Smyrna times., 1869-03-17

coulu out wiring forever through the souls OF
that guilty pair, and fell in a death-like swoon
at their feet.
After the insensible girl had been removed
TO chamber stormy scene ensued in the |
room beneath. The parents and guests were
allke enraged against W., but the tears and
prayers of his young wife, the petted beauty
and spoiled child, at last sOftened somewhat
the anger OF the parents, and an opportunity
for an explanation was accorded to the often
ders.
A sorry explanation it proved. The gentle
man affirmed that the first sight of Ellen s
lovely face had weakened the empire Of her
palmer sister over his affections. Frequent in
terviews had completed the conquest of his
loyalty; but he had been held in check by hon
or, and never told his love, until, when on his
way to espOuSe another, in an unguarded mo.
ment, he revealed it, and answering acknOwl-
edgement from Ellen.
They had thought best, in order " to save
pain to Lucy, and prevent the opposition from
her, and secure their own happiness to be mar
ried before their arrival at c..
Lucy remained insenslble for some time
When she revived and apparently regained her
consciousness, she still maintained her strange
silence. This continued for many weeks when
it partially passed away, her friends saw with
inexpressible grief that her reason had fled
that she was hOpelessly insane! But her mad
ness was of mild and harmless nature. She
was gentle and peaceable as ever, but frequent
" sighed and seemed burdened with some
great sorrow which she could not herself COM
prehend. She had one popularity, which all
who knew her must recollect; this was a wild
fear and careful avoidance of men. She could
not, she would not be confined, but continual
ly escaped from her friends, they knew not
whittier.
While her parent lived, they by their watch
full care and unwearied efforts in some measure
controlled this sad propensity; but when they
died, their stricken child became a wanderer,
homeless, friendless, and forlorn.
Through laughing springs, and rosy sum-
mers tramp, tramp, tramp-nO rest for her Of
the crushed heart and crazed brain.
remember her as she was in my early child
hood, towards the last of the weary pilgrimage.
AS my father and elder brothers were frequent
| ly absent, and as my mother never closed her
heart or door on -" Crazy Lucy" she often
spent an hour or two by our freside. Her ap-
pearance was very singular. Her gown was
always patched with many cOlOrs, and her shawl
or mantle worn or torn, until it was open work
and fringe The remainder of her wardrobe
she carried in bundle on her arm, and some
times she had number of parcels Of old rags,
dried herbs, &c.
In the season of flowers, her tattered bonnet
was profusely decorated with those which she
gathered in the woods or by the wayside. Her
love for these and her sweet voice were all that
were left her of the bloom and music of her
existence. Yet, no; her meek and child-like
piety still fingered. Her God had not forsaken
her; down in the dim chaos of her spirit the
smile of His love yet cleaned faintly-in the
waste garden of her heart she still heard His
voice at eventide, and she was not afraid. Her
Bible went with her every where-a torn and
sOiled volume, but as holy still and it may be-,
as dearly cherished, my dear reader, as the
gorgeous copy now lying on your table, bound
in purple and gold, and with the gliding
untarnished upon the delicate leaves.
One day, about week from the time of her
arrival, Lucy appeared to suffer greatly and
those about her looked for her release almost
impatiently till morning The matron, who
was by her bedside when she awoke was star
tied by the clear and earnest gaze which met
her own, but she smiled and bid the invalid
GOOD morning." Lucy looked bewildered,
but the voice seemed to reassure her, and she
exclaimed: Where am l and who are you
do not know you. !"
A wild surmise flashed across the mind of
the matron, the long lost reason of the wander
er had returned. But the good woman replied
camly and soothingly:
"Why you are among your friends, and you
will know me presently"
'Then maybe you know Edwin and Ellen,
rejoined the invalid 81 have they Gomez Oh,
| had such terrible dream; [ dreamed that
they were married Only think, Ellen mar
J ried to Edwin! Strange It's that l should
dream that"
"My poor Lucy" said the matron with q
! gush Of tears, that was not dream, twas
r all true"
: "All true 7" cried the invalid "then Edwin
must be untrue, and that cannot be for he loves
, me; we love each other well, and Ellen is my
3 sister. Let me see them; | will go to them. "
4 She endeavored to raise herself, but fell back
3 fainting on the pillow.
r What does this mean" said She" what
makes me so weak p
j Just then her eye fell on her own hand
: that old and withered hand She gazed on il
in black amaZement.
e Something is the matter with my sight, u
, she said, smiling family, for my hand looks
: like an old woman's."
: "And so it is," said the matron gently
F.: "and so is mine; yet we had fair, plump hand,
d when we were young. Dear Lucy, do you no
know me2 | am Maria Allen-I was to have
been your bridesmaid"
! cannot say more-I will not make the vair
y attempt to give in detail that mournful reveal
: ing-tO reduce to expressive words that dreaC
= subimity Of that hopeless sorrow.
l To the wretched Lucy, the last thirty year.
" were as though they had never been. OF moi
a scene, not an incident, had she the slightes
0 remembrance, since the recent and traitorou
d lover stood before her and made that terrible
d announcement.
The kind matron paused frequently in tn
re sad narratiae Of her poor friend madness anC
n wanderings, but the invalid would say will
rs fearful calmness-"G Go on, 60 on, though tn
ID drops of fagony stood thick upon her forehead
ir When she asked for her sister and the matro
Of replied:
er She has gone before you, and your fathe
IN ALSO"
rs "And my mother?" said Lucy, her face Ii
fe up with sickly ray of hope.
as Yourmother has been dead twenty years.
= "Deadl All gone? Alone, old. dying?
he God, my cup. Of bitterness is full" and she or
Vn ly wept aloud.
lie Her friend bent over her, and minging he
40 too,s ,u;th hars enid oFact;onot,,lv. Rnt yo