St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-08-04

1t was calm, delicious evening in
and the beautiful grounds
of Chesly Manor, lay fair and golden
beneath magnificent sunset, which
irradiatcd every room in the mansion,
whose severe statclncss was sottcncd,
and its rude outings harmonizcd there,
by.
In one of the front rooms, whose
deep windows were open to the lawn,
were two persons, young man and a
girl.
The latter riveted attention at once.
An indefinite something in her appear
ance, caused you to look at her again
and again, till you discovered what it
was, and then all the sympathy in
your nature was bestowed on her.
She was of middling stature, exquis-
itely proportioned, and with fine
classical head ornamentcd with fair,
curling hair.
Her features were calm and regular,
but very expressive. Every emotion
of the heart mirrored itself upon them.
The eyes were dark hazel, large mourn
full eyes they were, always looking
down as if musing Oh some sad chap
ter in past history.
If the form and features of Ermina
Stedman were beautiful, her mind and
character were eminently more SO,
for she had been made perfect through
suffering.
Her mother had, in early life, made
an unhappy marriage with one be-
meath her in mental and moral ac,
quirements, who repaid years of wife
ly devotion, by harshness and cruelty.
till death released her from his tyran
ny.
She left one child, a girl, who after
her mothers death was the only oh
ect upon which Stedman expended
the overplus Of disappointment anc
bad temper.
BY fortunate accident, Ermina
was at last free, but quite alone il
the world, for she knew nothing o
either parents relations, her mother
never having mentioned her famil y "a
all.
At the time of her fathers dcatl
her grand parents were both dead, OF
the mothers side, and her aunt, tn,
only surviving sister Of her mother
Immediately made every effort to fine
her sister, not being aware Of he
death it resulted i'll the discovery o
her orphan niece, whom she imme
diately adopted into her own home.
She had one daughter of her own,
handsome girl Of twenty, who was II
once the idol and terror of her heart
Proud, high-tempered and capricious
she left no means unemployed to worI
ont her own designs, and woe to an,
who crossed her path. She treated he
cousin AS well as she did any one else
thrusting her aside when their intel
ests Jared She had been for yea
at London, visiting at her uncle's, an
was expected upon the evening whic
commences our story at Chesly Hall.
l have not yet introduced Ermina'
companion but a few words are ne,
essary. He was about five-and-tweI
ty, very handsome, very distingue, ha
all the polish of a travelled gentleman
and was positively egotistical. A
the moment we are sketching him, h
is gazing at his companion with
face full Of tender feeling and affection
I which rivals at once the interest |
takes in her. As she rises to lea>
the room, he springs up with alacrit.
and holding both tiny hands in hi
leads her to the door and you St
for the first time, as she turns to hi
INCREASINGLY, that she is hopeless
blind.
! o, it is terrible thing, this shu
ting out of all Gods beautiful world