The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-04-15
A HIGHT OF YEARS.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.

Some forty years since, in the interior
of my native State, New York, lived the
father Of our heroine, an honest and re-
spectacle farmer. He had but two chill
dren-Lucy, noble girl Of nineteen, and
Ellen, year or two younger. The first
named was Willingly rather than strikingly
beautiful. Under manner observable
Tor Its seriousness and nun-like serenity
was concealed an impassioned nature, and
a heart OF the deepest capacity for loving.
She was remarkable for voice of thrill
ing and haunting sweetness.
Ellen Dutton was the brilliant antipode
Of her sister, "born beauty" whose pre-
rOgative of beauty was to have her own
way in all things and at all times. An
indulgent father, weak mother, and an
| idoilzlng sister all unconsciously contribu-
| ted to the ruin Of nature not at first re-
markable for strength or generosity
Where, in all Gods creatures, is heart
lessness SO seemingly unnatural, is selfish
| ness so detestable, as in beautiful woman !?
Lucy possessed fine intellect, and as her
| parents were both real New Englanders,
| she and her sister were far better educated
than other girls Of her situation in that
| then halfsettled country.
In those days, many engaged in school
teaching from the honor and pleasure it
afforded, rather than from necessity
| Thus, after few months previous to the
commencement of our story, Lucy Dutton
| left for the first time her fireside circle, to
take charge of school some twenty miles
from her native town.
| For some time her letters home were
| expressive only of the contentment which
sprang from the consciousness of active
usefulness-of receiving while imparting
good. But anon came change. Then
were those records home characterized by
| fitful gayety or dreamy sadness indefna-
bic hopes and fears seemed struggling for
supremacy in the writer's troubled heart.
Lucy loved, but scarcely acknowledged 1t
to herself, while she knew not that she was
loved. So, for time, that second birth
of wnman's nature was Ike warm sun
rise struggling with the cold mists of the
morning.
But one day brought letter which
could not be forgotten in the home of the
absent one, and letter traced by hand
that trcmbled in sympathy with heart
tumultuous with happiness. Lucy had
been wooed and won, and she but awaited
her parents approval of her choice to be-
come the betrothed of Edwin W man
of excellene family and standing in the
town where she had been teaching The
father and mother accorded their sanction
with many blessings, and Lucy's next let
ter promised a speedy visit from the lovers.
To such natures as Lucy's, what~an alb
sorbing, and yet what revealing of self,
is first passion-what a prodigality OF
giving, what an incalculable wealth of re-
ceiving-what breaking up is there of
the deep waters Of the soul, and how heav-
en- descends in sudden star-showers on
life If there is a season when an angel
may look with interest upon her mortal
sister, it is when she beholds her heart
pass from its bud-like innocence and girl
hood. and taking to its very core the fer
vid light Of love, glow and crimson into
perfect womanhood.
At last the plighted lovers came: and
welcomes and festivities awaited them
Mr.. W gave entire satisfaction to faith
! er. mother, and even the exacting "beau-
/ w." He was a handsome man, with some
pretensions to fashion, but in manner, and
apparently in character, the opposite ot
| his betrothed.
/ 1t was decided that Lucy should no
again leave home until after her marriage
which, At the request of tho ardent lover