The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1871-08-02
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.

LII the Iall OF lo0O, was tfay-
cling eastward in q stage coach
from Pittsburg over the mountains.
My fellow travellers were two gen.
tlemen and a lady. The oldest
gen,lcman's appearance interested
me exceedingly. In years he seem
ed about fifty, in air and manner,
he was calm, dignified and polish-
cd, and the contour of his features
was singularly intellectual. He
conversed freely on different top
les, until the road became more
abrupt and PERCEPTIONS; bnt on
my directing his attention to the
great altitude of q precipice, on
the verge of which onr coach
wheels were leisurely rolling, there
came marked change on his
c0untenance. His eyes, lately fill
ed with the light Of intelligence,
became wild, restless anl anxious
tho mouth twitched spasmodi-
cally, and the forehead was bead.
cd with cold perspiration. With
sharp, convulsive shudder, he
turned his gaze from the giddy
Height, and clutching my arm
tightly with both hands, he clung
10 me like drowning man.
" Use this cologne" said the la
dy, with tho instructive goodness
of her sex. sH
L sprinkled a little on his face,
ana lie eecohO moro composed :.
but it was not until we had entire.
ly traversed the mountain, and de-
scended into the. country beyond,
that his fine. features relaxed from
their perturbed look, and assumed
the placid, quiet dignity that | had
ut first noticed.
i owe an apology to that lady,"
said lie, with a bland smile and a
gentle inclination of he head to
our fair companion, "and some
explanation, and to my fellow
traveller also F; and perhaps l can.
not better acquit myself of the
double debt than by recounting
the cause OF my recent agitation. )"
1T may pain yodr feelings" 4"
delicately urged the lady.
"On the contrary, it will re
lieve them," was the respectful re-
ply:
Having signified our several dc
sires to hear more, the traveller
thus proceeded:
At the age Of IS, I was light
of foot, and fear (he snliled) light
Of head.
A fine property on The banks of
the Ohio acknowledged me sole
owner. was Mastering home to
enjoy it, and delighted to get free
from college life. The month was
October, tie air bracing, and the
mode of conveyance, a stage like
this, only more cuinberous. The
other passengers were few-only
three IN all, one old igray~headed
planter of Louisiana, his daughter,
bewitching creature, aboni sew
entcen, and his son about ten years
Of age.
They were just returning from
France, Of which country the
young lady discoursed in terms SO
eloquent as to absorb my entire
a'tention. - r,a 7E
The father was taciturn, bnt the
daughter was vivacious by nature,
and we soon became so mutually
pleased with each other that it was
not until a sudden fash of light.
ming and a heavy dash of rain
against the windows excited an ex.
clamation from my companion,
that 1 knew how the night passed.
Presently there came low rnm
bling sound, and then several tre
mendous peals of thunder, accom-
panied by successive flashes OF
lightning. The rain descended in
torrents and an angry wind began
to howl and moan through the for
est trees.
Hooked from the window of our
vehicle. The night was dark as
ebony, but the lightning showed
tho danger OF our road. We were
on the edge of a 9frightful preci
pice. ] could see at intervals huge
jnttipg rocks far away down it,
side, and the sight made me coli
citous for my fair companion j
thought Of the mere hair bredth,
that were between us and eterni
ty; single little rock in tile tracl
of our coach wheels, tiny billie
of wood, q stray root of tempest
torn tree, restiye horses or O care
less driver, any OF these NIGH
hurl 'us from our snblunary exist
ence with the speed of thought.
"'Tis perfect tempest oh
served the lady as i withdrew IN,
head from the window. /" How ;
love sudden stormi There i
something grand about the wind
when fairly loose among the hills