The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1860-05-17
the hs Of te South aud the nfasion Of Qls uawld among

one, until he became intimate with Isa-
bella Ashton, the daughter of our late
clergyman, who died Of grief about a
year ago. i.is..,'g Is, Go
"a No two beings were more differ.
ent. Isabella was young and the most
thoughtless girl in the village. She
could have little sympathy with a per-
son Of such deep feeling and intellect as
Martin; and beautiful as she was, it
seemed strange that he should have
given his love to her, There is no
doubt but she was attached to him, per-
haps she loved him; but in this in
stance, as in all others, her affections
were secondary to her love Of sarcasm
and mischief. -s - a.S
Martin and Isabella had been point
ed out rs lovers by the village gossips
for several months he was nineteen,
and she Of the same age, when the trag-
edy occurred, which the tolling of the
bell has recalled to my memory.
!" II was an autumn evening, nearly
FIVE years since, that Isabella took ad-
vantage of the absence of her father, to
have social gathering Of young people
at their house. Martin, of course, was
present. with the fairest youths and
maidens, and being under no restraint
from the gravity of the clergyman,
who was not expected home till late, the
company enjoyed themselves freely in
jests, songs, and social games. u a.
=" The hour at which such parties
usually broke up, had already passed,
and there was no relaxation in the
gaiety Of the young people, when some
one foolisbly mentioned the subject of
ghosts, something Of that description
having been reported to have been seen
in the church-yard. ..... -.-.,.. ....-.
"'It is silly report said Martin.
Nobody can believe that ghost has
really been seen there, and l doubt il
person here belives at all in the exist
ence Of ghost ,... r-y ...s.
(" You do, yourself--you know you
do, Martin, although you are ashamed
to own it, cried Isabella. But Martin
only laughed. Come row,' continued
the ;houghtless girl, / can prove that
you have some idea that such things
may exist. ;Goto the church. yard alone
in the dark, and then declare, If you
can, that you have not felt fearg ms
"tAnd what would that provei'
"' Why, you would be frightened,
though you would see nothing. Your
fears would put your belief to test
How could you be afraid If you did not
feel that there was something to be
afraid Off .. =. .."..
al do not think your logic Is very
gool' replied Martin, laughing. Men
are often troubled with fear, when their
reason tells them that there is no cause
to fear. But I deny, in the first place,
that a journey TO the church yard, even
at midnight, would frighten me in the
least '0E 81 .'.
atHow bravely you can talk r said
Isabella, indulging in her customary
tone Of sarcasm. But nobody here
believes i'll don't, at any rate. Why,
you hadn't, courage enough, the other
day, to help kill rabbit; your mother
told me so y
a. never like to cause or impress
pain, IL it can be avoided answered
Martin, blushing.
+ q. Ha ha what poor excuse |!
You are brave enough, to be sure, but
tender-hearted!. Come, now, you dare
not go to The church-yard this night
alone. You are not half so courageous
as you would have us believe, Wheth-
or you think there are ghosts or not,
you are afraid of Them
Martin was extremely sensitive; but
the sarcasm Of nobody but Isabella
could have stung him to the quick.
Scofning tho imputations of cowardice,
he. was ready to do almost any desper-
ate act to prove his courage. But,
said he, although I have no more fear
of church-yards and ghosts, than have
Of orchards and apple trees, l am Tot
going to walk half mile merely to be
laughed at" ..-...
!" Hal bal but you shall not escape
merely SOP laughed Isabella. Here,
before these, our friends, I promise that
this ring shall be yours she continued
displaying one given by an older lover,
which Martin had desired her to part
with, provided you 60 to the church.
yard ssone, in the dark, and declare, on
your honor, when you return, that you
.gs.a-sss.. IN .he least afsaia.'
!" Agreed. said Martin, buttoning
his coat, for the night was chilly.
"'And, as an evidence. that you 90
The entire distance, you can bring back
with you, the iron bar, which you will
find close by the gate said Isabella.
"Thus driven by tants to the com
mission Of folly Martin took leave o.
the company, full of courage and spirit
and get out on his errand. ~ =
1T was near q quarter Of a milo q
the church.yard, which was approached
by lonely, dreary path, seldom travel
ed, except by mourners. s.sryFr,ya
alt IS impossible to relate precise
i iv what hapoene6 10 Martin on tha,