Smyrna times., 1869-03-17
MISceIIuR eOWS.
THE NIGHT 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
our heroine, an honest and respectable farmer.
He had but two children-Lucy, a noble girl
of nineteen, and Ellen, year or two younger.
The first named was winningly rather than
strikingly beautiful. Under manner observed
for its seriousness and unlike serenity, were con-
cealed an impassioned nature and heart of
the deepest capacity for loving. She was re-
markable from her earliest childhood for voice
of thrilling and haunting sweetness.
Ellen DuttOn was the brilliant antipode of
her sister, " born beauty" whose prerogative
of prettineSs was to have her own way in all
things and at all times. An indulgent father,
weak mother and an indolizing sister, who
unconsciousy contributed to the ruin of na-
ture not at first remarkable for strength or gen.
erOSity.
Where in all Gods creatures is heartlessness
SO seemingly unnatural, is selfshness so detest-
able, as in beautiful woman2
Lucy possessed fine intellect, and as her
parents Were well-read New Englanders, she
and her sister were far better educated than
other girls Of her station in that then half-set-
tied part OF the country. In those days many
engaged in school teaching, from the honor and
pleasures which it afforded, rather than from
necessity. Thus few months previous to our
story, Lucy Dutton left for the first time her
tlreslde circle, to take the charge of school
some twenty miles from her native town.
For some while her letters home were ex-
presslve only of the happy contentment which
| sprang from the CONSCIOUSNESS of active useful
ness, of receiving while imparting good. But
anon there came change. Then were those
records for home characterized by fitful gayety,
or dreamy sadness; indefnable 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 sec
ond birth of woman's nature was like warm
sunshine struggling with the cold mist Of a
cold morning.
| But one day brought letter which could not
be forgotten in the home of the absent, and a
letter traced by hand that trembled in sym
pathy with heart tumultuous with happiness
Lucy had been wOOed and won, and she but
waited her parents approval of her choice, to
become the bethrOthed of Edwin W, 6
man of excellent family and standing in the
town where she had been teaching. The faith
er and mother accorded their sanction with
many blessings, and Lucy's next letter promis
ed speedy visit from the lovers.
To such natures as Lucy's what an absorb
ing and yet what a revealing of self is frs
|
| lncaculabln wealth of receiving-Whata break
ing up is there of the deep waters of the soul
and how heaven descends in sudden star
shower upon life. If there is a season wheI
an angel may look with interest upon her NOR
al sister, it is when she beholds her heart pass
from its bud-lke Innocence and girlhOod anC
taking to its very core the fervid light of love
glow and crimson into perfect womanhood.
AT last the plighted lovers came, and wei
comes and festivities awaited them. Mr.. "
I - gave entire satisfaction to father and moth
err and even the exacting beauty" He wa
a handsome man, with some pretensiOns K
fashion; but in manner, and apparently il
character, the opposite of his betrOthed.
1t was decided that Lucy should not agaiI
leave home until after the marriage, which, a
the request of the ardent lover, was to be cele
) brated within two months, and on the birthda
of the bride. 1t was therefore arranged tha
Ellen should return with Mr.. W to tax
charge of her sisters school for the remainde
Of the term. The bridal day had come. ]
had been ushered in by May morning of sur
passing loveliness the busy hours had wor
away and it was now near sunset and neithe
the bridegroom nor Ellen, the first bridesmaid
had appeared. Yet in her neat little chambe
sat Lucy, nothing doubling, nothing fearing
l She was already in a simple white muslin, an
her bridal ornaments lay on the table by he
, side. Miss Allen, her second bridesmaid,
bright-eyed, Northumberland girl, her che
sen friends from childhood, was arranging to
: more graceful fall the wealth of light ringlet
!, which swept her snowy neck. To the anxiOu
= inquiries OF her companion respecting the ab
, sent ones Lucy smiled quietly and replied:
Oh, something has happened to detail
them awhile; we heard from them the othe
y day, and all was well. They will be here b
); and by, never fear.
t Evening came, the guests were assembled
and yet the bridegroom tarried. There wei
i whispers and surmise and wonderings, and
shadow of anxiety passed over the face of th
i. blide elect. At last carriage drove rathC
d slowly up to the door.
"They have come! !" cried many voices, an
+ Ellen entered. In reply to the hurried inqu
! ries and confusion of all around him Mr.. \
5. - muttered something about unavoidab
delay" and stepping up to the side-boart
ne tossed off glass of wine, another and anotl
er The company stood silent, with amaz
at ment. Finely rough old farmer exclaimed
Better late than never, young man-so lea
e eI out the bride.
is w. strobe hastily across the room and place
u himself by Ellen, and took her hand in hi
d. Then without daring to meet the eye of al
Is about him he said | wish to make an e.
s planation-- am under the painful necessity
=. that is | have the pleasure to announce that
ns am already married. The lady whom l nc
p, r., hold by the hand is my wife u
'si Then, turning in an apOlogetical manner
Mr.. and Mrs. Dutton, he added: :" -four
p that | never loved until i knew your secol
m, daughter"
Oh And Lucy2 She heard all with a stran
he calmness, then walking steadily forward co
fronted her betrayers. Terrible, as pale
'rl Nemesis herself, she stood before them a
to looks pierced like keen, cold blade into th'
n''- false hearts. AS though to assure herself
us the dread reality of the vision, she laid b
our hand on Een's shoulder and let it glide do'
five her arm-but she touched not Edwin.
those cold fingers met hers, the unhappy W
%s @s first gazed full into her sisters face; and
~ the diIated nostril-the quivering lip and I
no intensely mournful eyes, she covered her o
gel face with her bands and burst into tears, VIII
of - II - 4 l.. Al. :. sc : = :.