Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-09-09
5clcrtc0 Gales.
The Night Of Years.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.


My Reader-l have sat some minutes,
with my pen suspended in air above my
paper. have been debating delicate
point am in a position. You will
perhaps recollect that one of Fanny For-
rester's exquisite sketches was entitled
Lucy Dutton."
! Now it happens the real name Of the
heroine Of the 'ower true tsle," which am
about to do myself the honor of relating to
you, was no other than Lucy Duuon. Shall
! rob her Of her birth rIght--conpe her TO
wear nom de guerre, because my sister au
thoress accidentally gave the true name to
one OF her ideal creations Shall sacrifice
truth to delicacy that's the question. 'No."
You said no did you not? Then Lucy, Lucy
Dutton, let il be.
II Some forty years since, in the interior ot
my beautiful native State, New York, lived
| the father Of our heroine, an honest and re.
spectacle farmer lie had bu, two children
Lucy, noble girl Of nineteen, and Ellen,
a year or two younger. The first named was
winning, rather than strlkingly beautiful
Under n manner observable for its serious
ness, and nun.llke serenity, were concealed
an impassionate nature, heart Of the
deepest capacity for loving. She was re-
markable, from her earliest childhood,
for a voice of thrilling and haunting
sweetness.
n Ellen Dutton was the brilliant antipo-
dcs of her sister; "born beauty" whose
prerogative of prettiness was to have her
irresponsible own way, in all things, and
at all times. An indulgrnt father, a
weak mother, and an idolizing sister,
had all unconsciously contributed to the
ruin Of a nature not at the first remarka-
Bile for strength or generosity.
II Where, in all Gods creatures, is heart
lessness so seemingly unnatural-is sell
ishness so detestable, as in a beautiful
woman
| Lucy possessed fine intellect, and as
her parents were well reared New Eng
landers, she and her sister were far bet
ter educated than other girls of their sta
ton, in that then half settled portion of
the country In those days, many en-
gagged in school teaching, from the hon
or and pleasure which it afforded, rather
than necessity. Thus few months pre-
yious to the commencement ofour sketch,
Lucy Dutton left, for the first time, her
! fresde circle, to take charge ofa school ).
some twenty miles from her native town.
| For some while, her letters home were
expressive only Of the happy contentment
which sprang from the consciousness Of
active usefulness, of receiving, while I'M
parting good But anon there came
change then were those records for
home characterized by ftiul gaiety, or
dreary sadness indchnable hopes and
fears seemed striving for supremacy in
the writer's troubled little heart. Lucy
Loyed but scarcely acknowledged it to
| herself, while she knew not that she was
loved SO for a time, that beautiful Sc
cond birth Of woman's nature was like
a warm sunrise struggling with the cold
mists of morning.
But one day brought letter which
could not soon be forgotten in the name
of the absent one-a letter traced by
hand that trembled in sympathy with
heart tumultuous with happiness. Lucy
had been wooed and won, and she but
waited her parents approval of her choice,
the betrothed of young Edwin W,
a man of excellent family and standing in
the town where she had been teaching.
The father and mother accorded their
sanction with many blessings; and Lucy's
next letter promised speedy visit from
! the lovers.
/ To such nature as Lucy's what an abb
sorbing, and yet what revealing of self
is first passion on-what a prodigality OF
giving-what an incalculabe wealth of
receiving-what a breaking up is there
Of the deep waters of the soul, and how
! Heaven descends in a sudden star show
| or upon life If there is a season when
an angel may look with intense and fear
! ful interest upon her mortal sister, It's
when she behods her heart pass from the
bud-lke innocence and freshness OF girl
hood, and taking to its very core the fer
vid light Of love, glow and crimson into
perfect womanhood.
/ At last the plighted lovers came, and
welcomes and festivals awaited them
Mr.. W gave entire satisfaction to
! father, mother and even to the exacting
/" beauty" He was a handsome man,
with some pretensions to fashion, but in
IA manner, and apparently in character,
the opposite of his betrothed.
1t was decided that Lucy should not a.
gain leave home, until after her marriage,
which, at the request of her ardent lover,
was to be celebrated within two months,
and on the coming birthday of the bride.
1t was therefore arranged that Ellen
should return with Mr.. W to
Nj, to take charge of her sisters
school for the remainder Of the term.
The birthday had come. 1t had been
ushered in by May morning of sur
passing loyeness-the busy hours had
borne away, and now II was night sun
set, aud neither the bridegroom nor Ell
len, the first bridesmaid, had appeared
, Yet in her neat little chamber sat Lucy,
nothing doubling, nothing fearing. She
f, was already clad in simple white mus
lin, and her few bridal adornments lay on
the table by her side. Maria Allen. he'
second bridesmaid, a brlght-eyed, affec