The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-07-24
renee that it seems to me like frightfuI

renee tnut IL 5cCinb 10 ue Hke IFlRHtlul
dream.
rushed against the door with all MY
force, but it withstood my utmost efforts
One side Of our vehicle was sensibly going
down, down, down. The moaning of the
agonized animal became deeper, and
knew from his desperate plungcs that il
was cne Of our horses. Crash upon crash
of thunder rolled over the mountain, aud
vivid flashes Of lightning played over our
heads. by its light | could sec for mo.
ment the old planter standing erect, with
his hands on his son and daughter,
his lips moving as if in prayer ]
could see Louise turn her ashy cheek
toward me as if iuiploring assistance aud
| could see the bold glance Of the boy
flashing indignant defiance at the war oi
elements. and the awful danger that
awaited him. There was roll, desper-
ate plunge, harsh, grating jar, "a sharp
piercing scream Of mortal terror, and /
had but time TO clasp Louise firmly with
one hand around her waist, and seize the
iastenings attached TO the coach roof with
tho other, when We were precipitated
over the precipice.
can distinctly recollcct preserving
consciousness for few seconds Of time
how rapidly my breath was being exhaust.
cd, but OF that tremendous descent soon
lost all further knowledge by a Conclusion
so violent that was instantly deprived Of
all sense aud motion"
rkn H.
worked for a minute or two, rs they did
when VIC were OF the mountain he pass
cd his hands across his head as if iu pain.
aud then resumed his thrilling narrative
"Oo a low couch Of humble room OF
II small country house, | next opened my
eyes in this world Of light aud shade, Joy
aud sorrow. mirth and sadness. Gentle
hands soothed my pillow. gentle feet Gid
ed across my chamber, and gentle voice
for time hnshcd oil my quesiionings-
| vas kindly tended by fair young girl
OF about sixteen, who refused for Il while
TO hold any discourse with me. At length,
one morning. finding myself sufficiently
recovered to sit up. insisted upon know.
ing the resui; Of the accident.
You were discovered" !" said she, " sit
ting on ledge of rocks, amidst the
branches Of a shattered tree. cliuging to
the roof Of your broken coach with Que
hand, aud the insensible form of lady
with the other"
" Aud the lady" I gasped, scanning
the girls face with an earpestncss that
made her draw back and blush.
''She was saved, sir, 10y the means that
saved you-a friendly tree"
And her father and brother :" | i'm
patiently demanded.
ave found both crushed TO death at
the bottom Of the precipice, and We bur
led them both in one grave by the clover
patch down in our meadow"
q Poor Louise? poor orphan God pity
you J" mutiered in broken tones, utter
~ unconscious that had listener.
''God pity her indeed, SIR" said she,
with n gush of heartfelt sympathy
. would you like to sec her 7" she added.
/ found her bathed in tears for her
kindred, aud she received me with sor.
rowful sweetness Of manner / need not
dctain you by describing the efforts
made to soothc her grief, but briefly &C.
quaint you that at last | succeeded, and
twelve months after the dreadful occur
renee which | have just related we stood
At the altar as man aud wife. She still
lives 10 bless me with her smiles. but on
the anniversary of that terrible night she
sccludes herself in her room, and deyotes
the hours Of darkness to solitary prayer.
"As for me, added the traveller, while
faint blush tinged his noble brow, "a as
for me, that accident has reduced Inc to
the condition Of physical coward ut 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, aud did you ever learn the reason
Of his descrting his post 2"
"His body was found on the road, with.
in few steps of the place where the
coach went over. lie 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.