American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-08-14
NO.. 81.

Inc father was taclturn, but the
daughter was vivaclous by nature,
and we soon became so mutually
pleased with each other, that it was
not until a sudden flash of lightning,
and heavy dash of rain against the
windows elected an exclamation
from my charming companion, that
| knew how the night passed. Pre-
sently there came a low, rumbling
sound, and then several tremendous
peals of thunder, accompanied hy
successive flashes of lightning. The
rain descended in torrents, and an
angry wind began to howl and moan
through the forest trees.
I" looked from the window of our
vehicle. The night was as dark as
ebony, but the lightning showed the
danger of our road. We were on
the edge of frightful precipice. L
could see, at intervals, huge, jutting
rock, far away down its side, and
the sight made me solicitous for my
fair companion. I thought of the
mere hair breadths that were be-
tween us and eternity single rock
tiny billet of wood, a s'Iay root of a
tempest-torn tree, restive horses, or
a careless driver-any of these might
hurl us from sublunary existence
with the speed of thought.
"''Tis perfect tempest observ-
ed the lady, as l withdrew ny head
from the window. How I love a
sudden storm There is something
grand about the winds when fairly
loose about the hills. I never en-
countered night like this, but By
ron's magnificent description of
thunder storm in Jura recurs to my
mind. But, are we Oh the mountain
yetP
"'Yes; we have begun the as
cent
"' Is it not said to be dangerous
"By no means,' | replied, in as
easy tone as | could assume.
"' | only wish it was daylight, so
that we might enjoy the mountain
scenery. But, what's that p and she
covered her eyes from sheet of
lightning that illustrated the rugged
mountain with brilliant intensity.
g. Peal after peal of thunder in
stantly succeeded there was a very
volume of rain coming down at each
thurder bust, and with the deeper
moaning of an animal in dreadful
agony, breaking upon our ears, l
found that the coach had come to a
dead halt.
SO Louise, my beautiful fellow
traveller, became pale as ashes. She
fixed her eyes on mine with look
of anxious dread, and turning to her
father, she hurriedly remarked;
"' We are on the mountains
"s reckon we are,' was the un-
!, concerned reply.
With instructive activity, I put
my head through the window and
called to the driver, but the only
answer was the moaning Of an ami
NAL, borne past me by the swift
winds of the tempest. l seized the
handle of the door and strained in
vain it would not yield. At that
instant felt cold hand in mine.
and heard Louise family articulate in
my ear the following appalling
words:
"The coach is moving backwards
" Never shall forget the fierce
agony with which l tugged at the
coach door, and called Oh the driver
in tones that rivalled the fierce blasts
of the tempest, whilst the conviction
Inn Ino -, ~
: coach was being slowly moved back
4 ward
S What followed was of such swift
: occurrence. that it seems to me like
+; frightful dream.
/. & rushed against the door will
all my force, but it withstood my
, utmost efforts. One side of our We
hicle was sensibly going down, down
down, down. The moaning OF the
. agonized animal became deeper anC
deeper and [ knew from his desper
> ate plunges that it was one of oul
u horses. Crash upon crash of thun
der rolled over the mountain, ant
J, vivid flashes of lightning played
over our heads. By its light coult
h see for a moment the old planter
. standing erect, with mis- hands OF
his son and daughter, his eyes raised
q to heaven, and his lips moving as i
', in prayer. | could see Louise turf
Il her ashy cheek toward me as if i'm
plorlng assistance and L could Sc,
. the bold glance of the boy flashin.
indignant defiance at the war of ele
, mentS, and the awful danger tina
awaited him. There was a roll,
a desperate plunge, a harsh, grating
i jar, sharp, piercing scream of NOR
:. tai terror, and l had but time t.
! clasp Louise firmly with one hant
: around her waist, and seize the fast
~ enings attached to the coach roo
. with the other, when we were pre-
+ cipitated over the precipice.
a can distinctly recOlIect pre-
. severing consciousness for few sec
a onds of time, how rapidly my breatl
IT. was being exhausted, but of tha
4 tremendous descent l soon lost al
further knowledge by a concussio:
{ so violent that was Instantly de
V prived of all sense ana mntion."
It The traveller paused. Ills feature
worked for minute or two as the
j. did when we were on the mountain
he passed his hands across his fore
e head, as if in pain, and then rcsum
ed his thrilling narrative.
e. "On low couch, in an hnmbl
is room of a small country hnn>,-. tnex
opened my eyes in this wuitd G
rs light and shade, joy ana sorrow
y mirth and madness, Gtmrie hand
N soothed my pillow, gentle fret glide
ID across my chamber, and a gent
Ig voice for time hushed all my Que.
to tions, l was kindly tended hy
he fair young girl Of about sixteen, VIII
e, refused for while to hold any di
ge course with me. At length, OH
le morning, finding myself sufficient
ly recovered to sit NJ, | insisted O
ed knowing the result of the accident.
IT, d" You were discovered said sh
ut sitting on ledge of rocks. amid,