through the window and called to the dri
yer; but the only answer was the heavy
moaning of an asonized animal borne past
Inc by the swift wings of the tempest. I
SaizoI thxN han.tl. tho lo,r onI Str,i,,