Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-09

the dilated nostrils-the quivering lip and tn
intensely mournful eyes, she covered her owl
face with her hands, and burst into tears
while her young husband, awed by the terri
BILE silence of her he had wronged, gasped TO
breath, and staggered back against the wall
Then Lucy clasped her hands on her forehead
first gave voice to her anguish and despair il
one fearful cry, which could but ring foreve
through the souls of that guilty pair, and fel
in deathlike swoon at their feet
After the insensible girl had been removed
to her chamber, stormy scene ensued in thu
room beneath. The parents and guests were
alike enraged against W; but the tear:
and prayers of his young wife, the petted beau
ty and spoiled child, at last softened somewha
the anger of The parents, and an opportunity
for an explanation was accorded to the often
ders.
sorry explanation it proved The gen
teman affirmed that the first sight of Ellen:
lovely face had weakened the empire Of he
palmer sister over his affections. Frequen
interviews had completed the conquest of hi:
loyalty but he had been held in check by
honor, and never told his love, until wien or
his way to espouse another, in an unguardeC
moment, he had revealed it, and the avowa
had called forth an swering acknowledgment
from Ellen,
They had thought it best, in order ITO save
r ra'@ &c &c Lucy" and prevent opposition from
her-and TO secure their own happiness, to be
married before their arrival at c..
Lucy remained insensble for some hours
When she revived and had apparently regain.
ed her consciousness, she still maintained hel
strange silence. This continued for many
weeks, and when it partially passed away
her friends saw, with inexpressible grief, tha
her reason had fled-she uas hopelessly IN
sane! But her madness was of mild anC
harmless nature. She was gentle and peace
able as ever, but sighed frequently, and seem
ed burdened with some great sorrow which
she could not herself comprehend. She hac
one popularity, which all who knew her in
after years must recollect this was wild
fear and careful avoidance of men. She also
seemed possessed by the spirit of arrest She
could not, she would not be confined, but was
constantly escaping from her friends, and 60
ing they knew not whittier.
While her parents lived, they, by thei
watchful care, and unwearying efforts, in some
measure controlled this sad propensity; bu
when they died, their stricken child became {
wanderer, homeless, friendless and forlorn.
Through laughing springs, and rosy sum
mers, and golden autumns, and tempestuou'
winters, it was tramp, tramp,-no rest for he
of the crushed heart and the crazed brain.
remember her as she was in my early
childhood, toward the last of her weary pill
grimage. AS my father and my elder broth
ers were frequently absent, and as my mothe
never closed her heart or her door on the un
fortunate, " Crazy Lucy" often spent an hou
Or two by our fire-side. Her appearance wa
very singular. Her gown was always patch
ed with many colors, and her shawl, or man
tie, worn and torn, until it was all open worl
and fringe. The remainder of her miserable
wardrobe she carried in bundle, on her arm
and sometimes she had number of parcels 0
old rags, dried herbs, &c.
In the season of flowers, her tattered bonnie
was profusely decorated with those which sh
gathered in the wood, or by the way side
Her love for these and her sweet voice wer
all that were left her of the bloom and mus
of existence. Yet no,-her meek and child-lik
piety still fingered. Her God had not forsakel
her; down into the chaos of her spirit, tn
smile of His love yet cleaned fantly--in tn
waste garden of her heart she still heard Hi
voice at eventide,. and she was not &c afraid
Her Bible went with her every where,-a tori
and soiled volume, but as holy still, and
may be as dearly cherished, my reader, as tn
gorgeous copy now lying on your table, bount
furnished upon its delicate leaves.
remember 10 have heard my mother relat
a touching little incident connected with on
of Lucy's brief visits to US.
The poor creature once laid her hand on tn
| IL loo, i 1fo g oc1-
of him, his name &c William Edwin, he re
piled, with timid, upward glance. She caugh
away her hand, and signing heavily, said, a
though thinking aloud, 4 knew an Edwin
once, and he made me broken-hearted.'
This was the only instance in which sh
was ever known to revert to the sad even
which had desolated her life.
Thirty years from the time of the commence
ment of this mournful history, on bleak an
tumnal evening, a rough country wagon drov
into the village of C. 1t stopped at tn
aims house, an attenuated form was lifted out
and carried in; and the wagon rumbled away
Thus ecas Lucy Dutton brought to her natir
home to die.
She had been in decline for some months
and the miraculous strength which had so Ions
sustained her in her weary wandering, at las
forsook her utterly. Her sister had died som
time before, and the widowed husband ha
soon after removed with his family to the ia
West so Lucy had no friend no home Blu
the alms-house
But they were very kind to her there. TIL
matron, true woman, whose soft heart eve
the hourly contemplation of human miser.
could not harden, gave herself with unweary
ing devotion to the care of the quiet sufferer
With the eve of Christian faith, she watche
the shattered bark of that life, as borne dow
the tide of time itneared the great deep of eter
nity, with an interest of intense as though
were royal galley.
One day, about week from the time of he
arrival, Lucy apparel to suffer greatly, an
those about her release almost impatiently
but at night she was evidently better, and, 70
the first time, slept TRANQUILITY until morning
The matron who was by her bedside whe
she awoke was startled by the clear and cal
and babe the invalid good morning" Luc
looked bewildered, but the voice seemed to re
assure her and exclaimed;
ooh, what long, long night this has been!
Then glancing around inqulrlngly, she added
"Where am I?-and who are your do nc
know you"
A wild surmise flashed across the mind c
the matron-the long lost reason Of the 'cdn
derer had returned But the good woman re
piled calmly and soothingly:
"Why, you are among your friends and 20
will know me presently"
"Then may be you know Edwin and Ellen.
rejoined the invalid shave they come: u
| I had such terrible dream | dreamed tina