Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-03-05
BEGINNING LIFE.


reer by the hand of fate and the beak of
turkey. Atilla started in life with no other
cause and capital than an.old sword, which
he was adroit enough to palm off for the d.
vine weapon of Mars. And lobespierre
owed his political career to wetting his stock
ings, and there heard 'Ethe words which
burn" which fred his soul and determined
his course in life. My running away from
a minor modification, caused by carrying a.
pretty girl over brook
Donald Lean and myself we're good friends
at fourteen years of age, and we both regard
ed with little more than friendship, pretty
Helen Graham, "our oldest girl" at school.
We romped and danced together, and this
lasted for such length of time that it is
with feelings of bewilderment that l look
back upon the mystery Of two lovers continu-
ing friends. But the time came as come it
must, when jealously lit her spark in my bo-
som, and blew it into consuming fame
Well do remember how and when the
"green eyed" perpetrated this incendiary
deed. 1t was cold October evening, when
Helen Donald and myself were returning
with our parents from neighboring hamlet.
As We approached a ford where the water
ran somewhat higher than ankle deep, we
prepared to carry Helen accross, as We were
accustomed to do, with hands interviewer,
"chair fashion," and thus carried our pretty
passenger over the brook. Just as we were
in the middle of the water-which was cod
enough at the time to have frozen anything
like feeling out of boys less hardy than our
selves-,a faint pang Of jealousy nipped my
heart. Why it was knew not, for we had
carried Helen fifty times across the brook ere
now, without emotion, but this evening l
thought or fancied that Helen gave Donald
an undue preference by casting her pretty
arm around his neck, while she steadied her
self on my side by holding the cuff of my
jacket. ~..... H
No flame can burn so quickly or with so
little fuel as jealousy Before we reached
the opposite bank, ! was wishing Donald at
the bottom of the sea. Being naturally I'M
petuous, burst out with:
DYE need ma haud sac gingerly, as if ye
feared fa' can aye carry We lighter than
Donald can the half O ye."
Surprised at the vehemence of my tone,
our queen intcrposed, with an admission .hat
we were both strong, and that she had no
idea of sparing my powers. But Donalds
! ire was kindled, and he utterly denied that
! was at all qualified to compete with him in
feats of carriage. On such topics boys are
generally cmulous, and by the time VIC had
reached the opposite bank it was settled that
the point should be determined by our sing
ly bearing Helen across the ford in our arms
Helen was to determine who carried her
most easily, and | settled with myself pri-
vately in advance, that the one who had OBJ
tanned the preference would really be the
person who stood the highest in her affec-
tions. The reflection stimulated me to use
every effort, and I verify believe to this day
that | could have carried Donald and Helen
on either arm like feathers. But | most not
anticipate.
We suffered all the rest of the party to
pass quietly along, and then returned to the
ford. | lifted Helen with the utmost care,
and carried her like an infant TO the middle
of the water. Jealousy had inspired warm
cr love, and it was with feelings unknown
before that I embraced her beautiful form,
and felt the pressure Of her cheeks against
mine. All went swimmingly, or rather wa
dinghy, for a minute. But alas in the very
deepest part of the ford, | trod on treach-
erous bit of wood, which rested | suppose,
on a smooth stone. Over Irolled, bearing
Helen with NE, nor did We rise until fairly
soaked from head to foot .- -
] need not describe the taunts Of Donald
or the more accusing silence of Helen. Both
believed that had fallen from mere weak
ness, and my rival demonstrated his superior
ability by bearing her fur long distance on
our homeward path. As We approached the
house, Helen, feeling dry and better humor-
cd, attempted 10 conciliatc me. But [ per-
severed moody silence. 7 was mortified
beyond redress.
! That night Ipackcd up few things and
Runaway. My boyish mind, sensitive and ir-
ritatcd, exaggerated the mdignity it had re-
ceivcd, and prompted nc to course which
fortunately led me to better results than usu-
ally attended such Irregularities. went to
Edinburgh, where found an uncle, kind
hearted, childless man, who gladly gave me
a place in his house, and employed me in his
business. Wealth flowed in upon him. |
became his partner-went abroad-resided
four years on the continent, and finally re-
turned to Scotland, rich, educated, in short,
every thing but married
, One evening, while at a ball in Glasgow,
was struck by young lady of unpretend-
ing appearance, but whose remarkable beau
ty and high toned expression indicated a
mind of more than ordinary power. | was
introduced, but the Scottish names had long
been unfamiliar to my ear, and could not
catch hers. 1t was Helen something, and
there was something in the face, too, that
seemed Notwithstanding suggestive of
pleasure and pain. .
But we became we'll acquainted that even
ing, and I learned without difficulty her his
tory. She was from the country, had been
educated, her entshad lost their property,
and she was now the governess Of family of
the city.