The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1869-07-01


the hendle Of the door and strninod in
vain--it would not yield. AT that in
slant | felt cold hand in mine' and
heard Louise family Orticulute 10 my ear
the following appalling words
The coach is moving Backwards
Never shall forget the fierce agony
with which | lugscd at the coach door,
and called on the driver in tonoc that
rivaltd the aerce blast Of the tempest
while the conviction was burning in my
brain that the coach was being slowly
moved backward
What followed was one OF BOch swift
occurrence that it seems to me like q
rrightiol dream,
rushed against tho door with all my
force, but II vhhslood my utmost efforts,
One side of our vehicle was sCnsibly 20
lag down, down, down, Tho moaning
Of tho agoniziug aoimal became deeper,
and know BY his desperate pmugcs
tnat il was ono Of our animals. Crash
upon crash of thunder rolled over the
mountains, aud vivid flashes Of lightning
playal ovor our heads Ry It's light |
could see for q moment tue old planter
standing erect, with bis hands on bis son
and daughter, his eyes raised 10 heaven
and hia lips moving as " in prayer, I
could soc Louise iur6 her Oshy cheek
toward mo as il imploring assistance, aud
| could see the bold glance VI tho boy
flashing indignant defunco Otthe war Of
elements, and the awful danger that
awiled him, There was roll, a dos
perOto plunge, harsh, grating jar, n
sharp piercing screOm Of mortal terror,
and | had but time to clasp Louise firm
| ly around the waist with one hand, and
seize the fastenings attached to the coach
roof with the other, when we were in
santy prccipita,el over the prccipico.
lean distinctly rccollect preserving
consciousness for lew seconds Of time :,
how rapidly my breath was being ex'
hausqd, but Of tina, trcmenduOus descent
soon lost all further knowledge by q
conclusion so violen, that | was insiantr
iy deprived Of NIL sense and emotion.
Tho traveller paused. His features
worked for momoDt or two as they did
when we were on the mountainj hcpass,
cd his hand across his forehead as il in
pain, aud (hen resumed his thrilling mar.
raiye.
4 onJs low sopch ia On humbletoata Of
small country house, next opened my
eyes in this world of light aud shade,
Joy and sorrow, minh and madness
Gentle hands soothod my pillow, gen
tie feet gidod across my chamber, and q
gentle voios for time hushod all my
q1ostionings. Iwns kindly tended BY
a fair young girl of sixteen, who refused
fora while to hold any discourse with
mo, A, lengtb. ono morning finding
myself sufficiently rccoverodto to sit up up
| insisted on knowing the result oil tho
accident.
you were discovered. said sbo, sit.
ting on ledge Of rocks, amidst the
branches Of shattered tree, clinging TO
the roof Of your broken coach with one
hand and the insensble form Off young
lady with the other.
And the lndyv l gasped, scanning Tho
girls face with an earnesincss that made
her draw back md blush.
She was saved, Sir, by the means that
saved you--a friendly tree
'And her father and brother, impa-
ticn,ly demanded.
I'VE found both crushed to death OF
the bottom oil tho precipice, and We bur
led them in one grave by tho clover
patch down in the meadow
Poor Louisel poor orphan! God
pity you!' | multOred in broken tones,
utterly unconscious that | had e 'i'ten
er.
God pity her, indeed, sir, said she,
with a gush of heartfelt sympathy
Would you like 10 SEQ her?' she added.
found her balhei in tears for her
kindred, and she received me with 4
sorfowful sweetness Of manner need
not dsAain you by describing Tho efforts
made 10 sootho her grief. but acquaint
you that OF last | succeeded, aud Twelve
months after the dreOdIol occurrence
which have related, we stood at the
altar os man and wifo, She still lives
10 bless me with smiles, but on the ami
versury OF thattcrriblo night she socIudes
herself 10 her room, and devotes the
hours of darkness to solitary prayer.
.As for me- added tho traveller, while
a faint blush tinged his noble brow, 'as
ior mo, that accident has reduced me TO
tho condition Of physical coward at tho
eight Of mountain pfeciPice.'
But the driver asked tho lacy pos
seuger who had listened 10 the story
with much attention, what became Oh
the diver and did you ever learn the
reason of his desertiog his poslP
His body was found in tho road,