The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-07-26

a thunder storm in the Jura immedi
ately rccurs to my mind. But are we
ON the mountain yet
Yes, we have begun the ascent"
at is said to be dangerous ?"
" BY no m1ans," l replied, in as easy
a tone as I could assume.
{" l only wish it was daylight, that we
might enjoy the mountain scenery. But
Jesu Marie what is that ?"
And she covered her eyes from the
glare OF a sheet of lightning that illu.
minated the rugged mountain with bril-
liant intensity. Peal after peal of crash
ing thunder instantly succeeded; there
vas a very heavy volume of rain coming
down at each thunderburst, and with
the deep moaning Of an animal, as if in
dreadful agony, breaking upon my ears,
| found that the coach had come to a
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 faith
er, hurriedly remarked; owe are on
the mountain !"
al reckon so" was the unconcerned
reply.
With instant activity, put my head
through the window, and called to the
driver, but the only answer was the
heavy moaning of an agonized animal
borne past me by the swift wings of the
tempest. | seized the handle of the
door and strained at it in vain ; it would
not yield jot At that instant felt a
cold hand on mine, and heard Louise
voice family artioulating in my ear the
appalling words:
"The coach is being moved back
wards :"
God in Heaven never shall 1 forget
the fierce agony with which tugged at
the coach door, and called on the dri.
yer in tones that riva)led the force OF
the blast, while the dreadful conviction
was burning in my brain that the coach
was being moved slowly backwards.
What followed was OF such swift oc
currence that it seems to me like 4
dream.
l rushed against the door with all my
force, but it Knocked my utmost efforts
One side of our vehicle was sensibly go
ing down, down. The moaning of tho
agonized animal became deeper, and
knew from the desperate plunges agains
his traces, that it was one of our horses
Crash upon crash heavy thunder rol
g led over the mounlain, and vivid sheets
of lightning played around our devoted
carriage, as if iu glee at our misery. b.
this light | could see for a moment
f only moment-the old planter stand
ing erect, with hi. hands on his son an(
daughter, his eyes raised to heaven, anC
his lips moving like one in prayer.
, could see Louise turn her ashy cheek
and superb eyes toward me, as if i'm
ploring my protection; and could SCI
3 the bold glances of the young boy flash
, ing indignant defiance at the descending
E carriage, the war of elements, and tn
! awful danger that awaited him. Their
was a roll of thunder, desperate plung
, as if of an animal in the last throes 0
dissolution, harsh grating jar, sharl
piercing scream of mortal terror, and
had but time to clasp Louise firmly witt
, one hand round the waist and seize th
, leather iastenings attached to the coacI
, roof with the other, when we were pre-
cipitated over the precipice.
] can distinctly recollect preservin
consciousness, for few seconds of time
how rapidly my breath was being ex
. hausted but of that tremendous dc
scent / soon lost all further individui
knowledge by conclusion so violer
that | was instantly deprived of sens
. and motion.
On an humble couch, in an humbl
room of small country house, l mex
opened my eyes in this world of ligt
. and shade, OF JOY and sorrow, of mirt
> and madness; gentle hands smoothe
" my pillow, gentle feet glded across m
y chamber aud a gentle voice hushed fc
L time all my .questionings. [ wa
u kindly tended by fair young girl abo,
sixteen, who refused for several days I
e hold any intercourse with me- A
e length, one morning, finding myself su
| q - ] A