Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-09
A NIGHT OF YEARS,
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.

Ny Reader have sat some minutes, with
my pen suspended in air above my paper. [
have been debating delicate point am in
position. You will perhaps recolleet that
one of Fanny Forests exquisite sketches was
entitled Lucy Dutton.''
Now, it happens the real name of the hero
inc of the 6 over true tale," which am a.
bout to do myself the honor of relating to You,
was no other than Lucy Dutton. Shall rob
her of her right-compel her to wear a
nom de guerre, because my sister-authoress
accidentally gave the true name to one of her
ideal creations? Shall | sacrifice truth to deli
cacy' that's the question ''No % You said
no, did you not' Then Lucy, Lucy Dutton,
let it be-
Some forty years since, in the interior of
my beautiful native State, New York, lived
the father of our heroine, an honest and re-
spectacle farmer He had but two children
Lucy, noble girl of nineteen, and Ellen, a
year or two younger. The first named was
winning, rather than strikingly beautiful IN
der manner observable for its seriousness,
and non-like serenity, were concealed an i'm
passionate nature, and heart of the deepest
capacity for loving. She was remarkable from
her earliest childhood for voice of thrilling
and haunting sweetness.
Ellen button was the brilliant antipode of
her sister; "born beauty" whose preroga.
tive of prettiness was to have her irresponsi-
bic own way, in all things, and at all times.
An lndulgent father, weak mother, and an
idolizing sister, had all unconsciously con-
trlbuted to the ruin of nature not at the first
remarkable for strength or generosity
Where, in all Gods creatures, is heartless-
prlN 81 ebo
so detestable, as in beautiful woman!
Lucy possessed a fine intellect, and as her
parents were well reared New Englanders,
she and her sister were far better educated
than other girls of their station, in that then
half settled portion of the country In those
days, many engaged in school teaching, from
the honor and pleasure which it afforded, rath-
er than from necessity. Thus, few months
previous to the commencement of our sketch,
Lucy Dutton left for the first time her freside
circle, to take charge of school, some twenty
miles from her native town.
For some while, her letters home were ex-
presslve only of the happy contentment which
sprang from the consciousness of active use
tulness, OF receiving, while impartng good
But anon there came change; then were
those records for home characterized by fitful
gayety, or dreary sadness indefnable hopes
and fears seemed striving for supremacy in the
writer's troubled little heart. Lucy loved, but
scarcely acknowledged it to herself while she
knew not that she was loved so for a time
| that beautiful second birth of woman's nature
was like warm sunrise struggling with the
cold mists of morning.
| But one day brought letter which could
not soon be forgotten in the home of the alb
sent one-a letter traced by hand that trem-
bled in sympathy with a heart tumutuous
with happiness. Lucy had been wooed and
won, and she but waited her parents approval
OF her choice, the betrothed of young Edwin
| W, man Of excellent family and stand
ing in the town where she had been teaching.
The father and mother accorded their sanction
with many blessings; and Lucys next letter
promised a speedy visit from the lovers.
10 such natures as Lucy's, what an absorb
ing, and yet what revealing of self is first
passon-what pro1igaIity of giving-what
an incalculable wealth of receiving-what a
breaking up is there of the deep waters of the
soul, and how Heaven descends in sudden
star shower upon life. If there is a season
when an angel may look with intense and fear
full interest upon her moral sister, its when
she beholds her heart pass from the bud-like
innocence and freshness of girhood, and ia
king 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 festivals awaited them Mr.. W
gave entire satisfaction to father, mother, and
even to the enacting "beauty." He was a
handsome man, with some professions to fash
ion, but in manner, and apparently in charac-
ter, the opposite of his betrothed.
1t was decided that Lucy should not again
leave home, until after her marriage, which at
the request of the ardent lover, was to be Gel
ebrated with two months, and on The coming
birthday of the BRIDE 1t was therefore arran-
ged 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 ush-
cred in by May morning of surprising love-
liness-the busy hours had borne away, and
now it was nigh sunset, and neither the BRIDE
groom nor Ellen, the first bridesmaid, had ap-
peared. Yet in her neat little chamber sat
Lucy, nothing doubling, nothing fearing. She
was already clad in simple white muslin,
and hel few bridal adornments lay on the ia
BILE by her side. Maria Allen, her second
bridesmaid, 4 bright eyed afectionate hearted
girl, her chosen friend from childhood, was ar
ranging to'a more graceful fall, the wealth of
light ring lets which swept her snowy neck.
To the anxious inquiries of her companion,
respecting the absent ones, Lucy ever smiled
quietly and replied:
8" Oh, something has happened to detain
them while-we heard from them the other
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 &c bridegroom tarried" There
were whisperings, surmlses and wonderings,
and a shadow of anxiety occasionally passed
over the fair face of the bride-elect At last,
carriage drove rather slowly to the door
&c They are come r' cried many voices, and
the next moment the belated bridegroom and
Ellen entered. In reply to the hurried and
confused inquiries of all around him, Mr..
W muttered something about unavoid-
able delay" and stepping to the side-board,
tossed off glass of wine, another, and anoth-
er The company stood silent with amaze
ment. Finally rough old farmer exclaimed
GO Better late than never, young man-so lead
out the brde'
W strobe hastily across the room, pla-
ced 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 explanatlon-la arp I'M
der the painful necessity-that is, have the
pleasure to announce that am already mar
ried The lady whom hold by the hand is
my wife.
Then, turning in an apologetical manner to
Mr.. and Mrs. Dutton, he added, " found that
| had never loved, until | knew your second