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

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dear aunt, and [ did not wish to d $
turD you are you as well tonight as
usual ?"
Yes, Ermina but why are you
not sleeping yourself, at this late hour,
my child ?"
because I have something to tell
you, mad freak you will call it, but
with yGur consent, | shall certainly
try it,"
And kneeling by the bed, she un-
folded the project. Her aunt entered
into it heart and soul, and after long
conversation the two parted for the
night, and Ermina went happily to
rest.
The project was this Isabel had
spoken of a gentleman who had come
from foreign country and taken nj
his residence in London, where he was
the lion of the day. He was the most
celebrated oculist in the world, and to
this man Ermina was going, to obtain
the gift denied by heaven. Her IN
tcntion was to be profound secret
from all save her aunt, that her lover S
surprise, on her return, might te per-
feet. Mrs. Chesly, herself, broke the
news. informing Isabel and Harlow
that Ermina's health needed recruit
ing, and she was determined to send
her to London.
/ Harlow besought leave to accompa-
ny her thther with all a young lovers
impetuosity, but his suit was denied
and he saw her depart alone.
How desolate he felt when she was
gone. His own home adjoined Chesly
Manor, but there was no one in 1T save
his housekeeper, and he could not stay
there all his time. lie looked forward
to letters as his only comfort, for En-
mira had been taught to write prevl'
ous to her blindness, and had not neg
lcctcd practice, but after the first two
there came no more. In vain he
wrote and rc-wrotc long, atiectlonate
/ cpiStlcs there never came any an.
Swcr
Was it any wonder, then, that hc
should lingrr hour after hour i'll com
panv with the brilliant and Iascina,
ting Isabel, who tempered every mood
to suit him, was gay when he was
raw. sober when he was sober, sang
his favoritc songs with uncquaIIcd
pathos. and walked, rode, and ram
hlcd with him. No wonder, in short
that after a while Isabel was installed
in Ermna's place, and she not forgot
Ten, DuL ii> "hol
! For the first time in her life lsabc
loved that is she loved as woman
utterly heartless and unprincipled
can love. and she had done this from
the first moment she saw Harlow W IN
throp. and determined he should b,
conquered.
Ermina was alone in London, fo
she did not wish to form the acqualnt
ancc of any of lsabeps gay friends
and SO boarded with respectable oil
lady. a former friend of her aunt
and limited her visits to the rooms @
the oculist, and her own residence, he
landlady's little granddaughter actin;
as her guide. She underwent cours
of minor operations each visit, but I'll
one important moment would be a
tended by exquisite suffering, and sh
lonrcd for some friend to be preseE
to nerve her spirits. She had to Z
alone. however, and this was to b
| her last visit, aud the one that wouI
either open unto her a world OF llgh
, or leave her in darkness forever.
r The room was partially darkenet
and Ermina sat in the high office chal
: placed for her, and prayed inward
a for strength her head was firmly la
9 tened, and the oculist, a kind, gcntl'
j manly man, stood beside with his cas-
h of instruments. She thought of ht
e lover, and was heroic to endure.
n There was moments intense S
: lencc, a smUthcrcd moan Of PAIN, an
e then a sharp, sudden scream, and sI
n had tainted. The oculist smiled, a
c he threw cold water on the pale fac
n and chafed the white hands, for l.
h knew the result. She stirred an
d opened her eyes, then calculated in
v tone of deep gratitude, My God,
thank thee !"
:, For what, oh Ermina, poor betraye
!. Ermina
The dim light of that little roo'
q was brilliant, glorious to her, and 81
Il murmurcd not when told that IL
a weeks she might not see more, le'
!, the gift so suddenly found should |
, destroyed again.
II At last the work was periecte
She could look out on the brllllancy
If MONDAY, and feel no Inconvenience
For fourteen years she had lived
utter darkness. Now at nineteen tn
;, : ordeal was passed How would Ha
low receive the news Would
chide her for not telling him! Cou
il be possible that he would love h'
any better? All these passed throug
Ie her mind as she prepared to retni
home. One thing troubled her. 81
IS mad only received three letters SIM
y she left, but in those days mails We
1t uncertain, and she felt sure they h;
II been written.
G. She would see Chesly Manor he
self! She heard SO much OF its bea
n ty When there, that she longed to c
is joy the sight. And Harlow, eve
lineament of his face was familiar
7 her touch, but now she could gaze U
80 on it, and admire it, as others did.
20 what joy :,
+, She reached the Hall feasting h
y eyes upon its beauties. She we
ar without stopping to her Annts roo
10 10 for to her she owed this, or at lea
. the means. They embraced tender
If each overcome with joy. Then
20. nina asked quickly for Harlow.
nd Her aunt shuddered, and turn
,f- pale, then pointed to the door. I
en- full of delight to notice anght, S
an FASTENED to find him, while Mrs. CHI
At ly covered her face with her han
wi and cried, "Poor, poor child J" 5
Dr. sought them in the paror, and til
at FASTENED out to the gate. She expe
ch ed to find him aud Isabel together,
not the faintest shadow of suspic