The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1869-10-08
In the Mountains,

| III CAS UAOul1Gitl11S,
In the fall Of 1856 I was travel
ing eastward i'll stage coach from
Pittsburg, over the cmountains. My
fellow travellers were two gentle
men and lady. Tie oldest gen
tl.man's appearance interested me
exceedingly. In years iic seemed
about fifty, in air and manner he
was calm, dignilicd and polished,
and the contour Of his features was
sinyularly intellectual. He con-
vcrscd freely on different topics,
until the road became more abrupt
and prccipitous; but upon my di-
rcctinG his attention to the great al
htudc of a prccipicc, or the verge
of which our coach wheels were
leisurely rolling, there came a
marked change in his countcnancc.
Ills eyes, lately filed with the
light of intelligence, became wild
restless and anxious; the mouth
twisted spaanodicaliy, and The
forehead was beaded with cold
pcrspiration. With a sharp con-
vulsivc shuddcr, lie turned lis gaze
from the giddy hight, aud clutch
ing my arms tightly with both
hands lie chung TO INC like Il drown
ing man.
"Usc this cologne" said the lady,
handing me Il bottle with the in
stinctivc goodness of her Sex.
| T IL, =, l;itlo
and he became more composed !:
but it was not until we had entire
ly travcrscd the mo,lH tain, and de-
sccndcd into the country beneath,
that his fine features relaxed from
their pcrturbcd look, and assumed
the placid, quiet dignity that had
at first noticed.
II owe an apology to the lady,"
said hc, with Il bland smile and
gentle inclination OF tho head to
our fair companion, "and some ex-
planation, and to my fellow travel
!cr also; and perhaps I cannot bet
Ter acInit myself Of the double
debt than by rccountinS tic cause
OF my recent agitation.''
'It may pain your feelings" del
icatcly urged the lady.
"On the contrary, it will relieve
thcm,' was the respectful reply.
Having signilicd our several de-
sircs to hear more, the traveller thus
proceeded:
cat the age of cightccn I was
light Of heart, and fear Che smilcD
light Of head. A fine property on
the banks of the Ohio acknowl-
edged me sole owner. I was has
tcning homo to enjoy it, and de-
lighted to get free from college life.
The month was October, the air
bracing, and the mode Of convey
ance, a stage like this, only more
cumbrous. The other passengers
were fcw-only three in allSan
old, grey-hcadcd planter in Louis
lana, his daughter, joyous be-
witching creature, about seventeen,
and his son, about ten years of
age.
"Thcy had just returned from
France, Of which country the
young lady discourscd in tcrms so
eloquent as to absorb my entire at
tcntion.
"Thc father was taciturn, but
the daughter was vivacious by ma
turc, and VIC soon became so mutu-
ally pleased with each other that
it was not until q sudden flash of
lightning and heavy dash of rain
q .sainst the windows clicitcd an ex-
clamation from my charming COM
panicn, that I knew how the night
passed. Presently there came a
low rumbling sound, and then sew
cral tremendous pcals Of thunder,
accompanied by successive flashes
Of lightning. The rain descended
in torrents, and an angry wind be-
gan to howl and moan through the
forest trees.
"I looked from tho window Of
our vehicle. The night was dar.s
as ebony, but the lightning showed
the danger Of our road. We were
on the edge Of a fearful prccipicc.
L could sec at intervals, huge
jutting rocks far down its side, and
the sight made me solicitous for
my fair companion. I thought of
the mere hair-breaths that were be-
tween us and eternity; a single lit
tie rock in the track of our coach
wheels, tiny billet of wood, a
stray root of a tempest-torn tree,
restive horses, or q careless driver
any of these might hurl us from
our sublinary existence with the
speed of thought.
"'Tis a perfect tempest OBJ
served the lady, as I withdrew my
head from the window. sHow I do
love a sudden storm! There is
something grand about the winds
when fairly loose among the hills.
[ never encountered a night like
this, but Byron's magnificent de-
scription of a thunderstorm in the
Jura recurs to my mind. But we
are on the mountain yet?'
"'Yes we have begun the as
cent
4" rs it not said to be dangerous p
"'By no meens,' replied, in an
easy tone as I.could assume.
{" Il Onlv wish that If VIVA dov.