The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-01-07


plat, reserved in the m,lst of the village.
d2nomiu";cd ihe grecu." Tho vcrdurc
WAS quite worn III at this place by rrcvi.
Gus exercises Of similar kind, aud hard
surface sand, more hcnrtittinp tor thc pur-
pose for which it was to lie used supplied
It's pae.
The father of the lovely, blushing, and
"i,haI, happy prize, (or she well knew
aho would wIn) with three other patri.
archaI villagers were the Irdges appoint
ed 10 decide upon the claims Of the sever
al competitors. The last time Carrot
uicd his skill in this exercise, he "cicar-
ed'--to use the leapers phra,eoIogy-
twenty one feet and AN inch.
The signal WAS given, and by lot the
Young men stepped INTO the arena.
! "Elward GraNson, seventeen feet, cried
ont one Of the Judges. The youth had done
| hlS utmost. lie was pale, intellectual
studeut. But what had intellect to do ia
such an arcnal Without look at IL.
maiden he lett the Crouul
! "D.yk Bou,hcn nineteen feet" Dick
with laugh turned away, ard replaced
! his coat.
Hairy Preston, ninctc.n feet and three
inches"
Well done, Harry Ireston,' shouted
the spectators, 'lou have tiled hand tor
the acres aNd homestead"
! Harry a!Sp laughed, and eworc he on.y
jumped for the fun OF the ,hlrE. Henry
WAS rattle hrsineI fellow, but never
thought OF malrimoay. He loved to walk
and oak, anu laugn and rou'p with An
nette, but sober marriage never came INTO
his head. lie only jumped tor tie fun
of the thing. he would not have said SO
If he WA, sue OF winning.
"Char'cY S.mms, fifteen feet anl a
half " "llurrah for Charley Char!e,'i II
win - cried !he crowd good humoreIly.-
Charley Smms was the c.everc,t fellow
ia the world His mother advised Him 20
stay At home, and told him II he ever won
n wle, she would fail in love With his
good temper, rather than his legs. Char,
ley, however ma.lc the lrn, Of the latter
capabilities and lost. Many refused T.
en;er the list altogether. O;hcrs made
the uisl, and only oue Of the leapers had
yet cluayc! twenty foo;.
Now" cried tire villagers, les see
Henry Carroll, He ought to beat tni, -
ard every one Appeared, a. .ncy called 10
min! lhe n.u'Ua' love OF lne last competi.
,or aud .hc sweet Arnctte, rs t they near
thy wished AIs success.
ilemry stepped 20 us past wiki 4 finn
mead. Ills eye glanced wI,h confidence
aro"@d uIon thu viiossI>, and 'rs..l be-
fore lie bounded forward upon tie l,ce Of
Annette. rs i to catch ihcgcIom lhI:
spirit aEd assurance which Tie OCCASION
called :os. Returning tho nra.ins
gIucc with which she met I;S own, with
a proud smiIe upon lis lip, he bonnJcl
forward.
Twenty one feet and half" shouted
the multitude, repeating the announce.
ment o( one Of the judges, twenty one
feet and half Harry Carroll forever.
Annette and Narry.' Hands, caps and
hanIkerchiefs waved over the heads ot
the spectators and lhe eyes ofthe delight
ed Annette sparkled with joy.
When Henry Carol! move! TO his sta.
ton to strive for the prize "a tall, gentle
manly young man, in IL military undresS
IrocE coat, who had rode up to tic inn,
di>mountcd and joined the spectators un
| perceived While the contest was going on
stepped suddenly forward, aud with a
knowing eye measured deliberately tho
space accomplished 10y the last !eapcr.-
He wa a stranger in the village. Ills
! handsome face and easy address attracted
tho eyes Of the village Inaidens, and his
| manly and siuewy frame, IN which sym.
metry and strength were happily united,
ctlcd forth the admiration Of the young
men.
" MayhaP, sir, stranger, YOU think YOU
can beat that" said ole of the bystand-
ers, remarkng the manner in which the
eye Of the stranger scanned the ARENA
Ii you can beat Henry Carroll, you'll
| beat the best man IN the colonies rhe
truth of the observation was assented TO
by general murmur.
- Is it for mere amusement you are pur.
suing this pastme :" inquired the youth
fuI stranger, "or is there a prize for the
winner {"
! Annette, the loveliest and weallhies,
Of oui viiAge maidens, is to he the reward
Of the victor" cred one OF the judges.
" Are the lists open to alIl"
"AIl young sir = replied the father of
Annette, with iDtercot hi, youthful ardor
rising as he surveyed the proportions OF
the straight limbed young stranger,
She is the bride Of him who outleaps
Henry Carroll. If you will try you are
free 10 do so. But let me tell you, Har.
ry Carroll has no equal 10 Virginia. Here
is my daughter sir, look at her and max"
your t'iai.' The officer glanced upon tie
trembling alden about to be offered on
the altar Of her fathers unconquerable
mononania with an adiniring eve. The
poor girl looked at Harry who stood near
With y troubled brow aud an angry eye,
ard then cast upon the new competitor
an imploring glance.
Placing his coat in the hands OF one
Of the judges he drew q sash he wore be.