The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-07-04
ESTABLISHED A. d. 1882.
OVER THE kLLEGHENIES.

two gentlemen and a lady. The elder gen
tleman S appearance interested me exceed
iDgly. | Syears he was about sixty, in all
and manner he was calm. dignifed and pol
ished; and the contour Of his features was
singularly intellectual He conversed free.
| ly on general topics until the road became
more abrubt and precipitous, but on my
directing his attention to the great altitude
OF precipice, on the verge of which oul
coach wheels were leisurely rolling there
| cane marked change over his c0untenance
| His eyes so lately filed with the light ol
mild intelligence, became wild, and restless
and anxious; the mouth twiched spasmodi.
cally, and the forehead beaded with cold
| Precipitation. With sharp, conclusive
shudder, he turned his gaze from the giddy
height, and clutched my arm tightly with
both hands he slung to me like drownded
| man.
Use this cologne" said the lady, han
ding me the bottle with the instructive
goodness of her sex.
Isprinkled little on his face, and he
soon became somewhat more composed;
but it was net until we had traversed the
mountain and descended to the country be-
meath, that the fine features relaxed from
their perturbed look, and assumed the pla.
cid, quiet dignity had first noticed.
Il 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 | cannot better acquit myself of
the doubtful debt than recounting the cause
Of my recent agitation.
ut 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 then proceeded:
''At the age ol Is | was light of foot and
fear there he smiled), light of head. A
fine property on the right bank of the Otio.
acknowledged me sole owner was has
tening home to enjoy it, and delighted to
get free from college life. The month was
Octobcr,' the air was bracing and the mode
of conveyance stage coach like this, only
more cumbrous. The other passengers
were few--but three in allan old, grey
needed planter of Louisiana, his son, and
his daughter, joyous, bewitched creature,
about fifteen years of age. They were just
returning from France, of which the young
lady discoul sed in terms so eloquent as to
dUFOTD my cntlIe dllCullOH
The father was tacturn, but the daugb-
ter vivacious by nature, and we soon be-
came so mutually pleased with each other,
she as a ta,ker, as a listener, that it was
not until sudden flash Of lightning, and a
heavy dash of rain against the coach win
dow, elected an explanation from my char
ming companion that | noticed how the
night passed on Presently there was low
rumhling sound, and then several peas OF
thunder, accompanied by success We flashes
of lightning. The rain decended in torrents
and an angry wind began to howl and moan
through the forest trees.
looked from the window Of our vehicle.
The night was as dark as ebony, but the
lightning revealed the darlsaess of our road
We were on the edge of ffighttul preci-
pice. could see it at intervals, huge iut,
ting rocks far down on both sides, and the
sight mado me solicitous for the fate of my
fair companion. thonght of the mere
hair breadths that were between us and
eternity; single rock in the track Of our
coach wheels, tiny bit of wood, a stray
limb of tempest torn tree, restive horse
or careless driver-any of these mi ight
hurl us from the sublunary existence with
the speed of thought. -
''Tis perfect tempest" said the lady, as
Withdrew my head from the window
"How | lore sudden storm. There is
something SO grand among the winds when
fairly loose among the hills. | never en-
countered a night like this, but Byron s
magnificent description Of a thunderstorm
in the Jura Immediately recurs to my mind.
But are we on the mountains yet?
''l es, we have begun the ascent.
''Is it not said to be dangerous"
"By no means, " replied, in as easy a
tone as could assume.
IL only wish it was daylight, that we
might enjoy the mountain scenery. Jesu
Marie! what's that?"
And she covered her eyes from the glare
of sheet of lightning that Illuminated the
rugged mountain with brilliant intensity
Peal after peal of crashing thunder instant
ly succeeded; there was very heavy volume
of rain coming down at each thunderhurst.
and with the deep moaning Of an animal,
as in dreadful agony, breaking upon my
ears, | found that the coach had come to a
dead halt
Louise, my beautiful fellow traveller, be-
came pale as ashes.
''She fixed her eyes on mine with look
of anxious dread, ard turring to her father
hurriedly remarked: We are on the noun
tain!"
II reckon so,' was the unconcerned re-
ply.
with an instant activity, put my head
through the window and called to the dri-
yer, but the only answer was the swift wings
of the tempest. seized the handle of the
door and strained at il in vain; it would not
yield jot At that instant | felt cold
hand on mine, and heard Louise's voice ar
ticulating in my ear the appalling words:
The coach is moving backwards! God
in heaven!'' Never shall | forget the fierce
agony wieh which | tugged at the coach
door and called on the driver in tones that
rivaled the force of the blast, while the
dreadful conviction was burning in my brain
that the coach was being moved slowly back
ward.
What followed was of such swift occur
renee, that it seemed to me that it must be
frightful dream.
[ rushed against the door with all my
my force but it mocked my utmost efforts.
One side of our vehicle was sensibly going
down, down, down, The meaning Of the
agonized animal became deeper, and knew
from the desperate plunges against the ira
ces, that it was one of our horses. Crash
upon crash of heavr thunder rolled over the
mountain, and vivid sheets cfligh'nine play
ed around our devoted carriage, as it in glee
at our misery. BY this light l could see
moment--only for moment--the old plan
ter standing erect. with his hands on his son
and daughter, his eyes raised to heaven and
his lips moving like one in prayer. could
see Louise turn her ashy cheeks and superb
eyes towards me as if implorihg my protec-
ton: an could see the bold glance Of the
young boy flashing an indignant defiance at
the descending carriage, snd war of ele-
ments, and the awful danger that awaited
him. There was roll Of thunder, a des-
perate plunge as if an animal in the last
throes Of dissolution, harsh cutting Jar, q
sharp piercing scream Of mortal terror, and
/ had but time to clasp Louis firmly with one