The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-07-24
A TuRILLING NARRATIVE.

In the fall Of 1856, l was travelling
eastward ia q stage coach from pittsburg
over the mountains. My fellow travel.
lers were two gentlemen and lady The
oldest gentlcman's appearance interested
me exceedingly. In years he seemed
about fifty, IN air a1d manner he was calm,
dignifed aud polished, and the contour OF
his features was singularly intellectual.
He convcrscd freely on different topics,
until the road became more abrupt and
precipitous; but on my directing his at.
tcntion to the great altitude of preci.
picc, on the verge OF which our coach
wheels were leisdrely rolling, there came
a marked change over his countenance.
His eyes, lately filed with the light of in.
tclligence, became wild, restless aud anx.
ious, the mouth twitched spasmodically
and the forehead was beaded with cold
perspiration. With sharp, convulsive
shudder, he turned his gaze from the gid.
dy hight, and clutching my arm tightly
with both hands, he clung to Inc like II
drowning mau.
Use this cologne" said the lady
hauding mc n bottle with the instructive
goodness OF her sex.
/ spriukled little on his face, aud he
became ii little more composed but il
was not until We had entirely traversed
the mountain, and descended into the
country beueath, that his fine features re.
laxed into u perturbed look. aud assumed
the quiet, placid dignity that had at
first noticed.
Il owe an apology to the lady," said
he, with bland smile, AID gentle in.
clination Of the head toward our fair con.
pauiun, "and some explanation, and 10
my fellow travellers also and perhaps l
can not better rcquit myself OF the dou.
BILE debt than by rccounting the cause Of
my recent agitation"
1T may pain your feelings" delicately
urged the lady.
'On the contrary, it will relieve them, I"
was the resp ctful reply.
Having signiticd our several desires
to hear more, the traveller thus proceeded !:
AT the age Of eighteen | was light Of
foot, aud fear Che smilcd) light OF head
A fine properly on the banks of the Ohio
acknowledged me sole owner. | was has
tening home to enjoy II, aud delighted TO
re, free from college life The mouth
was October, the air bracing, aud the
mode Of conveyance a stage like this, on.
ly more cumbrous. The other passengers
were few-ouly three in all, Que old
gray-headed planter of Louisiana, his
daughter, joyous, bewitching creature,
about seventeen, and his son about ten
years Of age.
They were just returning from France,
Of which country the young lady dis
courscd in terms so eloquent Us TO absorb
NV entire attention.
The father vas taciturn, but the daugh-
ter was vivacious by nature, and We soon
became SO mutually pleased with each
other that it was not until sudden fash
of lightning aud heavy dash Of rain
against the windows elected an exclama.
ton from my charming companion, that
knew how the night passed, Presently
there came a low rumbiing sound, aud
then several tremendous peals of thunder,
accompanied by successive flashes Of light
ming. The rain descended IN torrents
aud an angry wind began to howl aud
moan through the forest trees.
looked from the window Of our vehi.
cle The night was dark as ebony, but
the lightning showed the danger of our
road. We were on the edge of frightful
precipice. could see at intervals, huge,
jutting aocks far away down its side, aud
the sight made me solicitous for my fair
companion. thought Of the mere hair
breadths that were between us aud cterui
ty; a single little rock in the track of
our coach wheels, tiny billet of wood, a
stray root Of tempest torn tree, restive
horses, or a careless driver, any of these
might hurl us from sublunary existence
with the speed Of thought
IT'S perfect tempest" observed the
lady, as | withdrew my head from the
window. Glow love the sudden storm
There is something grand about the
winds when fairly loese among the hills
! never encounter a night like this. but
ByTon's magnificent description of a
thunderstorm in Jura occurs to my mind
But are We in tho mountain yet 7"
- Yes, We have begun the ascent."
ais it not said to be dangerous %
"By no means" / replied, in as easy a
tone as could assume.
Il only wish it was daylight, SO that
VIC might enjoy the mountain scenery.
But what's that I" and she covered ..cr
eyes from sheet of lightning ;inat illus.
trated the rugged mountain with brilliant
intensity.
Peal after peal of thunder instantly
succeed ed there was very volume Of
ra,d coming down at each thundcr-burst
and with the deeper moaning of an ami
NAL in dreadful agony. bursting on oul
ears, found that the coach had como tc
dead halt.
Louise, my beautiful fellow traveller
became palo as ashes. She fixed hel
Dyes on mine with a look of anxious
dread, aud turning to her father, she hur
riedly remarked:
1sWe are on the mountains"
81 reckon we are, was the unconcerneC
reply.
With instructive activity, I put my
head through the window, and called t
the driver, but the only answer was thC
moaning Of an animal, borne past by thu
swift wings of the tempest, seiEed tht
handle of the door and strained in vair
--it would not yield. At that instant
telt cold hand on mine, and heard Lou
ise family articulate in my ear tho follow
ing appalling words