The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-08-17

CraSu upon crash OF thunder rolled over
| the mountains,and vivid flashes of light
ming played over our heads. BY its
| light could see for a moment the old
planter standing erect, with his hands on
his son and daughter, his eyes raised to
heaven, and his lips moving as if in
prayer | could see Louise turn her
ashy cheek toward me as if imploring
assistance; and l could see the bold
glance of the boy flashing indignant de-
tiance at the war of elements, and the
awful danger that awaited him. There
was roll. desperate plunge, harsh,
grating jar, q sharp, piercing scream of
mortal terror, and | had but time to-
clasp Louise firmly with one hand around
her waist, and seize the fastening attach
ed to the coach roof with the other.when
we were prccipitated over the precipice.
can distinctly recollect preserving
consciousness for few seconds Of time,
how rapidly my breath was being ex
hausted, but at that tremendous descent
| soon lost all further knowledge by a
conclusion so violent that was instant
| ly deprived of all sense and motion"
The traveller paused. His features
worked for minute or two as they did
when we were on the mountain; he pass
ed his hand across his forehead as if i'll
pain, and then resumed his thrilling mar
rative,
"On low couch in an humble room
Of small country house, next opened
my eyes in this world of light and shade,
ljoy and sorrow, mirth and Madness
Gentle hands soothed my pillow, gentle
feet glided across my chamber, and 4
gentle voice for d time hushed all my
qucstionings. | was kindly tended by g
| fair young lady of about sixteen, who
refused for while to hold any discourse
with me-. At length, one morning, find
ing myself sufficiently recovered to sit
II up, l insisted on knowing the result of
the accident.
"You were discovered" she said, sit
| ting on the ledge of rocks, amidst the
branches of shattered tree, clinging to
the roof of your broken coach with one
hand, and the insensible form of lady
with the other"
"And tie LADY," | gasped, scanning
the girls face with an earnestness that
made her draw back and blush.
"She was saved, sir, by the means that
saved you'd friendly tree"
and her father and brother Z" I'M
patiently demanded.
I'VE found both crushed to death at
the bottom of the precipice, and we bu-
ried them in one grave by the clover
patch down in our meadow"
"Poor Louisa poor orphan! God
pity you!" / muttered in broken tones,
utterly unconscious that had listener.
"God pity, her, indeed, sill" said she,
with gush of heartfelt sympathy
"Would You like to see her:' she add
lel
I found her bathed in tears for her
kindred, and she received ME with sor
rowful sweetness of manner. Ineed not
detain you by describing the efforts /
made to soothe her grief, but acquaint
you that at last l succeeded, and twelve
months after the dreadful occurrence
which | have related we stood at the
altar man and wife, She still lives to
bless me with her smiles, but on the an
niversary of that terrible night she Sc
cludes herself in her room, and devotes
The hours of darkness to solitary prayer.
"As for me, added the traveler,while
faint blush tinged his noble brow, "as
| for me, that accident has reduced me to
the condition of physical coward at
the sight of mountain precipice."
but the driver" asked the lady pas
senger, who had listened to the story
with much attention; "what became of
the driver, and did you learn the reason
of his deserting his post?'
His body was found on the road,
within a few steps Of where the coach
went over. He had been struck dead by
the same, fash Of lightning that blinded
the restive horses"
And thus ended this thrilling and re-
markable story of life.