The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-10
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY, APRIL 70, 1863.

thing you kin think OF. L jest wonder
how dare to be in love with her. do,
Oliver"
"I should like to see her,
"You SHALL" answered John. "She s
jest going to Meeting with me tomorrow !;
the first time / we ever took her out. / III
introduce you; mind you are there"
81 IL be sure to be there; l am very
curious" answered |.
"You ca MT imagine what she is, said
John. "Fairy-like amt a word for such
light delicate little thing, and such curls,
and such white hands! Milk the COWS !?
Bless her little heart guess mott" and
John, with a fresh supply of straw in his
mouth, trudged away.
The next day was Sunday, and ten o.
clock found me in church, waiting for
Johns advent. He came at last, and with
him was lady, very young, and very, very
beautiful, with high bred features and
dainty hands and feet, and figure that,
petite as it was, might well have been a
queens.
John had only spoken truth when he said
that would wonder how he dared to love
this girl. That was the very thought that
flashed across my mind as he took his seat
beside her.
True, he was rich, and she probably was
poor But | never thought of that as a
set-off against her exquisite grace and
beauty, and his large-boned, loOse-jointed
awkwardness.
For the first time in my life, l felt angry
at John. l wanted to walk up to the pew,
take him by his long arm, and deposit him
elsewhere. What right had he to monop-
iize the prettiest girl in the village?
She seemed to like him, too. She sat
close to him, and once or twice absolutely
touched him with her little glove, and never
cast a glance towards the handsOmest,
best-dressed man in the church.
Coming out, John introduced us: "Miss
Ross-Mr Avern; Cousin Oliver-Miss
Ross
And l bowed, and she courtesied, and
Cousin John had the impudence to look as
proud as though she belonged to him, and
marched off, like the Beast with ca ptive
Beauty.
1t was very presumptuous of him, and |
resolved to put him down. | could see
that he had no fear of me as a rival, and it
was necessary that should show him my
real powers. SO, as | walked home, |
Matched a plan for splendid Irritation
with Miss Gertrude Ross, who was GER
tainly worth the trouble of a conquest.
There was ample opportunity. She Wis
tied everywhere, and so did I singing
school and quilting party, picnic and So
cable, every OCCASION which brotght the
young people together, gave us chance
for meeting. BY and by it was no longer
Johns arm that she took, but mine; no
longer John who saw her home and over
the moonlit fields. but II, the handsome,
talented, and wel-mannered beau, in whose
brilliant presence dull, awkward Cousin
John was &mere nothing.
| had begun by a desperate Irritation;
ended by being earnestly in love- The
ground that Gertrude walked On, the flow
er she touched, We're precious to me. 1t
was more absurd than ever to think of
Cousin John as Il rival, although / some
times knew Of his being at the school
house, and was certain that the pretty nick
nacks which sha had in such profusion
were his gifts 1t was natural that she
should receive his homage in pity; but that
she should love him, and | SO near, bah!
the thing was folly. i
iii not pause to think of his heart
to notice how thin and pale he grew,
though remembered, years after, his sad,
careworn face, and the dark rings about
his eyes. Polly, with freckled skin and
red hands, or Dolly who tramped across
the field with her milk pail on her head,
were his fitting mates-but not this lady
Gertrude. She was meant for me.
And so | saw he" oitener, and glanced
more tenderly, ana whispered more mean
ingly, and at last began to hope that she
returned my affection.
One autumn day--iior had fingered at
D. until the red leaves were on the
NAPLES, and roses and violets had abdica-
ted in favor of Haunting dahlias and stiff
rysanthemums-1 made up my mind to
speak to her, and tell her all felt
There was to be gathering at the min
ister's that night-a sort of surprise dona-
ton party-and she would be there So
would Cousin John, for he was to be her
escort; but determined to find an oppor-
tunity, by fair means or foul.
The evening came; beautiful, star
light night, and dressed in my best becom-
ing suit, started for the minister's. She
was there when / arrived. John always
went early, everywhere, and was singing
to them in a low, dreamy voice, some ten
der song, which the minister's mother, a
venerable specialized old lady, commented
on as-s' Fen almost as good as a hymn. ;"
My cousin John was listening with his
mouth wide open, and his eyes fixed on
vacancy. had never seen him look quite
SO awkward before.
1t was some time before | found an OPP
portunity to draw Gertrude away from the
crowd. But at last all sauntered oat into
the garden, and offered her my arm
She took it, and we went together down