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

shudder, he turned his gaze from the gid
dy height, aud clutching my arm with
both his hands, he hung to me like n
drowning man.
use this COLOGNE" said the lady, hand
ing me bottle, with the instructive good
ness of her sex.
| 5 rinkled little on his face, and he
soon became more composeL-but it was
not until we had entirely traversed the
mountain, and descended into tn coun-
try beneath, that his fine features relaxed
from their perubed look, and assumed
the placid, quiet dignity that I first no.
ticed.
II owe an apology to the lady," said he
with II bland smile and geu le ucIinati"n
of the head to fair companion, land some
explanation to my fellow traveller, aI.,.;
and perhaps cannot better acquit myself
OF the double debt than by r-countins the
cause Of NY recent agitation"
at may pain your feelings deIicate!y
urged the lady.
"On the contrary, it will relieve then,,"
WAS the respectful r"ply.
Having signif,,l our several desires to
hear more, the traveller prnce"ded:-
At the age of eighteen, ! Was light of
hesri, light Of loot, and fear (he smiled J
light Of head. A fine property OF the
banks Of the Ohio acknowledged me the
sole owner. l"as Fastening home to en-
joy it, and delighted to get free from a
College life. The month was October,
the air bracing, and mole Of conveyance
a stage coach like this, only more cum
brous. The other passengers were lew
only three in all ll-one, an old grey-head-
ed planter Of Louisiana. his daughter, a
joyous, bewitcling creature about seven
teen anl his son, about ten Years of age.
They were just returuin from France,
OF which country the young lady dts
cursed in terms 80 eloquent as to absorb
my entire attention.
The father was taciturn, but the daugh-
ter vi,acious 10y nature, and we soon Le-
came 81 mutual. pleased with each 9th.
er.-she as the ,aIkrr and as the listen,
er--;hat it wa> not until Sudden tla>h
OF lightning and heavy ,lnsh Of rain :.
gaiII>t the window elected an exclama.
t"m from my charming companion. tha,
| knew how the nigh passed u. Pre-
emily there can- u low ruInullng SCUM!
and the" several tremendous reals o
thunder, accompanied by successive flash.
Is OF lightning. The rain descended in
torrents, and AN angry wind began t.
howl and moan through the forest trees
| looked from the window of o,.r We
liicle. The nigh, was dark Ms ebony, bu,
the lightning showed the danger of our
ROAD. We were on the edge Of fright
iu precipce. could see At intervals.
huge jetIing rocks far away down il
side, and the sight made me suIicilous
for the safety of my fair companion. !
thonght Of the mere hair breatLs tha,
were between US and eternity; single
little rock in the track uf our coach Wheels
n tiny billet OF wood, a stray root Of a
tempest.turn tree---restive horses, or a
careless d'iver-any Of these might hurl
us from our subiunary existence with the
speed Of thought.
"'Tis perfect tempest observed the
lady, as Withdrew my heal from the
window. "IIow ! love a sudden storm
there is something so grand among the
winds when fairly loose among the hills.
l never encountered night like this, but
Byr"n's manifcent description Of u thun-
der storm in th" Jnra rerurs to my mind.
But We are gu the mountains yeti"
ayes, we have begun the ascent"
"Is ii not said TO be d"ngerousi"
BY no mraUs,' replied in AS easy n
tone "a, could assume.
"Ionly wish it WAS lnylight,sn we might
enjoy the mountain scenery. But whats
that ," an,l she co, cred hrr eyes from the
glare f II sheet Of sheet Of lightning
that illuminated the rugged mouuiain
with brilliant intensity. Peal after peal
uf crashing rhunder instantly succeeded;
there was volume Of rain coming down
at each thunder burst, and with the deep
moaning Of an animal breaking upon our
ears, found the coach had come to dead
halt.
Louise, my beautiful fellow traveller,
became as pale as ashes. She fixed her
searching eyes on mine with look of
anxious dread, and turning to her fsther,
hurrie,lly femsrked:
"We are on the sountains.v
Il reckon we,are,p was the unconcern-
ed reply.
With instructive activity Iput my a.ad