The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-05-01

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1t was decided that Lucy should not again
leave home, until after her marriage, which
ut theFequest of the ardent lover, was to be
celebrated within two months, aud on the
comlRg birthday Of the bride. 1t was there
fore arranged that Ellen should return with
Mr.. W to Nj, to take charge of
hor sisters school for the remainder Of the
term. 4
The bridal birthday had come. 1t had
been ushered in by Muy-mornihg of sur
passing loveliness--the busy hours bad worn
away, aud now it was near sunset, and nei-
ther the bridegroom, nor Ellen, the first
bridesmaid, had appeared. Yet in her neat
little chamber sa, Lucy, nothing doubling,
nothing fearing. She was already clad in n
simple white muslin, and her few bridal n
dornments lay OH the liable by her side. Ma
ria Allen, her second bridesmaid, n bright
eyed, Northumberland girl, her chosen
friend from childhood, was arranging To n
more graceful fall the wealth of light ring
lets which swept her snowy neck. To the
anxious inquiries of her companion, respect
! ing the absent ones, Lucy ever smiled quiet
! j. and replied:
ooh, something has happened to detain
them awhile-we heard from them the other
dNy,and all was well. They will be here by
and-by, never fenr."
bled, and yet the bridegroom tarried."-
There were whsperings, surmises and won
behring's, and shadow of anxiety OCCASION
ally passed over the face of the BRIDE elect
Al last, carriage drove rather slowly to the
door. "They are come !" cried many voices,
and the next moment the beated bridegroom
and Ellen entered. III reply to the hurried
and confused inquiries Of all around him.
Mr.. W muttered something about
unavoidable delay" and stepping to the
sdebonrd, tossed off glass of wine, another,
and another. The company stood silent with
lamaZement. Finally, rough old farmer en-
claimed, Better late than never, young man
SO lead out the BRIDE
W strobe hustily across the room,
placed himself by Ellen, and took her hand
in his Then, without daring 10 meet the
eye of any about him he SAID:
wish TO make an explanation - ! am
under the painful necessiy-that is, have
the pleasure TO announce that am diready
married. The lady whom hold by the hand
is my wife !"
Then turing in an apologeticul manner to
Mr.. and Mrs. Button, he added, a. found that
| had never loved until ! knew your second
daughterw
And Lucy d? She heard all with strange
calmness, then walked steadily forward aud
confronted her bctrayers! Terrible as pale
Nemesis herself she stood before them, aud
her look pierced like keen cold blade into
their false hearts. As though to assure her
self of the dread reality ofthe vision, she laid
her hand on Ellens shoulder, and let it glide
down her armr-but she touched not Edwin.
As these cold fingers touched hers, the un-
happy wife first guZed full into her sisters
face: and as she marked the ghastly pallor
of her cheek, the dilated nostrils--the quiv-
I,,,, ,l,t al
covered her own face with her hands, and
; burst into tears, while the young husband,
uwed by the terrible silence of her he had
wronged, gasped for breath, and staggered
back against the wall. Then Lucy, clasping
her hands on her forehead, first gave voice 10
her anguish and despair in one fearful cry,
which could but ring forever through the
souls of the guilty pair, and fell in death-ke
swoon at their feet.
After the insensbe girl had been removed
to her chamber u stormy scene eusued ~ the
room beneath. The parents and guests were
alike enraged against VI: but the tears
aud prayers of his young wife. the petted
beauty and spoiled child, ut length soteued
somewhat the anger orthe 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 hon
or, and never told his love, until when on lis
way TO espouse another, IN an unguarded mo-
ment he had revealed it, aud the uvowal had
called forth an answering acknowledgements
from Ellen.
They had thought it best, in order ''io save
min 70 - nd Sitinn from
her-aud to secure their own happiness, to be
married before their arrival ut C.
Lucy remained insensibe for some hours.
When she revived and had apparently regain
ed her consciousness. she still maintained her
strange silence. This continued for many
weeks, and when it partially passed away her
friends saw with ineXpressible grief that her
reason had fed-She ,OaS hopeiesSiy i1tSdne!-
But her madness was of II mild and harmless
nature. She was gentle and peaceable us ev-
err, but sighed frequently, and seemed burd-
ened with some great sorrow which she could
not herself comprehend She had one pecu-
liarity, which all who knew her in after years
must recollect;-this was wild fear and care
tul avoidance of men. She also seemed pos
sessed by the spirit of unrest. She could not,
she would not be confined, but was continu-
ally escaping from her friends,and going they
new not whittier.
While her parents lived, they, by their
watchtul care, and unweaying efforts, in
some measure CONTROLLED this sad propensity;
but when they died, their stricken child be-
came wanderer, homeless tiendless and
forlorn.
Through laughing springs and rosy sum-
mers, and golden autuinns, and tempestuons
winters, it was tramp, tramp, tramp ITO rest
for her ola crushed hear; and the crazed
brain.