Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-04-05
A Night of Years.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.

My Reader: have sat some min
utes with my pen suspended IN the air
above my paper have been debating
a delicate point-I am in position
You will perhaps recollect that one of
Fanny Forrester's exquisite sketches
was entitled "Lucy Dutton."
Now it happens that the roal name
of the heroine of the "o'er true tale"
which l am about to do myself the hon
or of relating to you was no other than
Lucy Dutton. Shall roo her of her
'birthright, compel her to wear nom
me degurrre because my sister anthor-
'ess gave the true name to one of her
ideal creations Shall sacrifice truth
to delicacy ? that's the question. 'No!"
You said no, did you not? Then Lucy,
Lucy Dutton let it be.
Some forty years since,in the interior
of my beautiful native state, New York,
lived the father of our heroine, an hon
est and respectable farmer. He ha |
but two children-Lucy, q noble girl
of nineteen, and Ellen a year or two
Younger. The first named was win
ningly rather than strikingly beautiful.
Under a manner observable for its Sc
riousness, and nunlike serenity, were
conc ealed an ilapassioled nature, and
heart of the deepest capacity for low
ing. She was remarkable from her
earliest childhood for a voice Of thrill
ing and haunting sweetness.
Ellen Dutton was the brilliant anti
pode of her sister--a "born.:: .::beauty"
whose prerogative Of prettiness was to
have her own way, i'll all things and at
all times. An indulgent father, weak
mother, and an idoizing sister, who
had unconsciously contributed to the
ruin of nature not at first remarkable
for strength or generosity.
Where, in all Gods creatures, is
hcartessness SO seemingly unnatural
il seltishness so detestable as in a beau
tifll woman?
Lucy possessed fine intellect, and
as her parents were wellread New
Englanders, she and her sister were far
better educated than other girls of her
station in that then half settled part of
country. In those days many engaged
in school teaching from the honor and
pleasure which it afforded, rather than
from necessity. Thqs, p few months
sketch, Lucy Dutton Teft for the first
time her tireside circle, to take the
charge of school some twenty miles
from her native town.
For some time her letters were ex-
pressive only of happy contentment
which sprang from the consciousness
Of active usefulness. of receiving while
imparting good. lSut anon there came
a change; thea were those records for
home characterized by fitful gaietv or
dreamy sadness indeIinable hopes and
fears seemed struggling for suprema-
cy in the writer's troubled little heart
Lucy loved, bu. scarcely acknowledge
ed it to herself, while she knew not
that she was loved SO for time, that
second birth of woman's nature was
like warm sunrise struggling with the
cold mist of the morning.
But one day brought letter which
could not be forgotten in the house of
the absent, and letter traced by a
hand that trembled in sympathy xith
a heart tremulous with happiness
Lucy had been wooed and won, and
she but wanted her parents approval
of her choice, to become the betrothed
bride Of Edwin W, man of ex-
ccllent family and standing in the town
where she had been teaching. The
father and mother accorded their sane
ton with many blessings, and Lucy's
next letter promised speedy visit from
the lovers.
To srch nature as Lucy's what an
absorbing and yet what revealing of
self is first passion-what a prodi-
gality of giving, what an incalculablc
wealth Of receiving what breaking
ap is there of the deep waters of the
soul, and how heaven descends in q
sudden star shower upon life. IT there
is season when an angel may look
with interest upon her mortal sister,
'tis when she beholds her heart pass
from its bualike inpccence and fresh
ness of girlhood. and takin gto its very
core the fervid light of love, glow and
crimson into perfect womanhood.
AT last the plightedlo lovers came, aud
welcomes and festivities awaited them.
AR. w. gave entire satisfaction to faith.
er. mother, and even the exactine
,abeauty.s Iae was a handsome man,
with some pretentions to fashion; bnt
in manner, and apparently in charac,
ter, the opposite Of his betrotted.
1t was decided that Lucy should not
again leave home until after marriage,
which, at the request Of the ardent low.
or, was to be celebrated within two