Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-04-05

months, and on the evening Of the
birthday of the bride. It was there
fore arranged that Ellen should return
with Mr.. W to M, to take
charge of her sisters school for the re-
mainder of the term.
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 bridesmaid, had appear
ed. Yet in her neat little chamber sat
Lucy, nothing doubling, nothing fear
ing. She was already in simple white
muslin, and few bridal adornments
lay on the table beside her. Miss "A
len, Ter second bridesmaid, a bright
eyed, affectionate hearted girl, her cho-
sen friend from childhood, was arrang-
ing to more graceful fall the wealth
of light ripgfets which swept her
snowy neck. To the anxious Inquiries
Of her companion respecting the alb
sent ones, Lucy smiled quietly and re-
Piled:
ooh, something has happened to de-
tain them a while; we heard from
them the other day, and all was we'll
They will be here by and by, never
fear"
Evening came: the guests were as
sembled, and yet the bridegroom tar
ried. There were whispers, surmises,
and wonderings, and a shadow Of anx-
iety passed over the face OF the bride
| elect. At last a carriage drove rather
slowly to the door.
''They have Gomez cried many
voices, and Ellen entered. In reply
to the hurried and confused inquiries
all around him, Mr.. w. muttered some
thing abo1s unavoidable delay" and
stepping up to the sideboard, tossed
off glass of wine, another ard anoth-
er. The company stood silent with
amazement Finally rough old farm
er exclaimed:
''Better late than never, young man
so lead out the BRIDE"
W--strodc hastily across the room,
and placed himself by Ellen and took
her hand in his. Then, without daring
to meet the eye of any about him, he
sald-
81 wish to make an exRlanatlon-I
ana under the painful Beeessity-that
is, have the pleasure to announce to
you that. ! am already married. The
I#iady whom | now hold by the hand is
my wife 20
Then, turning in an apologetical man
ncr to Mr.. and Mrs Dutton, he added:
81 found that | had never loved until
! knew your second daughter!''
And Lucy? She heard all with. a
strange calmness, then walking steadi-
| ly forward, confronted her betrayers.
Terrible, as pale as Nemesia herself,
she stood before them, and her looks
pierced, like keen, cold blade, into
their false hearts. As though to assure
herself of the dread reality of the Wis
ion. she laid her hand on Elen's shoul-
der, and let it glide down on her arm
-iDut she touched not Edwin. AS
those cold fingers met hers, the unhap-
py wife first gazed full into her sisters
face and as she marked the ghastly
pallor of her cheek-the dilated nos
tril-the quiyering lip and the intense
ly mournful eyes, she covered her own
face with her hands and burst into
tears, while the young husband, awed
by the terrific silence of her he had
wronged, gasped for breath and stag
gered back against the wall. Then
Lucy elasped her hands on her fore
head and gaze vent to her anguish and
despair in one fearful cry, which could
but ring forever through the souls of
that guilty pair, and fell in a death-like
swoon at their feet.
After the insensible girl had been re-
moved to her chamber stormy scene
ensued in the room beneath. The pa
rents and guests were alike enraged
against W; but the tears and pray
ers of his young wife, the petted beau.
ty and spoiled child, at last softened
somewhat the anger Of her parents,
and an opportunity for explaifatiion 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 empire of her palmer sister over
| bis affections. Frequent interviews had
completed the conquest Of his loyalty;
but ne had been held in check by hon
or, ard never told his love, until, when
on his way to espouse another in an
anguarded moment, he revealed it,and
the ayowal had called forth an answer
ing aeknowled cement from Ellen.
= They had thought it best, in order
'.to save pain te Lucy" and prev ent
the opposition from her, and to secure
their own happiness, to be married be-
fore their arrival at c..
Lucy remained insensible for some
hours. When she revived and appar-
emily regained her consciousness, she