The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-04-15

therefore arranged that Ellen should r.
turn with Mr.. w, to take charge of he |
sisters school for the remainder of th |
term.
The bridal day had come. 1t had been
ushered in by May morning of surpass7s
ing loveliness the busy hours had worn
away, and neither the bridegroom nor E..-
len. the first bridesmaid, had appeared.
Yet, in her neat little chamber, sa;
Lucy, doubling She was all ready, in ii
simple white muslin, and her few bridf1
ornaments lay on the table by her side
Miss Allen, her second bridesmaid, blu,
eyed, :affectionate girl, her chosen friens
from childhood, was arranging to nlais
erraectni- fall the wealth of u liss1t-rititS i 3
which swept her snowy neck. To It's
anxious inquiries of her companion, re-
specting the absent ones, Lucy smiled and
replied: -
"Oh, something has happened to detain
them awhile; we heard from them the
other day, and all was well. They will be
here ty and by, never fear"
Evening came, the guests were assem-
bled, and yet the bridegroom tarried-
There were whispers, surmises and won
derings. and shadow of anxiety passed
over the face of the bride elect. At laEt
a carriage drove rather slowly to the door.
They have GOMEZ cried many voices,
and Ellen entered. In reply to the huy
ried and confused inquiries all around
him, Mr.. W muttered something about
unavoidable delay" and stepping up to
the side board tossed over glass of wine,
another and another. The company stood
fh IL,
old farmer exclaimed, ''better late than
never so lead out the bride"
W strobe 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 said II wish
to take an explanati NJ am under the
painful necessity-that Is, / have the
pleasure to announce that [ am already
married The lady whom | now hold by
the hand is my wife"
Then turning in an apologetical manner
to Mr.. and Mrs. Dutton, he added Il
found that [ had never loved until | knew
your second daughter"
And Lucy! She heard all with a
strange calmness; and then walking stead
ily forward, confronted her betravers.-
1cIIIDiS, do pdiG 0S NeUIGSlS DCtStLi. S8lG
stnod hefa-a them ard har looks riares
like a keen cold blade into their false
| hearts. AS though to assure herself Of the
dread reality of the vision, she laid hel
hand on Ellen's shoulder, and let il
! CLINE down her arm-but she touched not
Edwin AS those cold fingers met hers
the unhappy wife gazed full into her sis
| ter's face and as she marked the ghastly
color of her cheek, the dilated nostril, the
quivering lip, and the intensely mournfu
eyes, she covered her own face with hel
! hands, and burst into tears, while tn,
young husband, awed by the terrible ST
lence of her he had wronged, gasped fol
breath and staggered back against the
wall Then Lucy clasped her hand OF
her forehead and first gave voice to he
anguish and despair in one fearful cry
which could not but forever ring in tht
souls of that guilty pair, and fell into
death-like swOon at their feet.
After the insensible girl had been re
moved to a chamber, stormy scene ensu
ed in the room beneath. The parents anC
guests were alike enraged against W
but tears and prayers of his young wife
the petted beauty and spoiled child at las
softened somewhat the anger Of the parents
and an opportunity for explanation wa
accorded 10 the offenders.
A sorry explanation it proved TIL,
gentleman affirmed that the first sight o
Ellen's lovely face had awakened the em
pire of her palmer sister over his affections
Frequent interviews had completed tn
conquest of his loyalty; bat he had beer
i boll -, ohool- hx- oY,d fol1 n,
love until when on his way to espoUse n
other, in an unguarded moment he reveal
ed it, and the avowal had called forth al
answering acknowledgement from Ellen.
They had thought it best, in order t,
"save pain to Lucy" and prevent the op
position from her, and to secure their owl
happiness, to be married before their ar
rival at c..
Lucy remained insensible for some time
When she revived and apparently regainec
her consciousness, she still maintained he
strange silence. This continued for man,
weeks, when it partially passed away, he
friends saw with inexpressible grief tina
her reason had fed-that she was hope
lessIv insane But her madness was OF
mild and harmless nature. She was gen
tie and peaceable as ever, but frequent
sighed and seemed burdened with som
great sorrow which she could not hersel
comprehend. She had one peculiarlt
which all who knew her must recollect
this was wild fear and careful avoidanc
of men. She seemed possessed OF tn
spirit of unrest. She could not be contln
ed. but was continually escaping from he
friends. they knew not whittier.
While her parents lived, they by thel
care and unwearied efforts, in some meas
ure controlled this unfortunate propensity
but when they died their stricken chill
became wanderer, homeless, friendles
and forlorn.
TL,rch l,pehinr snYinus and ros