The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-03-28

swift wind OF the tempest. seized the
handle of the door, and strained in vain
it would not yield jpt. At that instant
| felt cold hand on mine, anI heard
Louse's voice family articulaling in my
ears the folio" ing appalling worGs:
"The coach is being moved back
wards"
Never shall | forget the fierce agony
with which | tuggel at the coach door;
and called on the driver in tones that
rivaled the force of the blast, whilst the
dreadful conviction WAS burning on my
brain that the coach WIS being moved
backwards!
W!ia, fnl!nw"d was Of such swift oc-
curremce that it seems To me like n
irightfuI dream.
| rushed against the door with all my
fore, but it wittStood my utmost etlurtS.
One side Of uur vehicle WAS seuSihlv 90.
ing down, down, down. The moaning OF
tie agonizc'I animal became deeper, and
knew from his desperate piumges against
the traces that Il was one If our horses.
Crash upon crash of coarse thunder rolled
over the mountain, and vivid sheets of
Lightning played round our devoted car
riagc, rs if in glee of our misery. By this
light could see for moment; only for
moment; the old planter standing, with
his hands on his son and daughter, his
eyes raised to Heaven, aud his lips NOV
ing like those OF one in prayer. could
see Louise turn her ashy cheeks towards
me as if inploring protection; and could
see the bold glance of the young boy
flashing defiance at the descending carri-
age, the war of elements, and the awful
danger that surrounded him. There was
y roll; desPurate plunge, rs of an ami
NAL i'll The last throcs of diSsolution-a
harsh, grating jar, II sharp, piercing scream
OF mortal terror, and had but time to
grasp Louise firmly with one hand around
the waist, aud seize the leather fastenings
attached to the coach roof with the 9th
cr, when we were p,ccipIlatcd over the
preririec.
can distinctly recollcct preserving
consciousness, for few seconds Of time,
how rapidly my breath WAS being en-
ham>;ed, but of that Tremendous descent
s""n lost all further knowledge bv n con.
cus>um 50 violent that WAS Instantly de.
| prIved of sense aud motion"
The traveller PAUSED. His features
worked Tor rInute or two as they did
when We were on the mountain; he
pressed his hands across his forehead, rs
it in pain, and then resumed his inter
esting narrative:
"On low couch, in n tumble room of
a small country house, next opened V
eyes III this world of hight and shade, Joy
and sorrow, of mirth and sadness. Cen
tie hands s"othed my pillow. gentle feet
glided across my chamber, and a gentle
voice hushed for time all my question
ing. was kindly attended 10y a young
girl about fifteen, who refused for IL length
Vi time 10 hold any discourse wit. me-
At length, one morning, finding myself
suiliclenII.: recovered to sit up, insisted
on carung the result OF the accident"
You We're discovered" said she, sitting
on ledge of rocks, amidst the branches
Of a shattered tree, cIinging To the iusen-
sIhle form Of lady With the other"
"And the lady" gasped with an earn
eslness that CAUSED her lo draw back and
! bic sh.
"Shc was saved, sir, 10y the means
that saved !ou-the friendly tree"
Aud her father and brother" impa.
| tienti, demanded.
I'VE found them both ushed to pieces
at the bottom "t IL prerlp's'e, u great way
below where my lather and Uncle Joe
T, found the lady. We buried their bodies
in one grave. close by the clover patch,
down IN our meadow ground"
God Eity her, indeed, sir" said the
young girl, with gush Of heartfeil SYM
patty. Would you like 10 see her2" she
| added.
found the orphan bathed in tears, Ly
the grave of IIer buried kin.ired. Sh. re-
ceved me with sorrowful sweetness Of
manner. / need not detain your atten-
non by detailing the efforts | made TO
win her from her grief, bat briefly ae-
quaint you, that NJ hast | succeeded in
inducing hes TO leave her forlorn ho ne
in The sunny South, aud that twelve
months after The dreadful occurrence
whicI, have related, we stood at the al
Tar ss man and wife. She still lives to