Squatter sovereign., 1855-05-08
. Mounta1n H1ae.
A Thrilling Narrative.

ward In a stage coach from PlttSburg Ovel
| the mountains. My fellow passengers
were two gentlemen and lady. The ell.
der gentleman's appearance interested me
exceedingly. In years he seemed about
thirty; in air and manner he was calm
dignifed, and polished, and the contour ol
his features was singularly intellectual
He conversed freely ON different topics un-
til the road became more abrupt and pre-
cipitous; on calling attention to the great
altitude of precipice, on the verge OF
which our coach wheels were leisurely roll
ing, there came marked change on his
countenance. His eyes, lately filled with
the light of intelligence, became wild
restless and anxious; the mouth twitched
spasmodically, and the forehead was bead.
ed with cold perspiration. With sharp
conyulsive shudder, he turned his gaze
from the giddy height, and clutching my
arm tightly with both his hands, he hung
to me like drowning man.
"Use this cologne" said the lady, hand
ing me bottle, with the instructive good
ness Of her sex.
sprinkled little on his face, and he
soon became more composed; but it was not
until we had entirely traversed the noun
tain, and descended into the country be-
meath, that his fine features relaxed from
their perturbed look, and assumed the pla-
cid, quiet dignity that I had at first no.
ticed
81 owe an apology to the lady," said he
with bland smile, and gentle inclination
of the head to our fair companion, ''and
some explanation to my fellow travellers
also; and perhaps l cannot better acqui1
myself of the double debt than bv re.
counting the cause Of my recent agita-
tion.''
"It may pain your feelings" delicately
urged the lady.
"On the contrary it will relieve them,''
was the respectful reply.
Having signifed our several desires
to hear more, the traveller thus proceed
ed:
''At the age Of eighteen, I was light Of
heart, light of foot, and, l fear, (he smiled, }
light of head. A fine property on the
banks of the Ohio acknowledged me the
sole owner. Twas Fastening home to en-
joy it, and delighted to get free from col
lege life.
''Thc month was October, the air bra
cling. and the mode of conveyance a stage
coach like this, only more cumbrous. The
other passengers were few-only three in
alone an old gray-headed planter OF
Louisiana. his daughter, joyous, bewitch-
ing creature about seventeen, and his son,
about ten years of age.
"They were just returning from France,
of which country the young lady discours-
ed in terms so eloquent as to absorb my
entire attention.
"The father was taciturn, but the daugh-
ter vivacious by nature. and we soon be-
came so mutually pleased with each other
she as the talker, and 1 as the listener
that it was not until a sudden flash OF
lightning, and heavy dash of rain against
the windows, elected an exclamation from
my charming companion that knew how
the night passed us. Presently there came
a low, rumbling sound, and then several
tremendous peals of thunder, accompanied
by successive flashes of lightning. The
rain descended in torrents, and an angry
wind began to howl and moan through the
forest trees.
81 looked from the window of our vehi-
Gle. The night was dark as ebony, but
the lightning showed the danger of our
road. We could see at intervals huge jet
ting rocks far down its side; the sight made
me solicitous for the safety of my fair COM
panion.
s'I thought of the mere hair bredths that
were between us and eternity-a single
little rock in the track of our coach wheels
"a tiny bilIit of wood-a stray root of a
tempest torn tree-restive horses, or care
less driver-any of these might hurl US
from our sublunary existence with the speed
of thought.
''Tis perfect tempest observed the
lady, as I withdrew my head from the win.
dow. ssHow / love Sudden storm! There
is something so grand among the winds
when fairly loose from among the hills.
never encountered a night like this, bui
Byron's magnificent descril ton of thun.
der storm in the lara recurs to my mind
But are we on the mountains yetzr
ayes, we have begun the ascent."
ssIs it not said to be dangerousa"
aBy no means,'' replied. in as easy 8
tone as / could assume,