The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-10-14
"Is it not said to be danger
ous?'
by no means" 1 replied, in as


AAS NtNNN'S5
easy a tono as | could assume.
II only wish it was daylight so
that we might enjoy the mountain
scenery. But what's that ?" and
she covered her eyes from sheet
Of lightning that illustrated the
rugged mountain with brilliant in
tensity.
Pea! after peal of thunder in
stantly succeeded; there was a
heavy volume Of rain coming down
ut each thunder burst, and with
! the deeper agony, breaking upon
our ears, | found that the coach
! had come to a dead halt.
! Louise, my beautiful fellow trav-
eIIer became pale as ashes. She
fixed her eyes on mine witha look
of anxious dread, and turning to
her father, she hurriedly remark
ed:
"We are on the mountains
IL reckon we are was the un-
concerned reply.
With instructive activity, put
my head through the window and
called TO the driver, but the only
answer was the moaning Of an ami
NAL, borne past me by the swift
winds of the tempest. l seized the
handle of the door and strained in
vain-it would not yield. At that
instant | felt a cold hand in mine,
and heard Louise family articuIate
in my ear the following appalling
words:
"The coach is moving back
wards"
Never shall [ forget the fierce
agony with which l tugged at
the coach door, and called on the
driver in tones that rivaled the
fierce blast Of the tempest whilst
the conviction was ringing in my
brain that the coach was being
slowly moved backward !
What followed was fsuch swift
occurrence, that it seems to me
like Il frightful dream.
rushed against the door with
all my force, but it withstood my
utmost efforts. One side Of our
vehicle was sensibly going down,
down, down. The moaning Of the
agonized animal became deeper,
and l knew from his desperate
plunges that it was one Of our
horses. Crash upon crash of thun-
der rolled over the mountain, and
vivid flashes Of lightning played
over our heads. By its light l
could see for q moment the old
planter standing erect, with hands
on his son and daughter, his eyes
raised to heaven and his lips NOV
ing as in prayer. l could see
Louise and her ashy cheek toward
me as if imploring assistance; and
I could see the bold glance of the
boy flashing indignant defiance at
the war of clements and the awful
danger that awaited him. There
was q roll: a desperate plunge, a
harsh, grating jar, a sharp pierre
ing scream Of mortal terror, and |
had but time to grasp Louise firm
ly with one hand around her waist,
and seized the fastenings attached
to the coach roof with the other,
when we were precipitating over
the precip!ce.
can distinctly recollect pre-.
serving consciousness for few
seconds Of time, how rapidly my
breath was being exhausted but of
that tremendous descent | soon lost
all further knowledge by concus-
sion so violent that / was instantly
deprived Of sense and motion.
The traveller paused. His fea.
lures worked for a moment 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 mar
rative.
On o low couch in an humble
room Of small country house, |
next opened my eyes in this world
Of light and shade, my joy and
sorrow, mirth and madness. Gen
V, a hands soothed my pillow, gen
'e m9a-c:t glided across my chamber,
X mmrh- h. ~ntle voice for q time hush.
I'd hurts Wy questionings. l was
DID couldn't We'd by a fair young girl
otIo-'lay. heen, who refused for y
80 Inatirns a:oo,,.o ,.;.h
self suttV ONiccr:ny discourse with
0, insisttion to ap, one morning,
Of the acc%S ccS ;iav ln '9M'ho;5iicientIy Moi recover
we're disceitable mcm.ed on knowing
ing on q le ident.
e branches Oman oncc)vered," said
ying to the re% S is at. no o'n2.dgo of rocks
bach with onsia for paf a shattered
s;ble form Of ahcr snhjec5of of your
q the Z0di:l,
r" going on mana ana
the lady y gaH waiting f, lady with
x;rrs face whiting 4 hug
nf S/,ff
that made her sped, scan