Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1865-06-10

To such natures as iLucys what an alb.
sorbing and yet what revealing of self is
Grst pession--whst a prodignlity OF
giving, what an incslculable wealth Of
reociying--what q breaking up Is there Of
the deep waters, uf the soul, and how
heaven descends in o sudden slar.shower of
| life. If there is q season when an angel
may look with interest upon her mortal
sis or, it is when she beholds her heart
pass from its bud like innocence and fresh
ness of girlhood, end, taking to its very
core the fervid light of love, grow aud
crimson iuto perfect womanhood ...
At last the plgbted lovers came, and
festivities awaited them. Mr.. W. gave
entire sal sfactiou to the father, mother.
aud even the exscling beauty" He wss
O handsome man, with some pretensops to
fashion; but, in manner, and apparently u
character, the opposite Of his betro,hed.
1t was decided that Lucy should not
again leave home until after her marriage,
which, at the request of lhe ardent lover,
was 10 be ce.ebrated within two months.
ard on the coming birth day Of the bride.
1t was therefore arranged that Ellen
should return with Mr.. W. 10 M. to
take charge of her sisters school for the
remainder Of The term.
The bridnl birth day come. 1t had
been sshered in by May morning of sur
passing loveines; the busy hours had worn
away, and now it was nigh sunset, and
neither the bridegroom, 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, and her
few bridal ornaments lay on the table by
her side-Maria Allen, her second brides
maid, bright eyed, affectioDatehe hearted
girl, her chosen friend from childhood, was
arranging 10 more graceful fall the
wealth of light ringlels which swept her
snowy neck To the anxious inquiries OF
her companion respecting the absent ones,
Lucy SMILED quietly, and replied:
Oh, something has happened to detain
them for while; we heard from them the
other day, ard was well, They will he
here by aud by, never fear.
Evening came; he guests were all assem-.
bled. and yet The bridegroom tarried.-
There were whisperngs, snrmises and
wondering; and shsdow of anxiety
AT last carriage drove rather slowly to
lbe door. .a
They have come!' cried mauy voices,
and Ellen entered. In reply to the hur
lied and confused inquiries of all aronDd
him, Mr.. ". muttered something about
"una vodable delay" and, stepping to
the sideboard tossed off gass of wine.
another and another. The company
stood silent with amazement. Finally,
rough old farmer exclaimed
Better late than never, young mPn--so
lead in The bride. r-7 Id aaP
W-strode hastily across the room,
placed himself by Ellen, and her hand in
his Then. without daring 10 meet the
eye Of any one about him. be said
wish to make an explanation. l am
under the painful necessiIy-that is, have
the pleasure to announces that AN already
married The lady whom hold by the
hand is my wife.
Then turning in an apologetical manner
to Mr. and MIS- Dntton, be added
| found that | had never loved until /
knew your second daughter. aa-r .n.
And Lacy! She heard all with a
Strange camness; then, walking steady
forward, confronted her betrayers. Terri.
be, as pale as Nemesis 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 vision, she laid her hand on
Elleu's shoulder, and let il 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 gastly palor OF her
cheek-the diiated nostrl-the quivering
lip aud Intensely mournful eyes, she covered
her own face with her baodS, aud burst
into tears, while the yourg husband, awed
by the terrible silence of her be so wronged,
staggered back against the wall. Then
Lucy clasped her hands on her forehead,
aud 6 st gave voice to her anguish and
despair IN one fearful cry. which could
ring forever through the souls of that guilty
pair, and fell in death like swoon al bis
feet, o.. '4o.
Afer the insensible girl had been re.
moved to her chamber, stormy scene en-
sued 10 the room beneath. The parents
and guests were alike eDraged against
W---but the tears and prayers Of his
young wife, the pet,ed beauty and spoiled
child, at last somewhat softened the anger
of The parents, and an opportunity for on
explanation was accorded TO the offenders.
A sorry explanation it proved. The
gentleman affirmed that the first sight of
Elleu's lovely ftce had weakened the EN-
pire for her palmer sister over bis affections.
Frequent intervies had completed the con.
quest Of his loyalty, but be had been held
ia check by honor, aud never told his love
until, when on his way TO espouse another,
IN an unguarded moment, be revealed il,
and the ayowal had called forth an an
sweriug acknowledgment from Ellen. e9'5n
They had thought il best. IN order 10
save pain to lucy, and prevent opposition
from her, and their own happiness. to be
married before their arrival at c. :. '5
Lucy remained insensible for some hours
When she had revived aud apparently re,
gained ber consciousness. she still main-
tanned her strange silence. This. contin-
ned for many weeks. when it partially
passed away. her friends saw with mex
pressible grief that her reason had fed
that she uas hopslsssly insGasi But her
madness was of mild aud harmless nature.