St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-06-18
Mistrllanv.
4 H Il r L V A l. S /;
Beginning Life By Rolling Orer aciM a
Pretty Girl IN a Stream eff Water.


Donald Lean and myself were good
friends at fourteen years of age, and
we both regarded, with little more
than friendship, pretty Helen Graham,
our eldest girl" at school. We romp-
ed and danced together, and this last
ed for such a length of time, that it is
with a feeling of bewilderment that |
look back on the mystery of two low
crs remaining friends. But the time
came, as come it must, when jealousy
lit her spark in my boyish bosom, and
blew it into a fame.
1t was on a cold October evening,
when Helen, Donald and myself were
returning with our parents from
visit to a neighboring hamlet. As we
approached ford where the water ran
somewhat higher than ankle deep, we
prepared to carry Helen across, as
we were accustomeds.--~s. - ~ ssiislssls Is.
interviewer ;u.iueszs M
took.ox CHAIR fashion - thus we
.SeRcdr pretty passenger across the
brook. just as we were in the middle
of the water--which was cool enough
at that time to have frozen anything
like feeling out of boys less hardy than
ourselves-a faint pang of jealousy
nipped my heart. Why it was knew
not, for we had carried Helen across
the brook fifty times ere now, without
emotion, but this evening l thought, |
or tanoied that Helen gave Donald an
undue preference by casting her pret.
ty arm across his neck while she stead
led herself on my side by holding the
cuff of my jacket
Ne Game can burn so quickly or with
50 little fuel, as jealousy Before we
had reached the opposite bank, being
naturally impetuous, tauntcd Donald
with not being careful enough
Surprised at the vehemence of nv
tone, Helen interposed with an admis-
sion that we were both strong. But
Donald's fire was kindled and he ut
terly denied that was at all qualified
to compete with him in feats of carry.
ing. On such topics boys are general
ly emulous, and by the time we had
reached the opposite bank, it was set
tied that the point should be determin-
ed by our singly bearing Helen across
the ford in our arms.
Helen was to determine who had
carried her most easily, and | settled
with myself privately in advance, that
the one who obtained the preference
would really be the person who stood
highest in her affections.
We suffered all the rest Of the par
ty to pass quietly along, and then re-
turned to the ford lifted Helen with
the utmost ease, and carried her like
an infant to the middle of the stream.
All went swimmingly--or rather wa.
a minute. But alas in
the very deepest part of the ford, |
trod on treacherous bit of wood,
which rested, l suppose, on smooth
stone. Over l rolled, bearing Helen
with me, nor did we rise until fairly
soaked from head to foot
l need not describe the taunts of
Donald or the more accusing silence
Of Helen. Both believed | had fell
from mere weakness, and my rival H.
lustrated his superior ability by bear
ing her for a long distance on our
path. As we approached
the house, Helen feeling dryer and bet
Ter humored, attempted to conciliate
me. But Ipreserved a moody silence
was mortified beyond redress.
That night packed up a few things
md ran away. My boyish mind, SEN
sitive and irritated, exaggerated the ne
CATION it had received, and prompted
ne to course which fortunately led
ne to better results than usually at
ended such irregularities. l went to
Edinburgh, where | found maternal
lncle, IA kind-hearted, childless man, !
who gladly gave me place in his
nome, and employed me in his business.
Wealth flowed in upon him. became
lis partncr--went abroad resided
our years on the continent, and final
y returned to Scotland, rich, educated
in short, everything but married.
One evening while at ball in Glas-
Cow, was struck by young lady Of
laite unpretending appearance, but
whose remarkable beauty and high
toned expression indicated mind Of
more than ordinary power. was in
but the Scottish names had
long been unfamiliar to my ear, and |
could not catch hers. 1t was Helen
and there was something
in the face, too, that seemed quite ia
miliar.
But we became we'll acquainted that
evening. l learned her history with
put difficulty. She was from the coun-