Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-02-09
er day, and all was we'll They will be here
kx md h,- naror faar ~

and yet the bridegroom tarried. There
were whispers, surmises and wonderings, and
shadow of anxiety passed over the face OF
the bride elect At last a carriage drove
rather slowly TO the door.
They have GOMEZ" cried many voices,
and Ellen entered. In reply to the hurried
end confused inquiries all around him, Mr..
w muttered something about "unavolda-
ble delay and stepping up to the side
board tossed over glass OF wine, another
and another The company stood silent
with amazement Finally rough old far
mer 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 81 wish to
make an explanation-I am under the pain
full necessity-that is, | have the pleasure to
announce that AN already married The
lady whom l now hold by the hand is my
wife -
Then turning in an apologetical manner to
Mr.. and Mrs Dutton he added: " found
that never loved until l knew your second
daughter,
And Lucy She heard all with strange
calmness, and then walking steadily forward,
confronted her betrayers. Terrible, as pale
as Nemisses herself, she stood before them !;
and her looks pierced ike 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 shoulder. and let it
glide down her arn-but she touched not
Edwin. As those cold fingers met hers, the
unhappy wife gazed full into her sisters face,
and she marked the ghastly color of her
check. the dilated nostril, the quivering lip,
and the intensely mournful eyes, she covered
her own face with her hands, and burst into
tears, while the young husband, awed by the
terrible silence of her he had wronged, gasp
ed for breath and staggered back against the
wall Then Lucy clasped her hand on her
forehead and tirst gave voice to her anguish
and despair in one fearful cry, which could
not but forever ring IN the souls of that gull
~ pair, and fell into death ike swoon at
:hc;T feet.
After the insensible girl had been removed
to chamber, u stormy scene ensued in the
room beneath. The parents aud guests were
alike enraged against W; but tears and
prayers OF his young wife, the petted beauty
and spoiled child, at last softened somewhat
the anger of the parents, and an opportuni-
ty for an explanation was accorded to the
offenders.
A sorry explanation it proved. The gent
leman affirmed that the first sight of Ellen S
10 ely face had awakened the empire
of her palmer sister over his affections.
Frequent interviews had completed the con-
quest of his loyalty; but he had been held
in check by honor, and never told his love
until when on his way to espousc another,
in an unguarded moment, he revealed it and
the avowal had called forth an answering ac
acknowledgement from Ellen.
They had thought it best, in order to
save pain to Lucy, and the opposition
fraa, her, and to secure their own happiness,
to be married before their arrival at C.
Lucy remained insensible 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 fed-that she was hopelessy y
insane But her madness was of a mild and
harmless nature. She was gentle and peace
able as ever, bat frequently sighed and seem
ed burdened with some great sorrow which
she conld not herself comprehend. She
had one popularity which all who knew her
must recolect; this was wild fear and
careful! avoidance of men. She seemed pos
sessed of spirit OF unrest. She could not
be confined, but was continually escaping
from her friends, they knew not whittier
While her parents lived, they by their
care and unwearied efforts, in some measure
controlled this unfortunate 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 tor her
OF the crushed heart and crazed brain.
L remember her as she was in my early
childhood, toward the last of her weary pill
grimage As my father and brothers were
frequently absent, and as my mother never
closed her heart or door on crazy Lucy"
she often spent an hour or two by our fire.
side. Her appearance was very singular.
Her gown was always patched with many
colors, and her shawl or mantle was worn or
torn, until it was open work or fringe. The
OF her miserable wardrobe she
carried in bundle on her arm, and some
times she had a number of parcels of old
rags, dried herbs, &c
In the season of flowers, her tattered bon
net was profusely decorated with those she
gathered in the woods or by the wayside.
Her love for these and her sweet voice were
all that were left of the bloom and music of
her existence Yet mol her meek and child
like piety still fingered Her God had not
foTsaken her; down in the dim chaos of her
spirit the smile of his love yet cleaned faint
YIN the waste garden OF her heart she
still heard His voice at eventide, and she
was not afraid. Her Bible went with her