Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-04-22


with intense and fearful interest upon her
mortal sister, It's when she beholds her heart
pass from the bud-like innocence and fresh
ness of girlhood, and taking to its very core
the fervid light of love, glow and crimson
into perfect womanhood
At last the plighted lovers came, and well
comes and festivities awaited them Mr..
W gave entire satisfaction to father,
MOTHER and even the exacting "beauty"-
He was a handsome man, with some preten-
sions to fashion but in manner, and appa-
rently in character, the opposite of his be-
trothed.
1t was decided that Lucy should not a.
gain leave home, until after her marriage,
which at the request OF the ardent lover,
was to be celebrated wifilin two months, and
on the coming birthday of the bride 1t
was therefore arranged that Ellen should re-
turn with Mr. W to M, to take
charge of her sisters school for the remain
der of the term.
The bridal birthday had come. 1t had
been ushered in by May-morning of sur
passing loveliness-the busy hours had worn
away, and now it was near sunset, and nei-
Their the bridegroom, nor Ellen, the first
little chamber sat Lucy nothing doubling,
nothing fearing. She was already clad in a
simple white muslin, and her few bridal a.
dornments lay on the table by her side Ma
ria Allen, her second bridesmaid, a bright
eyed, northumberland girl, her chosen
friend from childhood, was arranging to
more graceful fall, the wealth of light ring
lets which swept her snowy neck. To the
anxious inquiries of her companion, respec-
ting the absent ones, Lucy ever smiled quiz
city and replied:
ooh, something has happened to detain
them awhie--we heard from them the 9TH
er day, and all was well. They will be here
by-and-by, never fear"
Evening came, the guests were all assem-
bled, and yet the " bridegroom tarried"-
There were whisperings, surmises and Won
derings, and shadow of anxiety OCCASION
ally passed over the face of the bride-elect.
At last, carriage drove rather slowly to the
door. "They are comet" cried many vol
ces, and the next moment the belated BRIDE
groom and Ellen entered. In reply to the
hurried and confused inquiries of all around
him, Mr.. W muttered something about
unavoidable delay" and stepping to the
sideboard, tossed off glass of wine, anoth-
er, and another. The company stood silent
with amazement. Finally, a rough old far
mer exclaimed, Better late than never,
young man-so lead out the bride.'
W strobe 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:
81 wish to make an explanation-I am
under the painful necessity-tbat is, have
the pleasure to announce that 1 am already
married. The lady whom 1 hold by the
hand is my wife p'
Then turning in an apologetical manner
to Mr. and Mrs. Button, he added, l found
that had never loved until | knew your
second daughter r'
And Lucy? She heard all with strange
calmness, then walked steadily forward and
confronted her betrayers Terrible as pale
Nemesis herself, she stood before them, and
her look pierced like keen, cold blade into
self 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 touched hers,
the unhappy wife first gazed full into her
sisters face and as she marked 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 Lu-
cy, clasping her hands on her forehead, first
gave voice to her anguish and despair in
one fearful cry, which could but ring forev-
er through the souls of the guilty pair, and
fell in death-like swoon at their feet
After the insensible girl had been remov-
ed to her chamber, a 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 pet
ted beauty and spoiled child, at last softened
somewhat the anger of the parents, and an
opportunity for an explanation was accorded
to the offenders.
A sorry explanation it proved. The gen.
tleman affirmed that the first sight of Ellen's
lovely face had weakened the empire of her
palmer sister over his affections. Frequent
interviews had completed the conquest 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 unguar.
ded moment he had revealed it, and the a.
vowal had called forth an answering ac-
acknowledgement from Ellen.
They had thought it best, in order " tc
save pain to Lucy" and prevent opposition
from her-and to secure their own happi
ness, to be married before their arrival al
c.
Lucy remained insensible for some hours
When she revived and had apparently re-
gained her consciousness, she still maintain
ed her strange silence. This continued fol
many weeks, and when it partially passed
away, her friends saw with inexpressiblt
grief that her reason had ied-She paS hope
ieSSly insane! But her madness was of
mild and harmless nature. She was gentle
and peaceabe as ever, but sighed frequently
and seemed burdened with some great sor
row which she could not herself comprehend
She had one peculiarly, which all who knew
her in after years, must recolect this wa
wild fear and careful avoidance of men
She also seemed possessed by the spirit o
unrest. She could not, she would not b,
confined, but was continually escaping from
her friends, and going they knew not width
| er.
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