The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-07-15
A WILD RIDE.
A a1AoE COACH STORY.

tening home to enjoy it. and delighted to
get free from college life. The month
was October, and the air braeing, and
the mode Of conveyance a stage like This.
only more cumberous. The other pas
sengers were few-only three in all, one
old gray headed planter Of Luisiana, his
daughter, joyous, bewitching creature,
about seventeen, and his son about ten
years Of age.
They were just returning from France,
OF which country the yonns lady discous-
sed in terms 30 elOquent:as to absorb my
entire attention.
The father Was tactiturn, but she
daughter was viVacious by nature, and
we soon became so mutually pleased with
each other that it was not until a sudden
fash of lightning and q heavy dash of
rain against the. windows elected an ex-
clamation from my charming companion
that knew how the night passed. Pres
emily there came . low, rumbIing sound,
and then several peals of tremendously
loud thunder, accompanied by SUCCESS
i've flashes of lightning. The rain des-
cended in torrents, and an angry wind be-
gan to howl and moan through the forest
trees.
looked from the window of our vehi>
Gle. The night was dark as ebony, but
the lightning showed the danger of our
road. We were now on the edge of a
frightful precipice. could see at inter
walls huge jutting rocks far away down
IFS side, and the sight made me solicitous
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, n tiny billet of
wood, stray root Of a tempest torn tree,
restive horses or careless driver, any of
these might hurl US from our sublimary
existence with the speed Of thought.
"Tis a perfect tempest" observed
the lady, as withdrew my head from
the window. "How l 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 description
of thunder storm in Jura recurs to my
mind. But are we on the mountain
yet p
ASoS VIC AdEo USBdn IuO ascent
els it not said to be dangerous
''By no MEANS" replied, in as easy a
tone as / could assume.
81 only wish it was daylight so that
We could enjoy the mountain scenery
But what's that ?'' and che covered her
eyes from sheet of lightning that ilIumi-
mated the mountain with brilliant intens>
ity.
Peal after peal of thunder instantly sue
ceeded there was a very volume Of rain
coming down al each thunder burst, and
with the deeper moaning of an animal in
dreadful agony, breaking upon our ears, 1
found that the coach had come 10 a dead
halt.
Louise, my beautiful fellow w-traveler. be-
came pale as ashes. She fixed her ewes
on mine with look of anxious dread.
and turning to her father she hurriedly re>
marked:
owe are on The mountains"
81 reckon me are," was the unconcern>
cd reply.
With instructive activity, I put my
head through the window and called TO
the driver, but the only answer was the
moaning of an animal, borne past me by
the swirl winds of-the tempest I seize3
the handle of the door and strained in
Vain-it would not yield. At that instant
l felt a cold hand in mine, and heard
Louise family articulate in my ear the
following appalling words:
"The coach is moving backward
Never shall forget the fierce agony
with which tugged at the coach door
and called on the driver in tones that ri
vailed the fierce blast of The tempest.
whilst the conviction was burning in my
brain that the coach was being SLOWLY
moved backward !
What followed was of such swift &C.
curIence that il appears 10 me like fright
full dream.
rushed against the door with all INV
might, but it withstood my utmost sf-
forts One side of our vehicle was sensi-
bly, going down, down, down. The
moaning of the agonized animal became
deeper, and l know from his desperate
plunges that it was one of our horses
Crash upon crash of thunder rolled over
the mountain, and vivid flashes of light
ming played over our heads. By its light
| could see for a moment the old planter
standing erect, with his hands on his con
and daughter, his eyes raised to heaven
and his lips moving as if in prayer.
/ could sec Louise turn her ashy cheek
towards me as if imploring 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, a des-
Perate plunge, q harsh, grating jar, a
sharp, piercing scream of mortal terror,
and 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 W. were precipitated
| over the precipice.
candist inctly recollect. preserving con.