Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-04-15
IN TIE MOUNTAINS.


In the Fan of 1856 / was travelling east
ward 10 stage coach from Pittsburgh over
the Mountains My fellow travellers were
two gentlemen and lady. The Oldest gen
tleman appearance interested NE exceed
iugly. In years he seemed G5out fifty IN
air and manner he was calm, 1ignifed and
polished, aud the contour Of bis features
was singularly intellectual. He coversed on
different topics until the road became more
abrupt aud precipitous; but on my direct
ing his attention to the great altitude Of
precipiee, on the verge of which our coach
wheels we're leisurely rolling, there came
marked change in his countenance. His
eyes, lately filed with the light of intel6
gence, became wild, restless and anxious
the mouth twitched spasmodically, and the
forehead was beaded with cloud of pres
piration With a sharp. cunyulsive shud
der, he turned his gaze from thu eiddr
height, and clutching my arms tightly with
both hands he olung tome ike drowning
man
Use the cologne, said the lady, hand
ing NE a bottle with the instructive good
ness Of her sex.
IspTinkled little on his face, and he be-
came more composed; but it was Dot until
We bad entirely traversed the mountain, and
descended into the country beneath, that
his features relaxed from their perturbed
look, aud assumed the placid, quiet dignity,
that had at FIRST noticed.
81 owe an apology to that lady, said he
with a bland smile and a gentle inclination
Of the head to our fair companion, and
some explanation to my fellow travellers al
so and perhaps / cannot better acquit my
self of the double debt than bY Teeounting
the cause of my recent agitation.
1t may pain your feelings" delicately
urged the lady
"Ou the contrary it viii relieve them,
was the respectful reply.
Having sigaiied cur several desires to
hear more, the traveller thus proceeded
At the age of eighteen / was light Of
heart aud fear be smiled light of head.
A fne property on the banks Of the Ohio
acknowledged me sole owner. was hast
ening home to enjoy it, and delighted tc get
free from college life. The month was De
tober, the air braciug. and the mode Of con
yeyeuce stage like this, only more com
bFous. The other passengers were few
only three in alone old, gray headed
planter Of Louisiana. bis daughter, joyous.
bewitehing creature, about seventeen, and
his son, about ten years Of age.
They had just returned from France.
of which country the young lady discoursed
in terms 50 eloquent as to absorb my entire
attention
The father was taciturn, but the daUsh-
ter was vivacious by nature, and we soon
became 50 mutually pleased with each other
that it was not until sudden fash Of light
ening and heavy dash Of rain against the
windows elected an exclamation from ny
charming companion that | knew hoB the
night passed Presently there came low,
rumbling sound, and then several tremend
Gus peals Of thunder, accompanied by sue
cessive flashes Of lightning. The rain de-
scended in torrents, and the angry wind be-
gan to howl and moan through the fores,
trees.
Il looked from the window Of our rc-
hicle. The night was dark and cloudy, but
the lightning showed the danger Of our
road. We were at the edge of fearful
precipice could see at intervals huge,
jutting rocks, far away down its side, and
the sight made me soiicitous for my fair
companion. I thought of the mere hair
breadths that were between US and eternity:
a single little rock in the track of our coach
wheels, tiny billet Of wood, tap root
Of tempest-torn tree, restive horses. or
careless driver-any Of these might hurl US
from our sublunary existence with the speed
Of thought
g. Tis perfect tempest, observed the
lady, as | withdrew my head from the win
dow How | do love a sudden storm.
There is something grand about the winds
when fairly loose among the hills never
encountered a night ike this, but Byron's
magnificent description of thunder storm
in the Jnra,. reeurs to my mind But are
we on the mountain yet?
Yes VIC haze begun the ascent.
Is it not said to be dangerous?
By no means, replied 10 as easy
tone as l could assume
. I only wish ii vas daylight 50 that VIC