The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-04-30

toward me as If imploring assists nee !;
and / could see the bold glance OF Lne
boy Gushing indignant defiance at the
war of elements, and the awful danger
that awaited him. There was u roll :,
q desperate plunge, a harsh, grating
jar, sharp, piel cling scream Of mortal
terror, and l had but time to clasp
Louise firmly with one hand around
her waist, and seize the fas Jennings
attached to the coach roof with the
other, when we were precipitatod over
the precipice.
" l can distinctly recollect preserv.
ing consciousness for u fow seconds OF
time, how rapidly my breath was be-
ing exhausted, but OF that tremendous
descent | soon lost all further knoWl-
edge by a concussiop SO violent that
was instantly deprived OF all sense and
motion"
The traveller paused. His features
worked for q minute or two as they
did when we were on the mountain
he passed his hands across his fore
head as If in pain, and then resumed
his thrilling narrative.
"On a low couch in an humble room
Of u small country house, next open.
ed my eyes in this world of light and
shade, joy and sorrow, mirth and mad
ness. Gentle hands soothed my pillow,
gentle feet glided across my chamber,
and u gentle voice for u time hushed
tended by q fair young girl of about
IL, who refused for q while to hold any
discourse with him. At length, one
morning, finding myself sufficiently re-
covered to sit up, l Insisted on know
ing tho result Of the accident.
"'You were discovered" she said,
sitting on ledge of rock, amidst the
branches Of q shattered tree, clinging
to the roof OF your broken coach with
one hand, and the insensible form of q
lady with the other
"'And the lady ! gasped, scanning
tho girls face with an earnestness
thut made her draw back and blush.
she was saved, SIR, by the means
that saved yOu--a friendly tree
land her father and brothor?' |
impaticntly demanded.
I'VE found both crushed to death
at the bottom Of the precipice and we
buried them in one grave by the clover
patch down in our meadow
"'Poor Louise poor orphan God
pity you y | muttered, IN broken tones,
utterly unconscious that l had a
listener.
God pity her, indeed, sir" she
said, with gush Of heartfelt sympa-
thy. Would you like to SEQ her? p she
added
81 found her bathed in tears for her
kindred, and she received me with
sorrowful sweetness of manner. | need
not detain you by describing the efforts
I made to soothe her griet, but briefly
acquaint you that at the last succeed
ed, and II months after the dreadful
occurrence which | have related, we
stood at the ALTAR AS man and wife.
She still lives TO bless mo with her
smilos, but on the anniversary Of that
terrible night she secludes herself in
her room, and devotes tho hours OF
dark ness 10 solitary prayer.
"As for me-" added tho traveller,
while a faint blush Urged his noble
brow, as for me, that accident has
reduced me 10 the condition Of a physi
cal coward at the sight of q mountain
precipice."
But tho driver" asked the lady
passenger, who had listened to the
story with much attention., what be-
came of the driver, and did you even
learn the reason OF his DESERVING his
post?"
"His body was found on the road
within few steps Of the place where
the coach wont over. He had beer
struck dead by the same flash Of light
ming that blin led the restive horses.
And thus ended tho thrilling anC
| remarkable story OF life