The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-06-24

the agonized animal became deeper, and
| knew from his desperate plunges that
it was one of our horses Crash upor
crash of thunder rolled over the noun
tains, and vivid flashes of lightning
played over our heads. BY it's light |
could see for moment 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 to-
ward me as IT lmploring my assistance /;
and could see the bold glance of the boy
flashing indignant defiance at the war of
elements, and the awful danger that
awaited him. There was a roll, desper-
ate plunge, harsh, grating jar, a sharp,
piercing scream of mortal terror, and l
had but time to clasp Louise firmly with
one hand around her waist, and seize the
fastenings attached to the coach roof with
the other, when we were precipitatcd
over the precipice.
| can distinctly recollect preserving
consciousness for few seconds of time );
how rapidly my breath was being exhaus-
ted; but of that tremendous descent |
soon lost all further knowledge by con
cussion so violent that [ was instantly de-
prlved Of all sense and motion.
The traveller paused. His features
worked for minute or two as they did
when we were on the mountains; he
passed his hand across his forehead as if
In pain, and then resumed his thrilling
narrative.
On low couch in an humble room of
a small country house, [ next opened my
eyes in this world of light and shade, JOY
L.
hands soothed my pillow, gentle feet Gid
ed across my chamber, and gentle voice
for time hushed all my questionings. [
was kindly tended by a fair young girl of
about sixteen, who for a time refused to
hold any discourse with me. AT length,
one morning, finding myself sufficiently
recovered to sit up, L insisted on knowing
the result of the accident
You were discovered said she, 'sit-
ting on 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 a lady
with the other"
And the young lady!" [ gasped, scan
ming the girls 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 brother II i'm
patiently demanded.
I'VE found them both crushed to
death at the bottom of the precipice,
and we buried them in one grave by the
clover patch down in our meadow"
Poor Louisel Poor orphan God pity
you'll | muttered in broken tones, utterly
unconscious that had a.listener
God pity her. indeed sir" said she
with gush Of heartfelt sympathy
Would you like to see her." She added.
| found her bathed in tears for her kin
dred, and she received me with sorrowful
sweetness of manner. | need not detain
you by describing the efforts | made to
soothe her grief. but briefly acquaint you
that at last / succeeded, and twelve
months after the dreadful occurrence
which [ have related we stood at the al
tar as man and wife She still lives to
bless me with her smiles, but on the ami
versary of that dreadful night she Sc
Guides herself in her room, and deyotes
the hours of darkness to solitude and
prayer
''As for me-" added the traveller, while
faint blush tinged his noble brow. as
for me, that accident has reduced me to
the condition of a physical coward at the
sight OF mountain precipice. 5"
But the driver" asked the lady pas
Senger,who had listened to the story with
much attention, what became of the
driver and did you ever learn the reason
of his deserving his post ?''
His body was found on the road with
In a few steps Of the place where the
coach went over. He had been struck
dead by the same flash of lightning that
blinded the FESTIVE horses :"
Aud thus ended this thrilling and re-
markable story of life.