Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-12-10

and utterly denied that l was at al
qualhed to compete with him in fcats
OF moral courage. On such tonic.
boys are generally emulous, and by tn,
time we reached the opposite bank, i
was settled that the point should b,
determined by our singly bearing Hel
en- across the ford in our arms.
Helen was to determin who carried
her most easily, and | settled with my
self privately in advance, that the one
who had obtained the preference would
really be the person who stood highest
In her affections. The reflection stimu
lated me to exert every effort, and
verify believe to this day, that | could
have carried Donald and Helen on
either arm like feathers. But must
not anticipate.
We suffered all the rest of the party
to pass quietly along, and then return.
ed Helen with the utmost care. car.
ried her like an infant to the middle of
the water. Jealousy had inspired a
warmer love, and it was with feelings
unknown before that | embraced he1
beautiful form, and felt the pressure
Of her check against mine. All went
swlmmingly, or rather wadingly for a
minute. But alas, in the very deepest
part of the ford, | trod on treacher.
Gus bit of wood which rested, | sup
posed, on smooth stone. Over Troll
ed, bearing Helen with me, nor did
we rise till 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 weakness, and my RI
val demonstrated his superior ability,
bearing her in his arms long distance
on. our homeward path. AS we ap-
preached the house, Helen, feeling dry
and better humored, attempted to con-
ciliate me. But preserved a moody
silence. | was mortified beyond re-
dress.
That night packed up a few things
! and ran away. My boyish mind,
sensitive and irritated, exaggerated the
negation which it had received, and
prompted me to better results than
generally attend such irregularities
went to Edinburgh, where | found
an uncle, a kind-hearted, childless
man, who gladly gave me a place in
his house, and employed me in his bust
ness. Wealth flowed upon him. !
became his partner-went abroad-re,
sided four years on the continent, and
finally returned to Scotland rich, edrl-
Gated, in short, everything but married.
One evening, while at ball in GIas-
gov, | was struck by lady of unpre-
tending appearance, but whose re-
markable beauty and heightened ex-
preston indicated a mind of extraordi-
nary power | was introduced, but
the Scottish names had long been un-
familiar to my ear, and | could not
catch hers. 1t was Helen something
and there was something in the face,
too, that seemed familiar-something
suggestive of pleasure and pain.
But we became well acquainted that
evening. | learned without difficulty
her history. She was from the coun-
try, had been educated, her parents
had lost their property, and she was
now governess of family of the city.
was fascinated with her conversa-
tion, and was continually reminded by
her grace and refinement of manner
that she was capable of moving with
distinguished success i'm far higher
sphere than that which fortune seem
ed to have allotted her. l was natu-
rally not talkative, nor prone to conf
dence but there was that in this
young lady which inspired both and
convcrsed with her as | had never con-
versed with any. Her questions of
the various countries with which |
was familiar indicated a remarkable
knowledge of literature, and an incredi-
bic store of information.
We progressed in intimacy, and
as our conversation turned upon the
cause which induced so many to leave
their native land, laughingly remark
ed that | owed my own travels to fall
ing with a pretty girl into ford.
had hardly spoken these words
ere the blood mounted to her face, and
was succeeded by remarkable pale
ness. l attributed it to the heat of the
room, laughed, and, at her rquest, pro-
ceedcd to relate my ford adventure
with Helen Graham, painting in glow
ing colors the amiability of my love.
Her mirth, during the recital, be-
came irrepressible. At the conclusion,
she remarked !: ...r.t
"Mr. Roberts, is it possible that
you have forgotten me?"
| gazed an instant, remembered, and
was dumfounded The lady with whom
had thus become acquainted was
Helen Graham herself.
| hate, and so do you, reader, to
needlessly prolong a story. We were
soon married-Helen and | made our
bridal tour to the old place; and as
we approached in our carriage, l greet
ed stout fellow working in a field,
who seemed to be better sort of la
borer, or perhaps small farmer, by
inquiring some particulars relating to
the neighborhood He answered well
enough, and | was about to give him
sixpence, when Helen stayed my hand,
and cried out in the old style ....
"Hey, Donald, mon, dinna ye ken
yer old fren's?" ...... ..
The man looked up in astonish
ment. 1t was Donald Lean. His
amazement at our appearance was
heightened by it's style; and it was
with the greatest difficulty that W,
could induce him to enter our carriage
and answer our numerous queries al
to our friends.
Different men start in life in differ
/ ent ways. l believe that mine, how