The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-09-30

ing echoes OF the hills as it leaped from
crag to crag into the giddy depths, too
far for the eve to follow.
The Paso had really some fanciful re-
semblance to u bookshelf, being simply a
ledge of bare stone, running along the
face of tall, gaunt rock, while the road,
beng narrow and utterly unprovded
with rail, or bank, or parapet, overlooked
the awful abyss below, at the bottom Of
which, family visible, q torrent gurgled
among its bOulders Of waterwOrn stone.
An uglier place of passage, or one more
calculated 10 shake weak nerves, had
never seen, and could we'll imagine that,
in time of snow or storm, 10 attempt 1t
would have been fOol-hardy exploit.
In fine weather and broad daylight, how
ever, it could, no doubt, be trayersed IN
tolerable security.
looked forward: my eye caught the
hutter of ladies dresses and the outline OF
several figures, most oil them being mount
ed OH mules. Now, mule is very wary
and sure of foot, and partially deserves
the eloquent praise which, IN prose and
poctry, has been bestowed on that obsti-
nate animal. But when you are quick
of eve and 1.-the of limb, you, as man,
are bv far filter for safely treading an
awkward path than any beast less agile
than the hill.foX or the hex can be. Ac-
cordingly, ! preferred walking,where the
track was slippery and the risk OF STUN
bling considerable, and had dismounted,
before approaching my friend Antonio ;
"bookshclf.' The travellers in front were
all mounted, and pushed on, as the width
OF the path dictated, in Indian file.
First Of all rode, rs Judged, a girl whose
plumcd hut danced gayly IN the yellow
sunlight, then came Il stripping on a
mule; and after these followed five other
persons, two mounted, three on foot.
Those on foot were talking loudly and
ycsticulatiug vchrmcntly. Their harsh
laughter came family back to us rs we
advanced.
They have given drink to their
rail,.. the imprudrnt ones! muttcr"d
Antonio, shaking his head "Lucky for
them that it is tine weather, and peon
from the pobIu,, who knew the road,
rould-- Az dc mi!' And he dropped
ON his knees, and began to tell the beads
of his rosary with II passionate fervor,
which would have astonlshed me more
h,d not NV business brought me much
in contact with the strange, impression
ublrSrare to which he belonged. knew
that there must be- cause for this sud
den outbreak of religious zeal.
..Whut i, it?' | asked, impatlcntIy.
leave off. man, mumbling out the
names of the saints, for one minute ana
give me plain answer. What Is
wroug?'
Antonio icrkcd his elbow toward the
suddenly overcast sky. Around the
peal; OF the giant volcano, % h"rthward,
heavy cloud, had gathered; while, else
where. thin white film, like flax from
the ,plindlcs of the Fates, Spanncd the
TURQUOISE blue of the southern heaven.
What is it, asked again, as no.
t.ccd that the mule snorting, and CYL
IDENTIFY frightened, seemed trying to
,aucrZr itself against the rocky wall.
"lt is comlng-coming cried Antonio
hour.rIy.
Nv lat is comiu?s" l exclaimed an
orily. Tell me, scrouudreI, Or
"Y,uIi know soon enough. FL Ncnte
del Nuorir-thc Wind of Dcath-Grcat
Gregory. Rose of Lima, my patron save
u, now, replied the guide, as Iurd
flash oCliyhlning Illuminated the whole
mountain panorama, and, mingIing with
the d,uua.nn of the thunder, came II
shrek. a, of AN imprisoned spirit let
loose. and rush of bitterly. cold wind
fairly hur.cd me u.ars the rock. To
which chung Tor support, while til"
mule, sobEiug and painting. covered
down upon hi, knees. For some four or
fv. minute. this rcsiStlc,s blast endured,
and. when it relaxed It's fury, my hr't
thought was 10 creep forward on hands
and knees and to look upwards, 80 n to
ascertain what had happened to tie
traveller. on the r., Ky lc ige above. Il"
my horror. the ,hcl of stone WAS empty.
so: on it there remained, pressed against
m, rock. one slender figure in female
garb. white near her crouchcd down Ink"
Il terrified dog. stood the mul" from
winch she rad dl-mountcd. The rest
were gone.
80 sudden, 80 dreadful, Was the catas-
,r,nh, tbn1 bni occurred. almost before
my eyes. that for some moments | re.
R"rrar Of "a, the i"' ,5car The voice Of my
~uidc | heard IA, he moancd out
"Nny they find mercy whoever they
were. PRAY for those who are dead.
Pray, too, for her who Is about 10 die!
p,hro Nirur
Th, Indians quick eyes were not nj
r,rrt /, wa. q woman-a girl-and by
her Jr... rr.lnbly lady. VINO was in
,,...r,.l urriI within !cw wards o! me.
"C"n,r Antonio. ! cried. staggering
s.. rose to my feet: con, and We may
49,, ~. in lime 10 save one life at least
Tn.,,v dnII.r. man. if we save her!
atJoJ ;mn,,icntIy rs nv duskv follow.
~ ro,nninrJ mot,onlcss.
nXn,aII silver in Chill. cavalier,
would profit the wretch who should ven.
,,,c f. eros. the Paso. there. when FL.