Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-06-17
DON'T BE m A HURRY;
OR,
JAMES PRICES TRIAL.
BY AUGUSTA MOORE.

James Price came to New DIRK 10 seek his for
tune. lie went to board in private family, where
were two daughters ef widow-whicll things are
sometimes almost dangerous as widows them
selves are. James had never seen more than a
halt dozen girls in his lfe-that is, seen them to
speak to, and that half dozen were not ,ie kind
particularly attractive to youthful lovers of beau
y. But the widows daughters were, James tio't,
beauties. He was so awe-struck on FIRST meeting
them, at the tea-tabe, that he could hardly venture
to eat. Although he had been ravcnously hungry
before he entered the tciroom his appetite seemed
all at once to forsake him, AMI what food he did
cirry to his mouth, tried its best 70 choke hin, b.
sticking in his throat. IL was season OF painful
pleasure. But weeks and months passed anl he
grew accustomed to his ''iclightsome" situation.
and as he firmly believed that there were not two
such beautiful creatures IL any other house in New
fo.k, OF IN the world as dvet in the abode which
Se.tered him, he gave way 10 a conviction that
now vas his time to fall in loy.-lnd so he did it.
with the eldest Venus Mss An anda Hoe 4 pleas
an'ly suggestive name.
Those were happy days that James passed under
the widows roof. He felt wonderfully contented.
lie had seasons Of WONDERING why he wasn't in a
greater hurry TO be nlrr.cl; and generally. irnpe
diately succeeding that wonder, came anotber-"J
wonder If really DO like Amanda better than do
her sister,
james iiad become quite party-gOer. His LADY,
love and her sister were possessed of the par.y
loving spirit and James had no especial objection.
indeed he soon began to be eager TO attend such
scenes as the sisters could possibly dosire.
There was certain fair young nader. that was
often IN the same company that James and the SIS
tiers frequented; and our young, engaged friend
never found himself in her presence without
experiencing under his breast pocket, sensation
altogether novel from its strength, and quite alarm
ing. considering Jamess circumstances.
lie concluded, after while, that h. had better
give up going totilese social gatherings Bat this
idea was stoutly combatted by the sisters: and as
efforts OF resistance are always weak when there is
an enemy inside tie fort, the young man made but
short stand against his besiegers. Again he met
the low-browed, bue-eyed, snect-faced maiden.
and again ne felt the ominous pull under his yes.
Draw, draw, drag it went-a mighty hand nullinr
at his heart. 1t made him nearly sick. He would
have given the whole of New York (as he Oh tln't
own it, had he been free man.
One eve, while dancing he became the interest.
ing iady's partner When he touched her hand,
ne found that twas very cold lie need not have
done so-there was not the least necessity for the
thing; but he didit-clasped that cold little hand
IN his, SD warm, strong James had grown
shockingly bold, after being so much among the
girls
He felt the maidens hand iremble exceedingly
lie looked at her just at the moment that she was
SrlihS 10 look unobserved at him. The pink col
or, so soft, so beautiful, on her round checks.
spread all over her face Us her eveIids Instantly
dropped They must part now, and take other
partners. They unclasped each others hands. and
5ripped whithersoeyer the dance led; but by some
mysterious influence each had been convinced of
the others love. James was Just as sure that the
lovely Sarah's heart waited for him, as that his
longf to have her as his own. lie resolved to oo
20 Amanda, confess his condition, call himself all
manner of hard names, ask her to shoot him. Inn,
beg of her, after all over to give him back his
freedom Accordingly he did so. What was his a..
constituent and dismay to hear the fair Amanda
declare that she never would give him up. no
nerer. The worst of it all vas that this was no,
said in any loving way, or wrung by desperation
from anguishcd heart-no, it was spoken with a
cold and hard resolution, and Amanda looked A. #
she meant to have him if it was only in inch pieces
or if there vas nothing TO get but his scalp and hi,
skin.
Poor James gave up the case at once. He asked
her to name the happy ~ day, and manda named
it, 1t was very early one; and they were mar
ried.
"How strangely those Prices act, considering that
they are so newly married. was the remark of
people when shey saw that James and his bride
scarcely walk led arm in arm, and often came sepa-
rately to church.
James as kind he could be to his wife
lie determined not to allow himself to love any
body better than he did hers and there is reason to
suppose that he would have been successful i'm car
ryiag out his good resolutions, had Amanda aided
him by an affectionate manner; but this she never
did. She had been MORALLY offended at his having
loved another-her aim to punish him all that
she could. She could hardly be said ever to have
truly loved James; he had pleased her vanity
Much heart she probably had not for anybody.
When she had insisted On his fulfilling his engage
ment it'll her, her sole object was 10 hinder him
from being happy either without or with her. The
poor fellows sense of honor was such as forbade
him to break with her against her will, and thus he
was victimized.
For long time he bore his trouI,lcs silently; bu,