St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-10-27
"Hark is not that Henry p as

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by low rap at the door. and in mo-
ment Henry Mereton was before them.
1t needed no studied gaze to know that he
returned the deep, earnest devotion which
was lavishcd upon him, or that he appre-
ciated the worth of tho noble heart which
he had won. For, as he knelt by her
side and clasped her pale hand in one
scarcely less fair, his flashing eye and
eloquent brow, told of world of love
and hope.
Henry Mercton was scarce twenty
years Of age, and yet, from his looks, you
would call him even younger. He was
slight, but of symetrical proportions
with large, pale brow, shaded by masses
Of waving hair Of the richest brown.
While his eyes so black and flashing .spoke G
of warmer cline, his features were small
almost to efeminacy, were it not for the
expression Of frmness and decision which
marked his mouth, and when he smiled,
so much Of sweetness, yet mystery, lurked
in his smile, one conld but g.se and ad-
mire. His was one of those sensitive
organizations, where Unborn talent and ma
tive genius hold common maxims in def
ance Now his noble features conveyed
but one expression-his heart was in his
eyes-and these, turned on Gertrude
Clinton were blind to all save that beloved
face, which alone they cared to see.
All few love as they loved; and
now, although happy in each others
presence, tear stood in the eye cf each !;
sweet, melancholy pleasure was theirs !;
and what is the young hearts melancholy
but prophecy?
Emily somers and Gertrude Clinton
were warm friends, yet widely dissimilar
in every respect.
Emily was beautiful, yet hers was that
fbeauty which is our ideal of Cherub-
full, innocent and happy. Her eyes, so
bright and blue, seemed only glad to
catch the viotet's hue; while her golden
hair, impatient of confinement, aoated in
rich curls over her fair neck.
"Fair as the trembling SHOWS, whose aeeces
clothe
Our Alpine hills; sweet as the roses spirit,
Or vio'et's cheek, on which the morning
A tear at parting--''
She was gay as lark, all day long, for
what knew she of sadness? Few books
had she read, save Natures open book,
so beautiful and pure-and every page
found in her heart an answering tone.
While the slightest cause sent the laugh
ter to her cherub lips. and the warm
blush to her cheek-for she was guileless
as she was beautiful, and had not learned
from the cold world that blush on a
maiden's cheek is out Of place. Her
warm young heart was full of love, and it
gushed forth in clear, bright streams, glad
dening the declining years Of her dotlns
parents, and she had known no other love
isavo theirs, until she met the gifted Ger
trudc, thea she took her to her heart as
sister, and shared with her her joys
, Their friendship was formed at school,
and, unlike most school attachments, II
was destined to outlive world of change
the friendship Of the gay school girls had
ripened into the deep affection Of the
thoughtful maidens.
, Gertrude Clinton was far from beauti.
/ full. Her complexion was dark-yet pale
; as the Northern SHOWS. No flush was on
her check, save when aroused by emotion
and yet, with her own glad thoughts Of
, deep imaginings, the rich blood mounted
, to her cheek for a moment, leaving il
j paler than before. Her hair was black
t black as the wing Of highland smoothly
: parted over her pale low brow while tho
t classic contour of her head was concealed
! by the heavy braids of rich purplish black
. But her eyes-they lent her face charm
, it otherwise could not possess-deep, dark
and aashing-they seemed the very win
!, dows Of soul-a soul all poetry and
. passion. Yet, when her features were il
a repose, the lustre Of her eye seemed slum
t bering, and their long dark lashes restee
, on her pale cheek, whilea strange, mourn
, full expression fitted. Ger her face. I
D seemed as if the Future had here its sig1
that her imagination, SO vigorous ant