Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-11-15
Crossing The For d.

reer by the hand Of fate and the peek of :
Z turkey. Athla started in life with no Other
cause and capital than an old sword, which
Q he was adroit enough 10 palm off for the d.
J vine weapon of Mars and RobespicrrC
) owed his political career to wetting lis stock
ings, and there heard Hthe words which
, burn" which fred bis soul and determined
his course in life. My running sYsy from
home arose from inihor modification, calls-
ed by carrying pretty girl over pond
Donald Lean and myself were good friends
at fourteen years Of age, and sc both re-
garded with little more dan friendship
prefsY HsiHst Gfahara. ear eldest girl Al
school, We r6nped and danced together,
and this lasted for such length Of time,
that it is with feelings Of bewilderment that
| look back upon She mystery Of two lovers
continuing friends. Bn. the time came, as
come It n14sa. je.la3sy II her spark III
my boyish bosom, and blow it mo a consul
ming flame.
Well do | remember how and when the
"green-eYeda peTpetrated this incendiQry
deed. 1t was cold October evening, when
Helen, Donald and myself were returning
with our parents from a neighbor;ng hamlet.
As we approached foyJ where the water
ran somewhat higher than anele deep, we
prepared to carry Helen across, as we were
accustomed to do, with hands interviewer,
''chair fashion DUST as We were In the
middle Of tie ~ater-which was cold enough
at that time to have frozen anything like feel
ing out OF boys less hardy than ourselves
a faint pang of jealousy nppea my heart -
/ Why it was [ know not, for We had carried
Helen fifty times across the brook ere now,
without emotion, but this evening thought
or fancied thai Helen gave Donald an undue
preference b casting her pretty arm around
his neck, while she steadied herself on my
side by holding the cuff Of my jacket.
No flame can burn 50 quickly or with so
/ little fuel as jealousy. Before we had reach
ed the opposite bank, was aishine Donald
at the ssbottom CT the sea Being natu-
rally impetuous, ! burst out With
q Ye 1ao3d na hand sa gingerly Helen, as
if We feared "a / can aye carry ye light
cr than Donald can half Q ye
Surprised at the vehemenee Of my tone,
our qBeea iaterposod with an admission that
both were strong, snd that she had no idea
Of sparine my powers. But Dena,d's ire
was kindled, and he utterly denied Jhot
was at all qualified to compete with him in
feats OF carriage. On such tonies boys are
generally emuloas, and by the tine We had
reached the opposite bank, It was settled that
the point should be determined by cur SIN
| ely bearing 44elen across the for n or
arms.
Helen was 70 determine wAo had carried
her most easily, and | settled win myself
privately in advance, shat the one who Oh
tanned the preference wou4d fealiF be the
person who stood highest in her affections
The reflection stimulated me to=e&ert ever
effort, and / verify believe to tins da1, mat
could have carried Donasd and Helen, on
either arm Like feathers bat | anticipate
We suffered all the rest OF the party to
pace quietly along, and tho.a eas2rned to the
ford. lifted Helen with the utmost ease
and carried her like an infant to the middle
Of the water. Jealousy had inspired a
warmer love, and it was with feelings un
known before, that embraced her beauti-
full form, and felt the pressure Of her cheek
against mine. MI went swimmingy, or
rather wadingfF, for moment or two but
alas in the very deepest part of the ford |
trod on treacherous bit Of wood, which
rested | suppose on smooth stone. Over
| rolled, bearing Helen With he, nor Gtd
we rise until fairly soaked from head ofoot
need not describe the taunts Of Donald,
or the more accusing silence of Helen -
Both believed that had fallen from mere
weakness, and my rival demonstrated his
superior ability, bearing her in his arms for
long distance on our homeward path, As
we approached the house Helen, feeling
dryer and better humored, attempted to
conciliate me- But preserved a moody
silence--I was mortified beyond redress
That night packed up a few things and
ran away My boyish mind, sensitive and
irtated, exaggerated the negation which it
had received, and prompted me to course
which fortunately led me to better result
than usually attend such irregularities,
went to Edinburg, where found an uncle.
kind hearted, ehildless man, who gladly
cave me place in his house, ard employ
ed me in his business. Wealth flowed in
upon him. | became his partner-w u
broad four yolrs on the continent
and fiaaily returned to Scotland; rich. edu-
cated-in short, everything but married,
One evening, while at a bali in Glasgow
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