The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-08
MY NARROW ESCAPE.

MY NARROW ESCAPE.
was eighteen, and l had come to 9
crisis in my life, the life of hitherto
indulged and perfectly happy girls il
was no less serious q crisis than this
was or fancied myself to be in love,
and on the eve of separation from my
lover.
Young Arthur Elton. He was in re-
ality five years my senior. but for some
reason people always called him
young" greatly to my, annoyance
for spirited girl, when she has made
up her mind to take man for "hel
lord and MASTER" doesn't quite like to
see other people looking down on him
and condescending to him, as if to some
foolish boy.
1t wasn't Arthur's fault. He was OF
that gentle, loving, yielding nature.
that other people invariably either
| slight and ''put upon," or patronize
and caress. Very handsome. in a some
what effeminate style; something of an
artist, poet, dreamer, and an enthusiast
in everything, the very latest of his
many enthusiasms being his love for
me.
Really, he was so earnest, so almost
| desperate about it, that he quite took
| my heart by storm. ] had known him
all my life, but had never even thought
of being in love with him until a few
days before we were engaged.
| And just at that time he had become
sort of hero in our little country
/ world. by the choice he had made of a
career in life. He had been, in de-
| sultory sort of fashion, educated for
! the Church; not that he had any special
fitness for the calling, but because-an
old friend of his fathers being cler-
gyman-his ideas had chanced to take
turn in that direction. Now, he had
suddenly developed an ardent anxiety
for the heather, ana resolved to go to
India as missionary.
Now. Twas an enthusiast, too. When
he pleaded to me to accompany him,
to devote my life to him. among savage
tribes in far-off lands, never paused
to consider what u one-sided arrange
ment this would be, or how far from q
bright or happy life was this he offered
me. He pointed out to me the grand
career for which Heaven had designed
US. We should pass our lives in the
service of God aud cur fellew-creatures,
and mutually sustain each other on
this narrow road which should lead so
many heathens to heaven.
So my Imagination caught fire. How
great, how infinitely more noble was
such fate than the quiet domestic
happiness of wife and mother. that
was the ordinary, commonplace wo-
mans lot! So we were engaged, and
1 offered no objection to Arthur's ear
nest entreaty that should marry him
at once, and-he was to sail in three
weeks--go with him.
But here the matter fortunately pass
ed out of our control, and became SUBJ
ject to the consent of our families
Need / say that it met with opposition
from the start.
Mother said she. ''would sooner lay
me in the graver' In vain Il talked
ss'high and holy ends," and .'calls from
Heaven" She declared that the high
est and truest aim aud end of a wOm-
ans life was to do her duty in the sa-
cred sphere of home. and raise up
children in the love and fear of Heaven.
Arthur, on his side, had no better
fortune. His father, having large
family. hadn't a shilling to spare, and
the old clergyman. who was paying for
his outfit to India, laughed in his face,
and asked him how he proposed to
feed and clothe me when he got me
there? Feed me! Pretty language
from minister. We were willing to
devote ourselves to the service of
Heavens savages, and nobody would
extend to us helping hand.
IF John were only here" I sighed;
for began to feel very much in ear
nest under all this opposition. and to
feel that Arthur and 1 and the poor
heathen were all martyrs together
John has got lots of money. and is so
good-natured. I've almost a mind to
write to him, Arthur, and ask him for
the means to 60"
had been a long time making up
my mind to say this to my lover, A1p-
posing that, rs matter of course, he
terms, or being laid under such obliga-
stions to John Hayden. 1 expected to
see him shrink sensitively, and declare,
with proper manly Independence, that
1 should not appeal to John. Nothing
of the kind.
s'Why notP' he cried, quite eagerly.
Hayden has lots of money, as you
say, and it won't be giving it to you or
to me, but to those unhappy heather.
And n-as I used to suspect, Lizzie
John wanted to marry you himself,
what an opportunity are we giving him
to exercise the virtue of self-sacritice"'
don't know how felt as l heard
him. Startled at the GOODNESS of that
last idea-thrilled at the very thought
Gt had never occurred to me) that dear
old John Hayden had admired me
and curiously disappointed in my lover.
How could he SO contentedly consent
to my receiving money and service
from another mau's hands-especially
when the chief benefit of such service
was to accrue to himself in the end?
But kept my Disappointment, it was
but vague and half-understood, locked
in my own heart. 1t was too late now
for there to be any possibility of my
accompanying Arthur. bnt l agreed to
write to John, and-if he would give
me the means-follow the fortunes of
my lover.
So Arthur departed for London. Our
be married before sailing for India to-
gether. babe him goodbye, weeping
very decorously, but secretly feeling
much surprised that l did not feel more
real grief of heart. Then went home
and wrote the whole story to John.
had begged him to answer ut once.
as there was no time to spare, but the
day which should have brought me
letter brought me disappointment only.
Not very bitter disappointment, either.
took myself to task for that.
John is not SO foolish as to help you
in such mad follyr' my mother had
said. d.triumphantly, when no letter came.
made no reply but strolled OFF into
the woods close at hand to think it
over. .s-.---.
The idea occurred to me-had my
mother written to influence John
against me. As@ -
Presently quick footstep came rust
ling through the grass. and, recogniz-