Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-06-02
RAnENrA; OHIO, WEgr q 81 i Sd Az Jun ! a,l847

~ SD AY, y D N E 2, l847.
Hook with intense and fearful interest upo
hefsmogtal sister, 'tis when she beholds he
1heaft pass from The bud-like innocence an
reshness of girlhood, and taking to its yer,
'EcoEe the fervid light of love, glow ant
.lson III perfect womanhood. q 9 a5
1sSAf ddsy the plighted lovers came, an
welcomes and festivities awaited them =
| Mr.. W gave entire satisfaction to faith
er, mother and even to the exacting s:beau
lty." He was handsome man. with som,
lpretensions TO fashion; but in manner, ane
apparently in character, the opposite of his
betrothed. ,t,.,, ,,t...z .--. ..t.. s..-.
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 within two months,
and on the coming birthday of the bride.
1t was therefore arrangedthat Ellen should
return with Mr.. -, to M, to take
charge Of her sisters school for the re-
mainder Of the term. t'f s.er ~.
The bridal-day had come. It had been
ushered in by May morning Of surprising
loveliness-the busy hours had worn away
and now it was nigh sunset, and neither
the bridegroom, nor Ellen, the first brides
maid had appeared. Yeti her neat little
chamber sat Lucy, nothing doubling, moth
ing fearing. She was already clad in a
simple white muslin, and her few bridal
adornments lay on the table by her side.
Maria Allen, her second bridesmaid, a
bright-eyed, affectionate hearted girl, her
chosen friend from childhood, was arrang-
ing to a graceful fall, the wealth Of light
ringlets which swept her snowy neck. 70
the anxions inquiries Of her companion,
respecting the absent. ones, Lucy ever
smiled quietly and replied:
"Oh, something has happened to detair
them awhile-we heard from them the 9th
er day, and all was we'll. They will bt
here by-and-by, never fear" S
Evening came, the guests were assem-
bled, and yet the bridegroom tarried."-
There were whisperings surmises and won
defings, and shadow Of anxiety occasion
ally passed over the fair face of the bride
elect. At last carriage drove rather
slowly to the door. "They are come!"
cried many voices, and the next moment
the belated bridegroom and Ellen entered,
In reply to the hurried and confused inqui-
ries of all around him, Mr.. W NUT
tered something about unavoidable delay"
and stepping to the sideboard, tossed off a
glass of wine, another, and another. The
company stood silent with amazement. Fl
nally a rough old farmer exclaimed, "Bet-
ter late than never, young man-so lead
out the BRIDE" .-t '+''
w strobe heavily across the room
placed himself by Ellen, and took her hand
in his! Then, without daring to meet the
eye of any one about him, he said:
n II wish to make an explanation-l am
under the painful necessity-that is, have
the pleasure to announce that am already
married. The lady whom | hold by the
hand is my wile!"
Then turning in an apologetical manner
to Mr.. and Mrs. Dutton, he added, 81 found
that | never loved, until | knew your Sec
ond daughter!' ,,-.,... s...s
And Lucy2 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 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 she marked the ghastly
pallor of her cheek, the dilated nostril--
the quivering lip and the intensely mourn
full eyes. covered her own face with her
hands, and burst into tears, while the young
husband, awed by the terrible silence other
he had wronged, gasped for breath, and
staggered back against the wall. Then
Lucy clasping her hands on her forehead,
first gave voiceto her anguish and despair
in onesfearfut cry, which could but ring
forever through the soul ofthe guilty pair,
and fell ina death-like swoon at their feet.
After the insensible ghl had been re-
moved to her chamber, stormy scene en-
sued in the room beneath. The parents
and guests were dixie enraged against
W. but the tears and prayers of-.his
young wife, the petted beauty and spoiled
child at last soltened somewhat the anger
of the parents, and an opportunity for an
explanation was accorded to the offenders.
< A sorry explanation it proved. The
gentleman affirmed that the first sight Of
Ellen's lovely face had weakened the en-
pire of her palmer sister over his affections.
Frequent interviews had completed thecon.
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 unguarded moment, he revealed it,
and the avowal had called forth an answer
ing acknowledgment from Ellen. They
had thought II best, in order to save pain
to Lucy, and1prevent opposition + from hor o