The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-02-04
A Might of Years
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.

by GRACE GREENWOOD.
Some forty years since, in the interior
Of my native state, New York, lived the
father of my heroine, an honest and re-
spectable farmer. He had two children
Lucy, a noble girl of nineteen, and Ellen,
a wear or two Younger The first named
was Winningly rather than strlklngly
beautiful Under a manner observable
for its seriousness and nuniike serenity
were concealed an imprisoned nature,
and heart of the deepest capacity for
loving. She was remarkable from her
earliest childhood for d voice of thrilling
and haunting sweetness.
Ellen Dutton was the brilliant s.ntipode
of her sister, "born beauty" whose pre-
rogative of beauty was to have her own
way in all things ana at all times. An
indulgent father, a weak mother, and an
idolizing sister, who unconsicOusly contri-
buted to the ruin Of q nature not at first
remarkable for strength or generosity.
Where, in all Gods creatures is heart
flessness so seemingly unnatural, is selfish
ness so detestable, as in beautiful
woman?
Lucy possessed fine intellect, and as
her parents were we'll read New England
B ers,she and her sister were far better edu-.
Gated than other girls of her station in
that then half settled part of the country
In those days many engaged in school
teaching, from the honor and pleasure it
afforded, rather than from necessity.
Thus, few months previous to the COM
mencement Of our story, Lucy Dutton left
for the first time her fre-side circle, to
take the charge of school some twenty
miles from her native town.
For some time her letters home were
expressive only of happy contentment
which sprang from the consciousness OF
active usefulness, of receiving, while i'm
parting, good But anon there came
change Then were those records from
home characterized by fitful gaiety or
dreamy sadness undefinable hopes and
fears seemed struggling for supremacy in
the writer's troubled little heart. Lucy
loved, but scarcely acknowledged it to
herself while she knew not that she was
loved. So for time, that second birth
of woman's nature was like warm sun
rise struggling with the cold mist of the
morning.
But one day brought letter which
absent, and letter traced by hand
trembling with happiness Lucy had
had been wooed and won and she but
waited her parents approval of her choice
to become the betrothed of Edwin W,
man of excellent 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 letter promised speedy visit from
the lovers.
To such natures as Lucy's what an alb
sorbing and yet what revealing of self is
first p&ssion-what prodigality of Civ
ing, what incalculable wealth of receiving
what breaking up is there of the deep
waters of the soul, and how heaven de
sends in a sudden star shower upon life
If there is 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 girlhood, and
taking to its very core the feryid 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 father
mother, and even the exacting "beauty"
He was handsome man, with some pre-
tensions to fashion, but in manner, and
apparently in character, the opposite Of
his betrothed.
1t was decided that Lucy should not
again leave her home till after her mar
rage, which, at the request of her ardent
lover, was to be celebrated within two
months, and on the birthday of the bride
1t was therefore arranged that Ellen should
return with Mr. w. to take charge of hel
sisters school for the remainder of the
germ
The bridal day had come. 1t was ush
cred in by May morning of SURPRISING
ioyeliness; the busy hours had worn away
and now it was nigh sunset, and neithe
the Bridegroom, nor Ellen, the first brides
maid, had appeared. Yet in her neat lit
tie chamber sat Lucy, nothing doubling
nothing fearing She was arrayed in
simple white muslin, and her few brida
ornaments lay on the table by her side
Miss Allen, her second bridesmaid;
bright-eyed, Northumberland girl
her chosen friend from childhood, was al
ranging to more graceful fall the wealth