Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-07-27
A Night of Years.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.

By GRACE GREENWOOD.
The EastoD State Journal published a,
White Plains, New York, In coppyiog the fol.
lowing touching story, gives the following &C.
count of the unfortunate subject of il:
"Tbe Night of Years." The tale bearing
this title, will be read with interest, especially
when we assure our readers that the main Incl
dents of the narrative are true almost literally
"Crszy Lucy" as she was usually called, we
have often seen wandering through the streets
of Chittenango, tn the county of Madison, In
this State In 1882 was the last we saw of her
She was then an old woman, wandering abroad
houseless, homeless, and comiortless The
story of her early griefs we have ofen heard
from the lips OF those cognizant OF the facts
and In our boybood days have shed tear over
the sorrow of that sad one whose heart has
been broken and whose reason had been over.
thrown by the circumstances which the nara
tor 30 curiously detaile.
"Crazy Lucy" We remember her as though
1t were bus yesterday. She would flee from the
presence of man, as pure angel would avoid
contact with an evil spirit. When she saw one
In male attire coming toward her in the streets
she would invariably turn back, cross to the
other side OF the way, or climb fence to take
circuit round and pass him. Neither woulc
che stay in house over nignt if she knew mar
was under the came roof. Poor creature! Sh,
died In the almshouse in Madison county, N. Y
Some forty years since, 10 the interior Of my
beautiful native State, New York, lived the
father of my heroine, an honest and respecta.
BILE farmer. He had two cbildren-Lucy, no.
BILE girl of nineteen, and Ellen, a year or two
younger.
.,I - Il
strikingly beautiful. Under manner obeerva,
bic for its seriousness and sunlike serenity
were concealed sD impsssoned Dature, and q
heart Of the deepest capacity for loving. Shs
was rem .r kable from the eai liest childhood, fo
= voice OF thrilling and haunting sweetness.
Ellen DuttnD was the brilliant antipode o
her si1 or, "born eauty, VIII se prero sative OF
pfetGyness was 10 have her irresponsible own
way In all things, and at all times An indul
gent father, a weak mother, and an idozug
sister, had all uncone clously contributed to tbG
| ruin of a nature not at frst remarkable for the
strength OF generosity. Where, in all Gods
creatures, is heartlessness so seemingly unns 1
ural, or selfshness 30 detestable, as in beau
titul womaa?
Lucy possessed fine intellect; and as her pa
rents were well-reared New Englanders, she
and her sister were far better educated than
other girls of her situation, in the half settled
portions of the country. In those DAYS many
were engaged in school teaching, for the honor
and pleasure which it afforded, rather than from
necessity, Thus q few months previous to COM
mencement Of our sketch, Lucy Dutten left for
the first time the freside circle, to take charge
of school some twenty miles from her native
town. For some time her letters home were
expressive only OF her happy contentmeui
which sprang from the consciousness of active
usefulness, of receiving while imparting good
But anon there came change; then we're
theee records from home characterized BY fitful
dreamy sadness; inde 6nable hopes and fears
seemed striving for q supremacy in the writer's
troubled heart, Lucy IOyed but scarcely &C.
knowledged 1t to herselt while she K ew ,har
she was not loved. So, for long time, that
second birth of woman's nature was like q
warm sunrise struggling with the mist of morn
ing But one day brought letter which could
not soon be forgotten in the home of the absent
one-a letter traced by hand that trembled in
sympathy with heart tremulous with happi-
ness Lucy had been Wooed and won, and she
but awaited the parents' approval OF her choice
to become the betrothed of Edwin W, a
man of excellent family and standing, in the
town where she had been teaching, The father
and mother recorded their sanctions with manv
blessin Q, and Lucy's next letter promised a
speedy visit from the lovers. a,
To such nature as Lucy's what an absorb.
ing, and yet what revealing of self passion
what prodigality OF grievDg, what an meal
oulabe wealth Of receiving, what a breaking
up is there of the deep waters of the soul, and
how heaven descends in sudden star upon life.
If there is season when an angel may look
with intense and fearful interest upon her NOR i
sister, 'tis when she bebolds her heart pass
from the bud like innocence and freshness Of
girhood, and taking to It's very core the very
| light Of love, glow and crimson into perfect
womanhood. s p
At last the plighted lovers came, and vel.
comes and festivities awaited them. Me-. w.
gave entire satisfaction to father, mother, and
to even the exactiDg beauty" He was a
handsome man with come pretentions to iash.
ion, but in manner, and apparently in character
the opposite of his betrothed. Il was decided
that Lucy should not leave home until after her
marriage, which, at the request of her ardent
lover was to be celebrated Within two months
and on the coming birth day of the bride. II
was therefore arranged that Ellen should re
turn with Mr.. w. to- oM---and take charge OF
her ester's school for the remainder Of the
term. The bridal birthday had come. Il nae
been ushered in by the rich mellow light of ar
October sun, the busy hours bad worn away
and it was nigh sunset, and neither the bride
groom nor Ellen the fret bridesmaid, had ap
peafed. Yet in her neat little chamber sa
Lucy, nothing doubling, nothing fearing, Sh,
was already clad 10 simple white muslin, and q
few bridal ornaments lay on the table by hel
side 7A4' has '9fila BE yissa'e ID II.
Maria Allen, her second bridesmaid, a bright
eyed, affectionate-hearted girl, her chosen
friend from childhood, was arranging to more
graceful fall the wreath Of light Einglets thai
swept her snowy neck i5a9 4ta gIsal
To the anxious inquiries Of her companion re
specting the absent ones, Lucy smiled quietly
and replied: 20, something has happened I,
detain them awhile; we heard from them th,
other day and all was we'll. They will be her.
BY and-by, never feaF," Evening came, th,
guests were assembled, and yet the bridegroom
tartied. There were whisperings, surmises
and wonderings, and q shadow Of anxiety oc
oeaionally passed over the fair faoe Of the brid
~ r q. "a 4