Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-08-07

wealth of receiying--what breaking
up is there Of the deep waters OF the
soul, and how heaven descends in a
sudden star-shower upon life. II
there is a season when an angel may
look with an intense and fearful inter-
est upon her mortal sister. tits when
she heholds her heart pass from the
bud-like Innocence and freshness 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 welcome and festiyity awaited
them. Mr.. w. gave entire satisfac-
ton to father, mother, and even TO the
exacting beauty He was a hand
some man, with some pretention to
fashion; but in manner, and apparent,
ly in character, the opposite of his be-
trothed.
1t was decided that Lucy should not
again leave home, until after her mar
riage, which at the request of the ar
dent lover, was to be celebrated with
in two months, and on the coming
birthday of the bride. 1t was there
fore arranged that Ellen should return
with Mr.. w. to the village, to take
charge of her sisters school for the
remainder Of the term.
The bridal birth-day had come. 1t
had been ushered in by a May morn
ing of surprising loneliness. The
busy hours had worn away, and now
it was nigh sunset, and neither the
bridegroom or Ellen, the first brides
maid. had appeared. Yetin her neat
little chamber sat Lucy, nothing
doubling, nothing fearing. She was
already clad in simple white muslin
dress, and her few bridal adornments
lay on the table by her side. Maria
Allen, her second bridesmaid, bright
eyed affectionate girl, her chosen
friend from childhood, was arranging
to more graceful fall, the wreath Of
light ringlets which swept her snowy
neck. To the anxious inquiries of her
companions, she ever smiled quietly
and replied:
"Oh, something has happened TO
detain them awhile-we heard from
them the other day, and all was well.
They will be here by-and-by, never
f ar
Evening came the guests were all
sembled, and yet the bridegroom
tarried.' There were whisperings,
surmises, and wonderings, and shad-
ow of anxiety occasionally passed
over the face of the bride elect. Al
last carriage drove rather slowly to
the door. They have come cried
many voices, and the mex; moment the
belsted bridegroom and Ellen entered.
In reply TO the hurried and confused
inquiries Of all around him, Mr.. w
muttered something about 'unayoida-
bic delays and stepping to the side
board, tossed off glass of wine, an
other and another. The company
stood silent with amazement. Finally
a rough old farmer 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 eyes Of any about
him, he said:
wish to make an explanation
that is, | have the pleasure to announce
that I am already married! The
lady whom | hold by the hand is my
wife!'
Then turning in an apologeticaI
manner to Mr.. and Mrs. Dutton, he
added, Il found that had never loved
until / knew your second daughter
And Lucy? She heard all with
strange ealmness, then walking stead
lily forward, confronted her betrayers
Terrible as pale Nemesis herself, she
stood before them, and her look
pierced like a keen cold blade into their
false hearts. As though to assure her,
self Of the dread reality of the vision,
she laid her hand upon Ellen's should,
er, and let it glide down her arm-bul
she touched not Edwin. As those
cod fingers met hers, the unhappy
wife gazed full into her sisters face,
and as she marked the CHASTITY pallor OF
her cheek, the dilated noslril, the quiz
ering lip. and 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 Der be had wronged, gaspetl
for breath and staggered against the
wall. Then Lucy clasPing her hands