Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-06-25
A Thrilling Narrative.

lib the fall of 1856, l was travelling
eastward in stage coach from PIttsburg
over the mountains. Ny fellow travellers
were two gentlemen and lady. The
oldest gentlemen's appearance interested
me exceedingly. La years he seemed
about fifty, in air and manner he was
calm. dignifed and polished, and the
contour of his features was singularly
intellectual. He conversed freely on diff
ferent topics, until the road became more
abrupt and precipitous; but on my di-.
recting his attention to the great altitude
of precipice, on the verge of which
our coach wheels were leisurely rolling,
there came Il marked change on his
countenance. His eyes, lately filled with
the light of intelligence, became wild,
restless and anxious, the mouth twitched
spasmodically, and the forehead was
beaded with cold perspiration. With
a sharp, convulsiye shudder, he turned
his gaze from the giddy hight, aud
clutching my arm tightly with both
hands, he cluug to me like a drowning
man.
use this cologne" said the lady,
handing me bottle, with the instructive
goodness of her sex.
| sprinkled little on bis facce, and he
became more composed; but it was not
until we had entirely traversed the
mountain and descended into the country
beneath, that his features relaxed from
their perturbed look, and assumed the
quiet, placid dignity that / had at first
noticed.
81 owl an apology to the lady," said
he, with bland smile, and gentle in
clination of the head toward our fair
companion, "and some explanation, and
to my fellow travellers also; and perhaps
| can not better acquit myself of the
double debt than by recounting the cause
of my recent agitation.
sit may pain your feelings" delicately
urged the lady.
"On the contrary, 1t will relieve them,"
was the respectful reply.
Having signified our several desires
to hear more, the traveller thus proceed
ed: ...-.Ft-.
"At the age of eighteen, was light
of foot, and, fear, (he smiled) light of
head. A fine property on the banks of
the Ohio acknowledged me sole owner.
l was fastening home to enjoy it, and
delighted to get free from college life
The month was October, the air bracing
and the mode of conveyance a stage like
this. only more cumbrous. The other
passengers were few--only three in all,
ose old grey-hesd planter of Louisiana,
his daughter, joyous, bewitching crea-
ture, about seventeen, and his son about
ten years of age.
They were Just returning from France,
of which country the young lady dis
coursed in terms so eloquent as to absorb
my entire attention.
The father was taciturn, but the
daughter was vivacious 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 com
paniou, that | knew how the night pass
ed. Presently there came low rumb-
ling sound, and then several tremendous
peals of thunder, accompanied by sue
cessive flashes Of lightning. The rain
descended in torrents, and an angry wind
began to howl and moan through the
forest trees.
looked from the window of our
vehicle. 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 inter-
walls, huge, jutting rocks, far away, down
its side, and the sight made me solicir
tous for my fair companion. / thought
of the mere hair breadths that were
between us and eternity; single little
rock in the track of our coach wheels,
tiny billet of wood. a stray root of a