North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-09-21
S&l&tt Storg,
THE wITHERED H cart,
By LILA HERBRRT.

\
"Ah, broken is the golden bowl, the spirit flown
| forever!
ct the bell toll sanity soul floats on the stygi
an river.
And let the burial rite be rsalthe funeral song be
sung
An anthem for the loylisst dead that ever died go
dirge for her the doubly dead in that she died so
young"
"Come, Lila, now for the story" said my
cousin Ellen, as she seated herself upon a
stool at my feet, and lying her restless head
| upon my knee, while she raised her dark be-
witching eyes with most imploring express
ion to my own.
"How can / withstand thy earnest solicita-
| tons, sweet coz ? But turn away those
bright star-like orbs from mine, dear Nell,
| for thou shouldst be so well acquainted with
| their power as to be aware that while they
are thus gazing upon me cannot describe
those of another, which unlike thy own
were deeply yet beautifully blue" So Nell
cast down her eyes very mo destly upon the
carpet while gentle smile fingered about
her mouth, and began my story
Alice Cleaveland was the only child of
wealthy merchant of his city. Beauty OF
the sweetest md gentlest nature was hers
Picture to yourself, sweet Nell, complexion
thet could vie with tho valley lily, regular
and very delicate features, q nose that an ar
chtect would have been proud to take as a
model, sweet, bewitching little mouth, a
slight but beautiful form, tiny white hands,
and feet for which CinderelIa's slipper VOC
have been size too large, and you will have
before you complete portrait Of my lovely
heroine. Nay, nay, dear Nell do not shake
your head thus, and reproach me for having
forgotten to mention the bright rose tints
that gave new lustre to the snowy skin. l
had not forgotten them, but the rose never
mates with the lily, and Alice was a perfect
| lily.
Fair and delicate as that frail flower, ad
Alice leaveland ever been, for her constitu-
ton was naturally delicate, and the sIightes
| exertion was sufficient to cause Illness.
From her birt h, her parents had watched
over her with the most Inteuse solcitude,
and though the phys declared she could
not possibly survive the period of childhood ;,
his prediction was not verified and she grew
up to her seventeenth year without giving
her parents any canse to regard themselves
as in danger Of losing her.
'Sull, the least excitement or agitation
possessed power fo weary her, She never
attended theatres, or balls, or joined in any
similar pleasure, Of which most young girls
ale fond and only once, when she was
scarce fifteen, had she accepted an invitation
| to party, and then, when she returned, she
was so completely unRerved that it was ma
| ny days ere she recovered from the effects,
and her parents would never consent 20 her
going again.
"And Alice murmured not she was hap
py at her own loved home, where her young
days passed in continual sunshine. Hers
was loving heart, and pure and unspotted,
| too, for never had an evil thought claimed
place within it. She posse sed few intimate
| friends, nor did she wish for more, for Alice
loved thoss she had very dearly, and di not
care to make room in her heart for others.
"Among the members other fathers house
hold were her cousin, Henry Cleaveland,
who had always lived with them, and
young and beautiful heiress, Ida Lisle, who
had been committed to the guard anship of
Mr.. Cleaveland. Ida was very beautiful, bu
harS raa Iiffarapf n
that Of the delicate Alice. lTall, yet not too
tall. commanding and dignified in appearance
graceful in every movement, and, above, all
lovely in mind as in person, and with the
rose of health beaming upon her cheek was
it wonder she excited adm iratlon and love
in all who knew her
And now let US turn to another, Henry
Cleveland had been left an orphan at an ear
ly age, and bis uncle bah watched over him
with all the affection of parent. He was
indeed noble young nan. In person, he
was handsome and manly, possessed of good
principles and an excellent disposition, with
heart susceptible of the finest emotions.
ana re had just entered upon the manage
hent oil large estate, the inheritance of
winch his father had not lived to enjoy.
Henry had ever loved his cousin Alice. |
but it was the affection Of brother for an
only and beloved sister. He felt that he |
would never dare to dwell upon her with
other thoughts, deeper love could never be
returned by Alice, for she was too pure, too
holy in nature, to place her mind very firm
ly upon an earthly object. Asa meek and
spotIess angel, Henry regarded Alice Cleave-
land, and whenever he gazed upon her lovely
face and saw the hectic flush that went and
came with each passing emotion. dark FORE
boding would steal over him that she 90
young and autiful, vas Rot long to be
child Of eartk ..... !