Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-02-26

gave entire sat sfacton to the father. mother
anu even to the exacting beauty" He was
handsome man, with some pretensions 10
fashion but in manner, and apparently in
character, 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 cele-
brated within two months, and on the coming
birthday of the bride. 1t was therefore ar,
ranged that Ellen should return with Mr.. w
10 NJ, 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 May morning of surprising
| loVelneSS-the busy hours had worn away and
now 1t was nigh sunset, and neither the bride
groom, nor Ellen, the first brides maid had
| appeared Yet in her neat little chamber sat
Lucy, nothing doubling, nothing fearing. She
was already in simple white muslin. aud her
lew bridal adornmentS lay on the table by her
SIDE. Maria Allen, her second bridesmaid a
bright-eyed, affectionate-hearted girl, her cho-
sen friend from childhood was arranging to a
more graceful fall, the wealth of light ringlets
winch swept her snowy neck To the anxious
inquiries of her companion respecting the alb
sent ones, Lucy smiled quietly and replied,
On, 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 fearr
Evening came, the guests were all assembled
and yet the bridegroom tarried There were
WhIsperlngS, SurmseS and wonderings and a
shadow OF anxiety passed over the face of the
bride elect. AT last Il carriage drove rather
slowly TO the door
They have come y cried many voices, and
Ellen entered. In reply to the hurried and
confused inquiries of all around him, Mr.. W.
muttered something about unavoidable de-
lay aud stepping to the side-board, tossed off
glass OF wine, another, and another The
company stood silent with amazement Finally
rough old farmer exclaimed
Better late than never, young man-so lead
out the bride
W strobe hastily across the room. plac-
ed himself by Ellen and her hand in his Then,
without daring to meet the eye of any one
about him, he said -
wish to make an explanation-I am un-
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 daughter :"
And Lucy She heard all with strange
calmneSS, then walking steadily forward, con-
fronted her betrayerS Terrible as pale Nemesis
herself she stood before them, and her looks
pierced, like keen, cold blade, into their false
hearts. As though TO assure herself of tue
dread reality of the vision she laid her hand
on EIlen'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 as she
marked the ghasly pallor of her cheek-the
d!ated noStrIl-the quivering lip and intensely
mOurnfui 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 wroaged gaSped for breath and stag
gered back against the wall. Then Lucy
cla>pcd her hands on her forehead and first
gave voice TO her anguish and despair in one
fearful cry. w'.cl cuu!d ring forever through
the soul If That -n!.ty pair, aud fell in death
ike SwoOn at their feet
After the inSeuSible girl had been removed
to her chamber, stormy scene enSRed in the
room beneath. The parents and guests were
alike enraged against W. but the tears
aud prayers of his yonng wife, the petted beau
ty and spoiled child. at last So;tened some
what the anger Of the parents, and an oppor-
Iunty for an explanation was accorded to the
offenders
\ sorry explanation it proved The gentle
man affirmed that the first sight of E!len's
lovely face had weakened the empire for her
palmer sister over his affections Frequent
interviews had completed the conquest of his
loyalty but he had been held in check by
hou0r, aud never told his love, until, when on
his way to cSpouSe another, in an unguarded
moment, he revealed il, and the avowal had
called forth an answering acknowledgment from
Ellen.
They had thought it best in order = to save
pain TO Lucy aud prevent opposition from her,
aud TO secure their own happiness, to be mar
ried before their arrival at C..
Lucy remained nSeuSible for some hours
When she had revived and apparently regain
ed her consciousness, she still maintained her
strange silence. This continued for many
weeks, when it partially passed away, her
friends saw with ineXpreSSibIe grief, that her
reason had led-thaf she Iras heiptesaig iHsahe
But her madness was of a mild and harmless
nature. She was gentle and peacable as ever
but frequently sighed aud seemed burdened
with some great sorrow which she could not
herself comprehend. She had one peeuharity,
which all who knew her in after years must
recollect this was a wild fear aud careful
avoidance of MEN She also seemed possessed
of the spirit of unrest. She could not, she
would not. be confined, but was constantly es
Gaping from her friends, and going they knew
not whittier.
While her parents lived they, by their watch
fal care and unweary efforts, in some measure
controlled this sad propensity but when they
died, their stricken child became q wanderer,
homeless, friendieSS and forloru.
Through laughing spring aud ROSY summers