Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-04-06
.yjTSUEIIAANK.
4 Stage Adventure.
IFlom q Wo.tern pap.r. !

In the f.ll Of lS45. was travelling east
ward in Il st,G! c,lch from Pittshurs over
the mountains Ny icllow-rasscngers were
two gentlemen and Il lady. The elder gen
tlaman Appearance Interested me exceed
inglv. In wears, he seemed about thirty
IN air and manner he WAS calm, diSnitied,
and polished, and the contour of his features
was singularly Intellectual. lie conversed
freely on DIN rent topics, until the road be-
came more abrupt and prccipitous but on
!nv directing his attention to the great altl-
tuic OF a pvecipice on the verge OF which
our coach wheels We're lcisurely rolling,
there came Il marked change of his counte-
nance Ills eyes lately filled with the light
Of intelli iIcncc, became wild, restless and
auxious-thc mouth twitched splsmodlcally,
and the forehead vas beaded with Il cold
persniration. With "A sharp, conyulsive shud-
der, he turned his gaze from the giddy hight,
and clutchlng my arm tightly with both his
hands he hung to me like II drowning man,
- Sc the cologne, said the lady, handing
me a bottle, with the instructive goodness Of
her sex.
sprinklcd little on his face, aud he soon
became more composed-but it was not un-
I'll we had entirely traverscd the mountain,
and descended into the country beneath,
that his fine features relaxed FROM their per-
turhed look, and assumed the placid, quiet
dignity that had first noticed.
II owe an apology to the lady" said he,
with II bland smile and gentccl inclination
Of the head to our fair companion, " and
some explanation to my fellow traveller,
also and, perhaps, | cannot better acquit
myself Of the double debt than by recounting
the cause of my recent agitation.
" 1t may pain your feelings delicately
urged the lady.
" On the contrary, II Will relieve them,
was the respectful reply.
! Having siguiiied our several desires to
/ hear more, the traveller thus proceeded
At the aye of eighteen, was light oi
heart, light Of foot, and, fear, Che smiled, J
light Of head. \ fine property on the banS
/ oi the Ono acknowledged me the sole owner
was astening home to enjoy it, and delight
ed to get free from a college life The montl
was October, the air bracng, and mode o
CONVEYANCE Il stage coach like this, only mur'
cumbyous The other passengers were few
only three in alI-one an Old grey-headeC
planter of Louisiana, lis daughter, joyous
hcwitcLing creature about seventeen, 0nO
hi, -on about ten years o! age
rhoy were just returning from France u
which country the lady discourscd IN term
50 eloquent us to absorb my entire attention
viyaciuus by nature, and We soon became S
mutually Ileased with each othcr-shc
talker, and as the listncr, that it was no
until sudden fash OF lightning and hcav,
dash of ram against the window elected "A
exclamation from my charming companion
that / knew how the night passed us. Pres
emily there came a low rumbling sound. an
then s.ycra. tremendous peals Of thundc
accompanied by successive flashes Of light
hing The rain descended in torrents, nm
an angry wind began to howl and moa
through the forest trees.
Hooked from the window of our vehicle
The night was dark as ebony, but the ligh
ming showed the danger oil our road. W
were on the edge of u fearful preciplcc.
, could see at intervals, huge jetting rocks Il
away down its side, and the sight made n
sUlicltous for the safety OF my fair companion
| thought OF the mere hairbreadths that wei
between us and eternity a single little roc
, in the track OF our coach whecls-a tiny bi
lot of wood-a stray root ola tempest-tol
L trec-restivo horses, or careless driyer-at
. oftleSo might hurl Us from oar sublGnai
! existence with the speed Of thought.
" lis u perfect tempest observed q
lady us | withdrew my head from the Wi
dow. " How love sudden storm the
il something 50 grand among the winds witt
flirly loose among the hi Is. | never c
counlered n might like tins, but Byron
magnificent description Of thunder stor
in tie Jura recuts to my mind. Gut are '
Oh tho mountain yet
Yes, We have begun the ascent"
- l. it said to be dangerous
"Dy no MEANS" | replied in as easy
tJno as could assume.
- only wish it was daylight. that :
% might enjoy the mountain scenery. u
what's that - and she covered her eyes fro
the glare Of sheet Of lightning that illun
mated the rugged mountain With brillia
intensity pcel after peal Of crashing thu
der instantly succeeded there was u We
l. volume of rain coming down at each thund
,, burst, and with the deep moaning OF an a
" imal breaking out upon our ears, found t
coach had come to o dead halt,