The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-03-28
CROSSING THE FORD.

began iife hr running awav from home
BoileaI, We are 'oi;,. was driven into hi ca
recr by the hani Of fate and the neck of
turkey. A'Iia started in life with no other
cause and capital than an old sword. svhlch he
was adroit enough 20 palm of for t!,. divine
weapon OF Mars, ami Robes;,i-rre owed his
political career TO wettng his stockings. and
those heard The words which barn. which
hired his soul. and determined his course IL.
life My running away from home arose from
MINOR modification caused BY carrying A
pretty girl over braok
Donald Lean and myself we're good friends
at fourteen wears OF age. and We both resar-
ded. with little more than friendship pretty
Helen Graham. ''our eldest girl at school. IS
We romped and danced together. and ,hi.
lasted tor surh length of time that it is with
feeling OF b-wiilerment thar look bark on
the mystery of two lovers conin,inc friends
But time came, as come II must, when jealousy
III the spark in NV boyish bosom, aud blew
It INTO consnnin. flame
Well do remember how and when the
green eyed psrprfratei this inc-ndiarv
deed. 1t was on cold O...ob-r evening,
when Helen, Donald. and m,-rlf. were re-
turning with onr parents from a visit to a
ne'.aS'rins hamlet. As We a;'pro:-h,-.,
tor'. where the water ran somewhat h-h.r
than ancle deep, W. prepare to carry Heller.
across As We were accustomed 30 do. witt.
hands interviewer char f,>iiion." thu. We
took our pretty passenger through the brook.
just as We We're in the middle of the water
which was cold enough at the time to have
frozen ANYTHING like feeling out of bors less
hardy than ourselves fain: pan. of ira ousy
nipped my heart. Why it was knew not
Tor We had carried Helen fi:tv time. across
the brock ere now, without emotion. but thi.
evening thought. or fanried. that Helen
:avc Donald an ualue preference bv casting
her pretty arm around has neck. while she
>tea'iird herself on my side by ho,din. the
cuff of my Jacket.
NJ iiam+ can burn so quickly or wi,h So is-
tie fuei As jealousy. Before We hal reached
the opposite hank, | was wishing Donald at
the bottom 'of the ssa." But naturally I'M
peiuon>, burst out with:
~ on need ia hand sac rencarlv. Helen.
a. IT We feared a IA lean ave carry We
tighter than Donald. wad the half O We
Surprised at the vehcmence of nv tone,
our queen interposed with an admission that
we were both strong. and that she had no idea
OF sparing my powers. Bnt Donali's ire was
Eindled. and he utterly denied that was at
all qualified TO compete with himself In any
feats OF carriage. On such topics bows are
naturally emuioaS. and bv the time we had
reached the opposite bank, it was settled that
the pcin' should he determined by our .in.ly
bearing Helen again across tie ford in our
arms.
Helen was TO determine who had carried
h,r most easily, ( settled it with :nv.elf nr,
vate'y IN advance that tie o lie whn obta;ned
'he preference would really he tie person
who stood the hi hest in her affections. The
reflection stimulated me to resolve to exert
every effort. and verify believe 10 this dav.
that | could have carried Donald and Helen
on either arm, like feathers. Bu. an,ici-
pate.
We suffered all the rest of the party to lass
quietly along, and then returned 70 the ford.
lifted Helen with the utmost ease. and car
rird he: like an infant to the middle of the
water. Jealousy had also inspired warmer
iovk and it was with feelings unknown be.ors
that embraced her beautiful from and feis
the pressure of her cheeks against mine. All
went sw!mmlnglv, or rather wadinov, for
minute. But then-alss in the very deepest
part of the tord-l trod on treacheroaS b.,
of wood, which rested. suppose. on a smooth
stone. Over rolled. bearing Helen with
ne. nor did We rise until fairly soaked from
head to foot
need no: describe the tanrts of Donald.
or the more accusing silence OF Helen both
hrlieved had fallen from mere weakness.
and my rival illustrated his superior ability.
bearing her in his arms for a Ion. distance
on our homeward path. As We arproa.hc,.
the house. Helen feeling dr-r and better
humored. attempted to conrlia.e me. But
preserved a moody silsrce-I wa. mortified
beyond redress.
That night packed mp few ,hinrs and
ran away. My boyish mind. sensitive and
irrlta'ed, exaggerated the nesation it had re-
celved. and prompted me to course which
fortunately led me to better results than usr
ally attend such irregularities. | wen, To
Edinburgh, where found maternal uncle
a kind hearted. ch'id!ess man, who gladly
gave ME place IN his home. and em,.loved
me IN his bu>ines. Wealth flowed uy,on Lim.
became his partner-went abr,al-re>i.ie.l
Tor years Oh The continent. and finally return
ed 10 Scotland, rich, eiucatcd-in short cv,-
rXthlng but married
on" evening while al a ball in Glasgow I
was struck 10y lady OF quite mnpctcndir.r
appearance; but whose rrmarkab,. h.au,a
and hishtoned expression indicated a mini
oi more than ordinary power. was intro
dured, but the Scottish names had long bee,
unfamiliar 10 my ear, and could not catch
hers. 1t Was Helen something, and there
was sOmethin, III the face that seemed t.,r,,-
jiar-sonsethinS sugsr ssive Of mixed p.ca.urs
and pain.
But We became we'll acquainted that eve
ning. learned without Difficulty her b;s,o-
ry. She was from the country. had been
we'll educated, her parents had lost their
property. and she was now roverness in /.
family of the city
twas fas"insted with her conversation. and
was continually reminded bv her grace and
rehhement OF manner, that she was capahle
OF movin" with distinguished success in q far
higher sphere than that which fortune seem.
Ell 10 have allotted TO her. | am naturally
neither talkative nor prone to confidence;
out there was that in this Young lady that in
sp're's poth.and conversed with her a. had
never convened with any. Her question:.
OF the various countries with which / wax q.
miilar, indicated 4 remarkable knowle,l.e of
literature and an Incredible store of informs
! ton. o' '-''
progressed in intimacy and a, onr ~,
verSatI0n tnrne1 I'm ,ko .. A