Year: 1879


the mode Of conveyance a stage coach.
he other passengers were few, only
three in alone an old gray-headed
planted of Louisiana his daughter,
joyous bewitching creature about seven
teen and son about ten years of age.


They were just returning from France,
of which country the young lady dis
coursed so eloquently as to absorb my
whole attention.


The father was taciturn, but the
daughter was vivacious by nature. We
soon became 50 mutually pleased with
each other, she as talker and as
listener, that 1t was not until sudden
flash Of lightning and q heavy dash of
rain against the windows eiicited an ex-
clsmation from my charming companion,
that knew how the night passed us.


Presently there came low, rumbling
sound, and then several tremendous peals
OF thunder, accompanied by successive
flashes of lightning The rain descend
ed in torrents and an angry wind began
to howl and moan through the forest
trees.


looked from the window of our ve-
hicle. The night was dark as ebony, but
the lightning showed us the danger of
our road. We were OH the edge of a
frighttul precipice.


could see at intervals huge iutting
rocks far away down its side, and the
sight made me solicitous for the safety of
my fair companion. l thought of the
hairbreadths that were between US and
eternity ; single rock in the track of
our coach wheels-a tiny billet of wood
"a stray root of a tempest torn tree
restive horses or a careless driver-any OF
these might hurl us from our sublimary
existence with the speed of thought.
Otis perfect tempest" observed that
lady, as withdrew my head from the
window.


allow love a sudden storm. There
is something grand among the winds
when fairly let loose among the hills. |
never encountered night like this, but
Byron's magnificent description of a
thunderstorm recurs TO my mind. But
are We on the mountains yet ?"
"Yes, we have begun the ascent"
SIS It not said to be dangerous.
"By no MEANS" l replied in as easy a
tone as l could assume.


81 only wish it was daylight, that we
might enjoy tue mountain scenery But
what's that ?" and she covered her eyes
from the glare of sheet of lightning
that Illuminated the rugged mountain
with brill ant intensity.


Peal after peal of crashing thunder in
stantly succeeded; there was a heavy
volume of rain coming at each thunder
burst. and with The deep moaning of an
animal in dreadful agony breaking upon
our ear, l found taat the coach had
come to dead halt.


Louise my beautiful fellow traveller,
became as pale as ashes. She fixed her
| searching eyes on mine with look OF
| anxious dread, and turning to her father,
hurriedly remarked


1--WE are on the mountains"
| ~ KNOW" was the unconcerned re-
fply.


With nsinctve inactivity l put my
head to the window and called the dri.
veI, but the only answer was the moan.
] ing Of an animal borne past me by the
swift wings of the tempest. | seized the
handle Of the door and strained in vain
1t would not yield a jot. At that instant
l fit cold hand upon mine, aud beard
Louise's voice family articuI,t ng to my
ears the following appalling words:
| @The coach is being moved back,
ward y


Never shall forget the fierce agony
with which l tugged at the door, and
called on the driver in tones that rlvalled
the force OF the blast, while the dreadful
conviction was burning on my brain
that the coach was being moved slowly
backward.


! rushed against the door with all my
force, but it withstood my utmost efforts
One side of our vehicle was evidently
going down, down. The moaning of the
agonlzed animal became deeper, and !
knew by his desperate plunges against
the traces that it was one of our horses


Crash upon crash the hoarse thunder
rolled over the mountain, and vivid sheets
of lightning played round our devoted
carriage as if in glee OF our misery. By
its light l could see for moment, the
old planter standing ere c., with his hands
on his son and daughter, his eyes raised
10 heaven and his lips moving like those
i of one in prayer. | could see Louise
turn her ashy face towards me, as if i'm.
ploring protection, and l could see the
bold glance of the young boy, flashing
indignant at the descending carriage, the
war of elements, and the awful dangers
that awaited him.


There was roll-a desperate plunge,
as of an animal in the last throes of dis
solution-a harsh, grating jar-a SHARP
piercing scream of mortal terror, and
had but time to clasp Louise firmly with
one hand around the waist, and seizine
the leather fastenings attached to the
coach roof with the other, when we were
precipitated over the precipice.


l can distinctly recollect preserving
consciousness for few seconds of time
how rapidly my breath was being ex-
hausted; but of that tremendous descent
soon lost all further knowledge by a
conclusion so violent, that was instantly
deprived of sense and motion.


On low couch in an humble room ol
a small country house | next opened my
eyes in this world of light and shade, JOY
aud sorrow, OF mirth and madness
Gentle hands smoothed my pillow, gentle
feet glided across my chamber, and a
gentle voice hushed for time all my
Questioning.


was kindly treated by q fair young
girl about fifteen, who refused for 8
length Of time to hold any discourse
with me. AT length, one morning, find
ing myself sufficiently recovered to sii
up. insisted on learning the result ol
the accident.


You were discovered" she said, "sit
lung on ledge Of rocks, amid the