The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-28
ALL BY ACCIDENT,

There is q very tender period in the
life of every one, known as youth. AT
this time it is that the mind, attracted
and influenced by the things with which
it comes most in contact. assimilates
them to itself or grows into their like
ness. The seeds which are planted Mt
this season of tho mortal year are full of
Significance. We NIL know of the bewild-
ering variety of their growth into time,
and there are many who claim for them n
terrible relation to what is called eterni-
ty. Is it not strange, then, that at this
momentous time the mind should nat
urally incline to the trivial, the roman
tic, the adventurous 2 That then no char
aoter should receive more cordial well
come than the pirate, the robber, and
the murderer, and that over their deeds
should hang such charmingly Elusive
spirit OF heroism, generosity and love.
Such, at least was my experience. And
yet, out of all the varied forms which
this fascination takes, mine was not to
emulate their deeds, but rather to be
one Of those whose lives are devoted to
their destruction OF capture-one of that
sacred md daring hand, tho oa,,,;nninn
to whose ranks was courage, the expul-
sion generallXyssdesth. In short, I had
made up my mind to be oil officer Of the
law. ~
Being favored with nh unusual run of
luck, OF, as the public would have it,
shrewdness and bravery, had effected
many captures which had baffied older
heads and stronger arms. Many notables
we're upon my list Of prisoners, but there
WIS one still ut large who had eluded
the ingenuity of the entire force, spring
ing all the traps set to catch him with
out tho usual accompaniment of being
caught I had him ut close quarters
once, but he escaped, bearing with him
as souvenir of our meeting an ugly
blow on the forehead Smell was his
name. His daring had gained for him
another, however, which innocence
trembled to repeat, still had hopes Of
catching the rascal and when I left for a
short vacation in the country to recup-
crate my health, I was accompanied by
n resolve to dedicate q portion Of my
prospective strength to his capture.
-phere were other reasons, too. With
thoughts Of vacation rose Visions
visions of boyhood, of girl, and mn old
man. Of previous vacations, in which
the woods resounded with laughter, when
the sky seemed bluer, the flowers bright
or, and the days, oh, so short simply
because we were together. OF promises,
treasured for time, and then buried
under the loads of care and worldly
work that stood ready to be heaped upon
them. Of intervening moments, when
work gave way to reflection, and the va
cations returned like n heaven, and the
promises like reproach. Such n time
was this--full of conflicting thoughts,
alternately urging md restraining; but
need not sayj. which prevailed. 1t was
late in the autumn when arrived ut the
old farm. Two aunts who lived there
(and whose services were seldom called
into requisition except in cases like this,
expressed themselves in favor Of sea-
son of unlimited enjoyment, of which
was to be tho chief cornerstone.
In the novelty and hurry Of MI abrupt
departure and arrival, you scarcely notice
that while glidingss through the streets
where the hum of commerce is the song
you hear, md men Of care md business
they who sing it, that it gradually
broadens and sweotens and tho discords
which you have heard before have dice
away. While you ponder and cogitat'
upon the phenomenon, the desire of I
solution awakens You from your reverie
to find it in the fact that you in shor
time have passed from the city tc, III,
country. That the music you now haa
is natures, the robin is whistling in TIL
air, the herds are lowing in the fields
the leaves are ripping and trillin:
through the trees, the air is rcdolent will
tho music of the flowers, and that tn
sound of muffled and sultry oontentmen
which blows upon you from the distanc
is tho rapturous and undefnable hal
mony of the spheres. " ~" s.
Then came the farm, with it's multi
tude of familiar rand home-like objects