Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-06-01

ihS4 C<ASNSiLlCo
"Better late than never, young man,
so lead out the BRIDE"
W, strobe hastily across the
room, and placed himself by Ellen,
and took her hand in his. Then with
out daring to meet the eye of any
about him, he said:
a wish to make an explanation--I
am under the painful necessity-that
is | have the pleasure to announce
that | am already married. The la
dy whom | now hold by the hand is
my wife
Then turning in an apologetical
manner 10 Mr.. and Mrs. Dutton, he
added
Il found that [ had never loved un-
til | knew your second daughter"
And Lucy? She heard all with a
strange calmness, then walking stead
lily forward, confronted her betray-
ers. Terrible, as pale as Nemesis
herself, she stood before them; and
her looks pierced like a keen, cold
blade into their false hearts. As
though to assure herself Of the dread
reality of the vision, she laid her hand
on Ellen's shoulder, and let it glide
down her arm-but she touched not
Edwin. As those cold fingers met
hers, the unhappy wife first gazed full
into her sisters face; and as she
marked the CHASTITY color of her cheek,
the dilated lostril, the quivering lip,
and the intensely mournful eyes, she
covered her own face with her hands,
and burst mo tears, while the young
husband, awed by the terrific silence
OF her he had wronged, gasped for
breath, and staggered back against
the wall. Then Lucy clasped her
hand on her forehead, and first gave
voice to her despair and anguish in
one fearful cry, which could not but
ring 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 her chamber, a stormy
scene ensued in the room beneath
The parents and guests were alike en-
ragged against w., but the
tears and prayers of his young wife,
the petted beauty and spoiled child,
at last sollened somewhat the anger
Of the parents, and an opportunity for
an explanation was accorded to the
Offenders.
a sorry explanation it proved. The
gentleman affirmed that the first sight
of EIcn's lovely face had wrecked
the empire OF her palmer sister over
his affections. Frequent interviews
had completed the conquest Of his 10y
atty; but he had been held in check
by honor, ana never told his love, un-
til, when on his way to espousc auo-
ther, in al unguarded moment, he re-
veaied il, and the avowal had called
forth an answering acknowledgement
from Ellen.
They mad thought it best, in order
ito save pain to Lucy" and prevent
the opposition from her, and to Sc
cure their own happiness, to be mar.
ried before their arrival at c.,
Lucy remained insensible for 8Omc
time. When she revived and appar
emily regained her consciousness, she
still maintained her strange silence
This continued for many weeks, when
it partially passed away, and hel
friends saw with inexpressible grief
thai her reason had fed-that she
was hopele8SIy insane But her mad
ness was Of mild and harmless ma
ture. She was gentle and peaceablt
as ever, but frequently sighed anC
seemed burdened with some grea
sorrow which she could not herself
comprehend. She had one pecuiari
ty which all who knew her must rec
oilect; this was a wild fear and care
tul avoidance of men. She seemed
possessed of the spirit of unrest. She
gould not nor would not, be confined
but was continually escaping from he
friends, they knew not whittier.
While her parents lived, they, b,
their watchtul care and unwearied eff
forts, in s0me measure controlled thi
sad propensity; but when they dice
their stricken child became wander
er, homeless, friendless, and forlorn.
Through laughing springs and ros,
summers, tramp, tramp, tramp-n'
rest for her Of the crushed heart ant
crazed brain.
| remember her as she was in N,
carly childhood, towards the last Of
her weary pilgrimage. As my fathe
and elder brothers were frequentl
absent, and as my mother never clos
ed her heart or door on "Crazy Lucy,
she often spent an hour or two b
our freside. Her appearance wa
very singular. Her gown was alway
patched with many colOrs, and he
shawl or mantle was worn or tori
until it was open work and fringe
The remainder Of her miserable WarC
, robe she carried in a bundle on be
arm, and sometimes she had a nun
, Der OF parcels of old rags, drie
herbs, etc.
In the season of flowers her tattel
ed bonnet was profusely decorate
, with those which she gathered in th
l woods or by the wayside. Her lov
for these and her sweet voice wer
r all that were left her of the bloom an
music of her existence. Yet, no; he
: meek and child-like piety still linge1
: ed. Her God had not forsaken her
; down in the dim chaos of her spir
: the smile of His love yet gleame
) faintly-in the waste garden of he
|. heart she still heard His voice at eve
tide, and she was not afraid. Her b
Y BILE went with her everywhere
torn and soiled volume, but as ho
+ still; it may be, as dearly cherishe
/ ,,,, daar raadar no tho Uorraouo cor