The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-04-27

lane. who was at Col. Farney's party
last nigh,!' -,
%, all the pretty girls in the village; we
had capital time -,
WAS Mary Curtis there?' asked Seth
with a slight increase of color.
MARY Curtis! yes, I guess she was and
the prelliest girl in the party-and IN the
town. Bnt why do you ask about girl
Seth Manning, whom you can never speak
to!' demanded Edwin with offensive haugh,
liness. She is the most respectable girl
in the town, and her father was once IN the
army. don't like 10 hear girl like her
spoken of by such one as you are' be-
cause it looks as if you might like to be:
come acquainted with her. liza, ha! l
guess she wouldn't speak to you, iiyou dld
think su'
Seth looked slightly displeascd, and felt
a DISPOSITION TO rctort sharply. But his
father had taught him forbearance, and Of
ten showed him how undignified and low
it was to enter into quarrel with any one
and that the subject had better be dropped
than warmly pursued. But Barry's words
filled him with modification. He had Of
ten seen and silently and respectfully ad-
mired the sweet Mary Curtis, lovely miss
of fifteen. lie thought Of her daily, and
loved to walk where she had walked, and
prizcd most dearly chance flower she
NAV have thrown away. lie had never
spoken to her, nor, such were the arbitrary
forms Of the society we are exposing ana
he dare to do. lie now could not but adj
nit the severe truth Of Edwlns unfeeling
words: and in his heart he cnvicd the silly
Barry, and hated the trade of his own Ia
ther which had entailcd an inferior position
upon himself: and under the bitter feelings
of the moment, he inwardly resolved that
he would not be bound TO the trade OF
founder to which his father had wisely
destined him. lie was ander the influence
of these painful reflections, walking along
with his eyes cast down. when he heard
from the opposite side Of the street, where
another street entered it Leading from
boarding sch ool, deep below and low
scream! He looked up and saw tiiat
short horned COW, irritatcd by scarlet
shawl worn by young school GIRL was
pursuing her with a wild and determined
fury. II did not require second glance
TO tell Seth that the terrified girl was Mary
Curtis.
%, run Seth,' cried the paralyzcd and
helpless Edwin Barry, run and save her!
and the aristocratic youth overcome ny
fear Of his own personal safety, ran down
the lane and climbed high fence:
Seth no sooner saw the peril in which
the pretty Mary was, than without a
of himself, he bounded across the
road and exerted himself TO get between
the enraged animal and the hyllAg g!ri.
Mary fled towards the boarding school with
the speed Of fear, while her crimson sha"i
hvino behind her, quickened the pursulto oi
the animal. -, -.
Cast off your shawl if possible, Miss
Curtis cried Seth as loud as he could, or
fly the fencc!'
Mary tried to disentangle it as she flew
but her fingers were too tremulous ior her
TO withdraw the pin, and as to seeking
the protection Of the fence as boy would
have done, she felt that she could never
climb it, and might he arrested III the at
tempt. Seth, by using great exerllons' al
lenGth got abreast Of the maddened cow
and at the imminent risk of drawing upon
himself all her fury, caught her by one of
the horns and was borne along with her,
she tossing back her head and believing
with rage. He had thrown down all his
booksEbut retained his slate, with the
corner of which, holding it in his hand, he
struck her in the eye with so we'll aimed a
blow that she slightly checked her speed
and turned aside against him, just as Mary,
overcame by her fright and exertion stum-
bled and fell PROSTATE in her path. In two
bounds more the ireful animal would have
been upon her. The first blow broke The
frame ofhis slate, and with the sharp COR
ner he struck her second blow which cut
deeply into her temples, and caused her
first to stagger and then fly moaning and
paving the earth past the fallen girl in the
direction she had been flying.
Seth watched the cow until he saw her
mady descend into a ravine some distance
beyond, and then he cume to Mary who
had already risen, but looked as pale as
death.
i am thankful for your escape, Miss
Curtis, Inever knew person in greater
danger. Are you hurtT
Mary could not reply for agitation and
w,nt of breath. but she took one Of Seth