The weekly standard., 1869-10-06
SELECTED STORIES.
Tn the Mountains.

the mOutn CWltCneu spdslnouiCtlly, anu tho
forehead was beaded with cold perspira-
ton. With sharp, cnnvulsive shudder, he
turned his gaze from the giddy height, and
clutching my arms tightly with both hands,
he chung to me like drowning man.
"Use this cologne" said the lady, hand
ing me a bottle with the instructive good
ness of her sex.
1 sprinkled little on his face, and he be
came more composed; but it was not until
we had entirely traversed the mountain, and
descended into the country beneath, that
his fine features relaxed from their perturb-
ed look, and assumed the placid, quiet dig
nifty that had at first noticed.
d owe an apology to the lady" said he,
with a bland smile and gentle inclination
of the head to our fair companion, I" and
some explanation, and to my felow-traveler
also; and perhaps l cannot better acquit
myself of the double debt than by recount
ing the cause of my recent agitation"
at may pain your feelings" delicately
urged the lady. - s+.s-.-s.
Ron the contrary it will relieve them,"
was the respectful reply.
Having signifed our several desires to
hear more, the traveller thus proceeded: ,
"At the age of eighteen I was light of
heart, and fear Che smiled light of head. A
fine property on the banks of the Ohio ac-
knowledged me sole owner. was hasten
ing home to enjoy it, and delighted to get
free from college life The month was Octo-
ber, the air bracing, and the mode of con-
veyance, stage like this, only more cum
brous. The other passengers were few-only
three in alone old, gray-headed planter of
Louisiana, his daughter, joyous, bewitch-
ing creature, about seventeen, and his son,
about ten years of age
"They had just returned from France, of
which country the young lady discoursed in
terms so eloquent as to absorb my entire at
tention
"The father was taciturn, but the daugh-
ter was Vivacious by nature, and we soon be-
came so mutually pleased with each other
that it was not until sudden fash of light
ming and heavy dash of rain against the
windows elected an exclamation from nv
charming companion, that knew how the
night passed. Presently there came a low
rumbling sound, and then several tremen-
dous peals of thunder, accompanied by sue
cessive flashes of lightning. The rain des-
cended in torrents, and an angry wind be-
gan to howl and moan through the forest
trees.
"I looked from the window of our vehi-
Gle. The night was dark as ebony, but the
lightning showed the danger of our road.
We were on the edge of fearful precipice
l could see at intervals, huge, jutting rocks,
far away down its side, the sight made me
solicitous for my fair companion. l thought
of the mere hair breadths that were between
US and eternity; a single little rock in the
track of our coach wheels, tiney billet of
wood, stray root of tempest torn tree
restive horses, or careless driver-any of
these might hurl US from our sublunary ex-
istence with the speed of thought.
"'Tis perfect tempest" observed the Ia
dy, as Withdrew my head from the win
dow. "How do love sudden storm !
There is something grand about the winds
when fairly loose among the hills. l never
encountered a night like this, but Byrons
magnificent description of thunder storm
inthe Jura recurs to my mind. But we are
on the mountain yet ?"
eyes; we have begun the ascent"
SIS it not said to be dangerous ?"
"By no means" replied, in as easy a
tone as Il could assume . ..--
Il only wish it was daylight, so that we
might enjoy the mountain scenery. But
what's that2" and she covered her ewes
from sheet of lightning that illuminated
the rugged mountain with brilliant inten-
sity.
"Peal after peal of thunder instantly sue
ceeded there was very volume of rain
coming down at each thunder burst, and
with deeper moaning of an animal in
dreadful agony, breaking upon our ears, l
found that the coach had come to dead
halt.
Louise, my beautiful fellow traveller, be-
came as pale as ashes. She fixed her ewes
on mine with look of anxious dread, and
turning to her father, she hurriedly remark
ed:
"We are on the mountains" "
II reckon we are" was the unconcerned
reply.
"With instructive activity, put my head
through the window and called to the dri-
yer, but the only answer was the moaning of
an animal, borne past me by the swift winds
ofthe tempest seized the handle of the
door and strained in vain-it would not
yield. At that instant felt a cold hand in
mine, and heard Louise family articulate in
my ear the following appalling words:
1.-THE coach is moving backwards"
Never shall forget the fierce agony with
which I tugged at the coach door, and call
ed on the driver in tones that riYaled the
fierce blast of the tempest, whilst the con-
Viction was burning in my brain that
the coach was being slowly moved back
ward
"What followed was of such swift occur
renee, that it seemed to me like frightful
dream. .-..a.
brushed 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
nom his desperate plunges 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 heay-
en-, and his lips moving as if in prayer. 1
could see Louise turn her ashy cheek toward
L
see the bold glance of the boy flashing in
dignant defiance at the war of elements, and
the awful danger that awaited him. There
was roll, a desperate plunge, harsh, gra-
ting jar, sharp, piercing scream of mortal
terror, and had but time to clasp Louise
firmly with one hand around her waist, an d
seize the tastenings attached to the coach
roof with the other, when we were precipita-
ted over the precipice. 49,.
u can distinctly recollect preserving con-
sciousness for few seconds of time, how
rapidly my brain was being exhausted, but
of that tremendous descent soon lost all
further knowledge by conclusion so VIC
lent that was instantly 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 passed his hands
across his forehead, as if in pain, and then
resumed his thrilling narrative. 2 4
.'On low couch in an humble room O.
a small country house, l next opened my
eyes in this world Of light and shade, JOY
and sorrow, mirth and madness, Gentli
hands smoothed my pillow, gentle feet gil