Holly Springs gazette., 1843-01-27
THE ESCAPE.
By THOMAS L. NICHOLS. ESQ.


Thank heaven. I'm bachelorn ex-
claimed Frederick Freeman. the other night,
as we were setting round the table. some
half dozen choce spirits; but he sighed. aud
looked serious d moment as if he had for
gotten himself
BY the way, Fred.' said |. ''you have
never told US the story of your couIiship, and
what narrow escape lha; was you had
from mauimonv'
"E1av'nt Il Well. I feel Just in the hu-
NOR now. and you shall have it-but FIRST
fill up your glasses"
The charitable reader, while he IS assured
that this invitation was complied with IS re
queSted 10 imagine whatever liquid he thinks
most proper Tor the occasion.
= believe | was always foolish about the
girls, said Fred, from my childhood, got my
ears boxed for kissing them at school, and YOU
know what rare times we had III those country
school houses. had hall dozen tender aiIalrS,
with as many little beauties. but when WAS al
most eghteen fell regularly in love"
'What were the symptoms t'red!" asked the
medical student.
ssWen in the first place was struck all of
heap with curious sort Of tiiiatins SORT Of spas
modic all-overiShneSS. The dear girl appeared
an angel. A glance threw Inc intoa fever-and
| If saw her coming, hid mySet, and looked Al
| her from my ambush
"Poor feilow-vou h9d il bad never knew
more decided case, said the student lighting
another cIger.
| Eyes believe il was rather severe, = continu-
! ed Fred sbut man must have il once this
way. and the harder il takes then the lighter the
relapSes are likely 10 prove, al least have found
| il SO.
"WelI. grew worse and worse. My idol he
charming Maria whose smiles seemed 10 light
en- the earth, and whose eyes out shone the stars,
whose lips were like rose leaves which il were
ecstacy TO taste-pass the bottle, my dear fellow
was about three and twenty, end thought
| most divine creature. She danced, sung very
prettily, I'D be butterfly, and Will you come
TO the Bower played on the guitar, and mad iiv-
ed IN cities. Yoa can imagine how she vas
like TO treat the passion of q country youth. ei
! verdant eighteen. She proud Of her con
quest believe. met her sometimes and she
smiled upon me thought very sweetly. In iuf-
ming over the music, her hand touched mine,
quite BY accident tho't, but il tnged The whole
evening, and | kissed the place several times
where hers had touched it.
'sCome Fred, that's nonsense. exclaimed jack
Stone, "vou are laying II on too thick
Not at aIl--were You never in love, man
Don't interrupt me. As | left that night, plea
gerg evening IN tl.o ga
ing 10 have little picnic IN day or two y0a
will have an invitation, and now YOU muS be
sure TO come; and her tongue was SO gentle, SO
winning, and | thought so tender, that could
| not reply single word, but caught her hand and
pressed it 10 my lips. She smiled, thanked me
by a silent pressure, looking little frightened
lest some one should see us.
| '.The Squire was a magnificent little fellow,
in his way, and was continually getting upsoEe-
thing to make town talk, and show his conse-
quence; and Maria. my Maria, as | now began
10 call her, by myself, whc was at his house on
visit, had suggested picnic; 10 which, all the
most genteel people were invited
/ "My invitation came the next day, written in
| regular form by the fair Maria, and appended 10
il, was little note in pencil, with urgent and
affectonate request that would not fail 10 afford
IL ~. e II
"Somehow did not sleep SO well as usunl that
night The castles rose particularly airy and
| brilliant; and mingled IN every vision of the fu-
| ture, was the form of the beautiful Maria. Nor
ming came, and at last the hour. dressed my
self with care; | walked to the appointed place
with blissful but trembling aniicipations. The
| Squire was fdgeting about famousiy, arranging
seats, and laying out the viandS for our TepaSi
and Maria was looking more lovely than ever.
pressed her soft white hand-I looked into her
beautiful eyes, my heart beat, my tongue falteTed
| We had our luncheon, and drank unusual
| quantity of wine, 10 which was not accustomed,
| but 10 which was tempted by my charmer Af-
ter our repast. the party separated and difereEt
groups walked different directions among the
| shrubbery- | offered my arm to Maria, and she
| to my infinite Joy accepted me as her cavalier.
| We wandered from the crowd TO hold sweet CON-
| munion with each other. We found q moSSr
bank, and she sal down. The time had come
| the long wished for opportunity Excised BY my
| feelings and the SquiTe's Madeira, | fell upon
| my knees before her, and poured out my love in
| words OF burning eloqGenee- She looked at me
| in silence Thought she gave her consent seiz-
| ed one Of her hands in mine. With my other |
clasped her waist when she gave such scream
as frightened all the birds in the neighborhood.
and brought the whole party around rs
Twas in such CONSERVATION that did not rise
| from nv knees. My beloved Maria bnrst into a
fit of laughter, in which she was joined By the
whole company, and, as soon as came 10 myself
| sufficiently, sprung TO nv feet, and ran across
the pasture never looking behind me, but follow
ed by their shouts until was out Of heari
packed up my duds, walked all night, and the
next morning took the stage, and have never Wis
tied that part ofihe country since II was in more
sense than one an escape.
ssWell. but what become of MaTia2'' asked +
] "She carried on her coquetries year or two.
and then married a rich old fellow, whom she
managed 10 leaze into bis grave last winter. +
i have mel her once or twice lately, and The last
| time thought she was setting her cap for me
bat il Is no 60 lido the amiable, but shall never
| forgive her, for trihing with my affections.