Tri-weekly journal., 1847-05-27

exclaimed Better late than never, young man
so lead out the bride
W-strode hastily across the room, placed
himself by Ellen, and took her hand in his
Then, without daring to meet the eye Of any
about him, he said
Iwish to make an explanation-I am under
the painful .necessity-that is. / have the
pleasure to announce that I an already mar
ried. The lady whom hold by the hand is my
wifep
Then, turning in an apologetical manner 10
Mr.. and Mrs. button, he added, Il found that
had never loved, until l found your second
daughterl'
And Lucy? She heard all with strange calm
ness, then walked steadily forward and con-
fronted her betrayers Terrible as pale Meme
sis herself, she stood before them, and her look
pierced like a keen, cole blade into their false
hearts. As though to assure herself of the
dread reality of the vision, she laid her hand
on Ellen's shoulder, and let it glide down her
arm-but she touched not Edwin. As those
cold fingers met hers, the unhappy wife first
gazed full into her sisters face and as she mark
ed the CHASTITY pallor of her cheek, the dilated
nostril-the quivering lip and the intensely
mournful eyes, she covered her own face with
her hands, and burst into tears while the young
husband, awed by the terrible silence of her he
had wronged, gasped for breath, and staggered
back against the wall. Then Lucy clasping
her hands on her forehead, first give voice to
her anguish and despair in one fearful cry, which
could but ring forever through the souls of that
guilty pair, and fell in death-hke swoon at
their feet. ~ ,-f ,slf
After the insensible girl had been removed
to her chamber, stormy scene ensued in the
room beneath. The parents and guests were
alike enraged against W; but the tears
and prayers of his young wife, the petted beau
ty and spoiled child, at last softened somewhat
the anger of the parents, and an opportunity
for an explanation was accorded to the olfen-
ders. m HIS. f.. .,.
A sorry explanation it proved. The gentle
man affirmed that the first sight of Eelens love-
" face had weakened the empire of her palmer
sister over his affections.
Frequent interviews had completed the con-
quest Of his loyalty; but he had been held in
check by honor, and never told his love, until
when on his way to espouse another, in an I'M
guarded moment ne had revealed it, and the
avowal had called forth an answering acknowl-
edgfmen1f tFqmo Egtfnt best. IN order TO save
pain 10 Lucy and prevent opposition from
her, and secure their own happiness, to be
rled before their arrival at g..
Lucy remained insensible for some hours
When she revived and had apparently gained
her consciousness, she still maintained her
strange silence. This continued for many
weeks, and when itpartially passed away, her
friends saw with inexpressible grief that her
reason had aed-she lrds hOpelessly ifSdne!-
But her madness was of mild and harmless
nature. She was as gentle and peaceable as
ever, but sighed frequently, and seemed bur
dened with some great sorrow which she could
not herself comprehend.
She had one peculiarity, which all who knew
her matter years must recollect; this was wild
and careful avoidance of men. She also SEEM
ed posed by the spirit of unrest. She could
not, she would not be confined, but was con-
tinually escaping from her friends, and going
they knew not whittier.
While herr arentslived, they, by their watch
full care and unwearying efforts, in some mea
sure controlled this sad propensity; but when
they died, their stricken child became a wan
derer, homeless, friendless and forlorn.
Through laughing springs and rosy summers,
and golden autumns; and tempestuous winters,
1t was tramp, tramp, tramp-no rest for her of
the crushed heart and crazed bIain.
/ remember her as she was in my early child
hood, toward the last of her weary pilgrimage.
As my father and my eldest brothers were fire.
quently absent, and as my mother never close
ed her heart or her door on the unfortunate.
Crazy Lucy often spent an hour or two by our
freside. Her appearance was very singular
Her gown was patched with many colors, and
and her shawl, or mantle, worn and torn, until |
it was all open work and fringe. The remain |
der of her miserable wardrobe she carried in a |
bundle on her arm, and sometimes she had a |
number of parcels of old rags, dried herbs, |
&c
In the season of flowers her tattered bonnet !
was profusely decorated with those which she |
gathered in the woods, or by the way-side.-
Her love for these and her sweet voice was all
that was left her of the bloom and music of ex-
istence. Yet no,-her meak and childlike piety
still fingered. Her God had not forsaken her; l.
down in the dim chaos of her spirit, the smile /
of His love yet cleaned faintly-in tie vast
garden of her heart she still heard his voice
at even-tide, and she was not afraid Her
Bible went with her everywhere,-a torn and
soiled volume, but as holy still, and it may be
as dearly cherished, nay reader, as the gorgeous
copy now lying on your table, bound in purple |
and gold,' and with gliding untamished upon its |
delicate leaves.
| remember to have heard my mother relate
a touching little incident connected with one
of Lucy's brief visits to us.
The poor creature once laid her hand upon
the curly head ofone my brothers, and asked of
him his name. William Edwin he replied l
with a tinid upward glance. She caught away
her hand and signing heavily. said, as though
thinking aloud, Il knew an Edwin once, and he
made me broken hearted
This was the only instance in which she was