Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-11-30

through the window and called to the driver
put the only answer was the moaning of an an
lmal, borne past me by the swift winds of tn
| tempest seized the handle of the door ant
strained IN vain-it would not yield. At tha
instant felt cold hand in mine, and heart
Louise family articulate in my ear the follow
Ing appalling words:
Ihe coach is moving backwards"
Never shall forget the fierce agony with
which tugged at the coach door, and calico
on the driver IN tones that rivaled the fierce
blast of the tempest, whilst the conviction was
burning In my brain that the coach was beine
slowly moved backwards
What followed was of such swift occurrence
that it seemed to me like a frightfu dream.
Il rushed against the door with all my force
but it withstood my utmost efforts. One side
of our vehicle was sensbly going down, down.
down! The moaning of the agonized animal
became deeper, and knew from his desperate
plunges that it was one of our horses. Crash
upon crash of thunder rolled over the noun
tain, and vivid flashes of lightning played over
our heads. By its light | could see, for mo-
ment, 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 cheek towards
me, as If imploring for assistance; and | could
see the bold glance Of the boy flashing indig-
nant defiance at the war of elements, and the
awful danger that awaited him. There was a
roll, desperate plunge, 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 precipitated over the precipice
II can distinctly recollect preserving con-
sclousness for few seconds of time, how rap
idly my breath was being exhausted, but of
that tremendous descent soon lost all further
knowledge, by conclusion so violent 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.
HOn low couch in an humble room of a
small country house, next opened my eyes in
this world Of light aud shade, joy and sorrow,
mirth and madness. Gentle hands smoothed
my pillow, gentle feet gded across my cham
Der, and gentle voice for long time hushed
all my questionings. | was kindly tended by a
fair young girl Of sixteen, who refused for a
while to hold any discourse with me. AtleDgth
one morning, finding myself sufficiently recov-
cred to sit up, insisted on knowing the result
of the accident.
You were discovered" said she, sitting on
the ledge of rocks, amidst the branches Of a
shattered tree. clinging to the roof of your
broken coach with one hand, and the insensible
form of lady with the other"
And the lady!" | gasped, scanning the
girl S face with an earnestness that made her
draw back and blush.
''She was saved, sir, by the means that saved
you-a friendly tree
And her father and brotherI' [ impatient
ly demanded
''We found both crushed to death at the bot
tom Of the precipice, and we buried them both
in enc 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
gush of heartfelt sympathy. Would you like
to see her?' she added.
Il found her bathed in tears for her kindred
and she received me with sorrowful sweetness
of manner. | need not detain you by desert
bing the efforts made to soothe her grief, but
acquaint you that at last [ succeeded, and
twelve months after the dreadful occurrence
which related, we stood at the altar as man
and wife. She still lives to bless me with her
smiles, but the anniversary of that terrible
night she secludes herself in her room, and de-
votes the hour of darkness to solitary prayer.
AS for me, said the traveller, while faint
blush tinged his noble brow, as for me, that
accident has reduced me to the condition of 8
physical coward at the sight of mountain
precipioe"
But the driver" asked the lady passenger,
who listened to this story with much attention,
what became of the driver, and did you learn
the reason of his deserting his post? p
His body was found on the road, within a
few steps of the place where the coach went
over He had been struck dead by the same
fash of lightning that blinded the restive
horses''
And thus ended this thrilling and remarka-
BILE story of life.