Middletown transcript., 1869-12-11

lady, as L withdrew my head from the
window.
elbow do love sudden storm There
is something grand about the winds when
loose among the hills. / never encounter
ed night like this, but Byron's magnif-
cent description of thunder storm in the
Lura, recurs to my mind But are we on
the mountains yet 2"
eyes, we have begun the ascent"
"Is it said to be dangerous ?"
"By no MEANS" replied, in as easy a
tone as could assume.
II only wish it was daylight, so that we
might enjoy the mountain scenery. But
what's that ?" and she covered her ewes
from sheet of lightning that Illuminated
the rugged mountain with brilliant inten-
sity.
"Peal after peal of thunder instantly
succeeded there was a very volume of
rain coming down at each thunder burst,
and with deep moaning as of an animal
in dreadful agony, breaking upon our ears,
[ found that the coach had come to dead
halt
Louise, my beautiful fellow traveller,
became as pale as ashes. She fixed her
eyes on mine with look of anxious dread
and turning to her father, she hurriedly
remarked:
ave are on the mountains %
II reckon we are," was the unconcern-
cd reply
''With instructive activity, I put my
head through the window and called to the
driver, but the only answer was the moan
lug of an animal, borne past me by the
swift wind of the tempest | 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 faint
! ly articulate in my car the following appal-
ling words:
"The coach is moving backwards
"Nevcr shall forget the fierce agony
in which | tugged at the coach door, and
called on the driver in tones that rivallcd
the fierce blast of the tempest whilst the
conviction was burning in my brain that
the coach was being slowly moved back
wards
''What followed was of such swift oc-
currence that it seemed to me like fright
full 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 it was one
of our horses. Crash upon crash of thun-
der rolled over the mountain, and vivid
flashes of lightning 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 check towards me, as if imploring as
sistance; and could see the bold glance
of the boy flashing indignant defiance at
the war of elements, and the awful dan
ger that awaited him. There was roll,
desperate plunge, a harsh, grating jar, a
sharp, piercing scream of mortal terror,
and had but time to clasp Louise firmly
with one hand round her waist, and seize
the fastenings attached to the coach roof
with the other, when we were precipitatcd
over the precipice!
II can distinctly recollect preserving
consciousness for few seconds of time,
how rapidly my breath was being exhaust
ed, but of that tremendous descent [ soon
lost all further knowledge, by conclusion
so violent that was instantly deprived of
all sense and notion"
The traveller paused. His features
worked for minute or two, as they did
when we were on the mountain he passed
his hand across his forehead, as if in pain,
and then resumed his thrilling narrative !:
"On low couch in an humble room of
small country house, I next opened my
eyes in this world of light and shade, JOY
and sorrow, mirth and madness Gentle
hands smoothcd my pillow, gentle feet glid-
ed across my chamber, and gentle voice
for long time hushed all my questionings
| was kindly tended by fair young girl Of
sixteen, who refused for while to hold
any discourse with me. At length, one
morning, finding myself sufficiently recov-
cred to sit up, 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 in
| the other"
"And the LADY," gasped, scanning the
/ girls face with an earnestness that made
her draw back and blush,
"She was saved, sir, by the same means
that saved you-a friendly tree"
"And her father and brother !' impa-
tiently demanded.
"We found both crushed to death at the
bottom of the precipice, and we buried
them both in one grave by the clover patch,
down in our meadow"
"Poor Louise! poor orphan God pity
you? | muttered in broken tones, utterly
unconscious that had listener.
"God pity her, indeed, sir, she said,
with gush of heartfelt sympathy, "Would
you like to see her :"
II found her bathod In tears for her
! kindred and she rncaiued mo NTH so,.o