The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-12-16
g Thrillina aarratire.
I'M THE MOUNTAINS.


ward in stage coach from Pittsbnrg over
the mountains. My fellow travellers we're
two gentlemen nnd lady. The Oldest gen.
tlemsn's app sarance interested me exceed,
ingly. In years, he seemed to be fifty; in
manner he was calm, dignifed and polish
ed. and the contour Of his features were sin.
gularly intellectual He congersed freely
on different topics, until the road became
more abrupt and precipitous but on my
directing his attention to the great altitude
of precipice, on the verge Of which our
coach wheels were leisurely rolling, there
came marked change in his connlenance.
His eyes lately filled with the light of intel
ligence, became wild, restless aud anxious
the mouth twitehed spasmodically, and
the forehead was beaded with cold perspi.
ration. With sharp, couvulsive sludder.
be turned his gaze from the giddy height,
and elutehing my arm tightly with both
hands he chung to me likea drowning man.
" Use his cologne said the lady, hand.
ing me bottle with the instructive good
ness of her SEX
| sprinkled little ON his face, and he be.
came more composed but il wa, not until
we had entirely trayerscd the mountain. and
decended into the country beneath, that his
look, and assumed the quiet dignity that |
had at first noticed,
: I owe an APOLOGY to the lady" said
be, withn bland smile, and gentle ineli
nation of the head, to our fair companion,
''and some explanation to my fellow tray-
elers also and perhaps | cannot bettsr ae.
quit myself of the double debt thaa BY
recounting the cause OF my recent agita
tion'
" L may pain your fcelings," delicately
urged the lady.
"on the contrary, it win relieve thom,"
was the respectful reply.
"At the age of eighteen was light Of
heart, aud / fcar the smiled) light Of head.
A fine property on the banks Of the Ohio
acknowledged me sole owner. | was hast
ening 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 ike
this, only more eumbrous. The other pas.
sengers were few-only three in all-one
old, gray. headed planter Of Louisiana, his
daughter, a joyous, bcwitching creature,
about seventeen, and his son, about ten
years Of age.
:" They had JUS, returned from France,
Of which country, the young lady discoarsed
in terms so eloquent as to absorb my entire
attention.
1.-The father was taciturn, hut the daugh.
ter was yivaeious by nature, and We soon
became SO mutually pleased with each other
that ii was not until sudden fash Of light.
ming and q heavy dash Of rain against the
window elected an exclamation from nv
charming companion, that knew how the
night passed. Presently there came low,
rumbling sound, and then several tremen.
dous peals of thunder, accompanied by sue
ccssive flashes of lightning. The rain de.
cended in torrents, and an angry wiud began
to howl and moan through the forrest trees.
81 looked from the window of our We.
hicle The night was dark as ebony, but
the lightning showed the danger OF our
road. We were on the edge of a fearful
precipice. could see at intervals, huge,
jutting rocks, far away down its side, and
the sight made me solicitous for my far
companion. | thought of tho mere hair
breadths that we're between us aud eternity;
u single little rock in the track Of our coach
wheels, tiny billet Of wood, stray root
Of a tempest torn tree, restive horses, or a
careless driyer--any Of these might hur us
from our sublunary existence with the speed
Of thought
..'1is rerfect tempest observed the
lady, as withdrew my head from the win
dow.
" How l do love sudden storm There
il something grand about the winds when
loose among the hills. never encountered
a night like this, but Byron's magnificent
description Of a thunder storm IN the Jura,
recurs TO my mind. But are we on the
mountains yet ~
+" Yes, we have begun the ascent
!" Is 1t said TO be dangerous ~
9 BY no means, replied, 10 as easy a
tone as coald assume.
/" only wish it was daylight, SO that we
might enjoy the mountain scenery. But
what's that 2i and she covered her ewes
from a sheet Of lightning that illuminated
therngged mountain with brilliant intensity.
. Peal after peal Of thunder Instantly sue
ceeded there was very volume Of rain
coming down at each thunder burst, and
with deep moaning as Of an auimal in
dreadful agony breaking upon our ears. /
found fhat the coach had come 10 dead
halt.
Louise, by beautiful fellow traveller.
became as pale as ashes. She fixed her ewes
on mine with look Of anxious dread. and
turning TO her father, she hurriedy re.
marked:
8 We are on the rnountaiusl''
. J reckon We are was The unconcerned
reply: z,
" With instructive ACTIVITY. put my head
through the window and called to the dr.
yer. but the only answer was the moaning
Of an animal, borne past me BY the. swift
wind OF the tempest. ! seized the handle Of