The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-07-28
why Il Ram Away.

friends at fourteen years of age, and we
both regarded with little more than friend
ship pretty Helen Graham, our Oldest girl
at school. We romped and danced to-
gether, and this lasted for such a length
of time that it is with feelings of bewil-
| derment that [ look back upon the mys-
terry of two lovers continuing friends
But the time was TO come when jeabusy
lit the spark in my bosom, and blew it
| into consuming flame.
Well do l remember how and when the
green-eyed monster perpetrated this in
t.cendiary deed. 1t was on a cold October
| evening, when Helen, Donald and myself
were returning with our parents from a
| neighboring hamlet. AS approached a
ford, where the water ran somewhat high
er than ankle deep, We prepared TO carry
| Helen across, as we were accustomed to.
with hands interviewer "chair fashion -
and thus we carried our pretty passenger
over the brook.
just as we were in the middle of the
water, (Which was cold enough to have
frozen anything like feeling out of boys
less hardy than ourselves) a faint pang Of
jealousy nipped my heart. Why it was [
know not, Cor we had carried Helen across
the brook ere now without emotion, but
this evening [ thought or fancie1 that
Helen gave Donald an undue preference
BY casting her arm around his neck,
while she steaGied herself on my side By
holding the cuff of my jacket.
No flame can burn SO quick or with SO
little fuel as jealousy. Before we had
reached the opposite bank l had wished
Donald at the bottom of the sea. Being
naturally impetuous, I burst out with
"You need ma baud sac gingerly, Helen,
as if ye feared IA. [ can carry ye light
er than Donald can carry @ ye."
Surprised at the vehemence of my tone,
our queen interposed with an admission
that. we were both strong, and that she
had no idea of spariDg my power. But
Donald's fire was kindled, and he utterly
denied that I was at all qualified to COM
pete with him in feats of physical courage.
On such topics boys are generally emulous,
and by the time we reached the opposite
bank it was settled that the point should
be determined by our singly bearing Hell
en- across the ford in our arms
Helen was to determine who carried
her most easily, and 1 settled with myself
privately in advance that the one who OBJ
tanned the preference would really be the
person who stood highest in her affections.
The reflection stimulated me to exert
every effort, and L verify believe to this
day that could have carried Donald aud
Helen on either arm like feathers. But
/ must nos anticipate
We suffered the rest Of the party to pass
quietly along, and then returned to Helen.
With the utmost care [ carried her like
an infant TO the middle of the water
Jealousy had inspired warmer love, and
it was with feelings unknown before that
embraced her beautiful form, and felt
the pressure of her cheek against mine
All went swimmingly, or rather wadingly,
for a minute. But alas! III the very
deepest part of the for6 [ trod on treach-
erous bit of wood which rested, suppose,
on smooth stone. Over / rolled, bear
ing Helen with me, nor did we rise till
fairly soaked from head TO fook
[ need not describe the taunts of Dom
aid, or the accusing silence Of Helen
Both believed that had fallen from mere
weak ness-and my rival demonstrated has
superior ability, bearing her in his arms
q long distance on our homeward path
As we approached her home, Helen, feel
ing dry and better humored, attempted to
reconcile me. But preserved moody !
silence. l was mortified beyond redress.
That night 1 packed up few things
and ran away. My boyish mind, sensi-
tive and irritaced, exaggerated the mega
tion which it had received, and prompted
me to better results than generally attend
such Irregularities. | went to Edinburg,
where | found an uncle, kind hearted,
maa, who gladly gave me place
in his house, and employed me in his
business. Wealth flowed in upon him
| became his partner-went abroad--re-
sided four years on the continent, and
finally returned to Scotland rich, educated,
and, in short, everything but married.
One evening, while at a ball in Glasgow,
my attention was taken by a lady Of un-
appearance, hut whose remark
able beauty and hi9h-toned expression
indicated mind of extraordinary power.
[ was introduced, but Scottish names had
long been unfamiliar to my ear, and l
could not catch hers. 1t was Helen some
thing; and there was something in the
face, too, that seemed familiar something
of pleasure and pain.
We became well acquainted that even
ing. I learned without difficulty her his
tory. She was from the country, had been