The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-05-19
IN The MOUNTAINS.
A Thrilling and Remarkable
Story.

eastward ina stage coach from Pitts
burg over the mountains. Ny fellow
travellers were two gentlemen and a
lady. The Oldest gentleman's appear
ance interested me exceedingly. In
years he seemed about so; in air and
and manner he was calm, dignl1ed
and polished, and the contour OF his
features were singularly intellectual.
He conversed freely on different topics,
until the road became more abrupt and
precipitous; but, on my directing his
attention to the great altitude of a pre-
cipice, on the verge of which our coach
wheels were leisurely rolling, there
came a marked change on his coun-
tenance. His eyes, lately filled with
the light of intelligence, became wild,
restless and anxious-th mouth
twisched spasmodically, and the fore
head was beaded with a cold perspira
ton. With a sharp, convulsive shud-
der, he turned his gaze from the giddy
height, and clutching my arm tightly
with both hands, he chung to me like a
drowning man.
Use this cologne" said the lady,
handing me a bottle, with the instinc
tive goodness of her sex.
1 sprinkled a little on his face, and
he became more composed; but it was
not until he had entirely traversed the
mountain, and decended into the coun-
try beneath, that his fine features re-
Taxed from their perturbed look, and
assumed the placid, quiet dignity that
l had first noticed.
lowe an apology to the lady" said
he, with a bland smile and a gentle in
clination of the head to our fair com
panion, land some explanation, and
to my fellow traveller also; and perhaps
l cannot better acquit myself of the
double debt than by ~recounting the
cause Of my recent agitation"
1T may pain your feelings" deli
cately urged the lady.
On the contrary, it will relieve
them" vas the respectful reply.
Having sign'ti9d our several desires
to hear more, the traveller proceeded:
SAT the age Of IS l was light of foot
and fear (he SMILEY light of head.
A fine property on the banks Of the
Ohio acknowledged me sole owner. l
was fastening hCm9 to enjoy it and
delighted to get free from college life,
The month vas October, the air brac
ing, and the mode of conveyance a
stage like this, only more cumbrous.
The other passengers were few-only
three in alone old gray head planter
of louisiana, his daughter, a oyous,
bewitching creature, about II years
old, and his son, about 10 years of age.
They were just returning from,
France, Of which country the young
lady disccursed in terms so eloquent as
to absorb my entire attention.
The father was tacturn; but the
daughter was vivacious by nature, and
we soon became sc mutually pleased
with each other, that it was not until a
sudden lash of lightning and a heavy
dash of rain against the window elicit
ed an exclamation from my charming
companion, that / knew how the night
passed. Presently there came a low
rumbling sound, and then several
tremendous peaIs of thunder, accom-
panied by successive fl sshes of lightn
ing. The rain descended in torrents,
and an angry wind began to howl and
moan through the forest trees.
Il looked from the window Of u
vehicle. The night was as dark as
ebony; but the lightning showed the
danger Of our road. We were on the
edge of a frightful precipice. I could
see at intervals, huge, jutting rocks,
far away down its side, and the sight
made me solicitious for my fair com
panion. l thought OF the mere hair
breadths that were between us and
eternity and a single rock in the track
of our coach wheels, a tiny billet OF
wood, stray root of a tempest torn
tree, FESTIVE horses, or a careless
driver. Any of these might hurl us
from our sublunary existence with the
speed of thought.
"'Tis a perfect tempest, observed the
lady, as l withdrew my head from the
window. How I love a sudden storm!
There is something grand about the
winds when fairly loose among the
hills. 1 never encountered a night like
this, but Bgron's magnificent descrip-
ton of a thunderstorm in Jura recurs
TO my mind. But are we on the noun