Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-07-01
ASHTABULA, OHIO, SATURDAY, JULY /, 1871

ried and confused inquiries Of all around
him, Mr.. w. muttered something about
unavoidable delay and stepping up 10
the sideboard tossed off a glass Of wine,
and another, and another, and another.
The company stood still with amaze
ment. Finally rough farmer exclaim.
cd
Better late than never, young man
so lead out the BRIDE
w. strode hastily across tie room and
placed himself by Ellen, and took her
hand in his. Then, without daring to
meet the eye of any around him, he
said
Il wish TO make an explanation. am
under the painful necessity-that is, ]
have the pleasure to announce that am
already married. The lady whom now
hold by the hand is my wife y
Then turning to Mr.. and Mrs. Dutton
in an apologetical manner, he added
Il found that had never loved until
knew your second daghter.'
And Lucy? She had heard all with
strange calmness, then walked steadily
forward, and confronted her betrayers.
Terrible, pale as Nemesis herself, she
stood before them, aud her looks pierced
with 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 gazed full in her
sisters face, aud as she marked the
CHASTITY color Of her cheek, anil the di-
lated nostril, and quivering lips, and the
intensely mourntul eyes, she covered her
face with her hands and burst into 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 hands on her forehead, and first gave
vent to her anguish and dispair in one
fearful cry, which could not but ring for.
ever through the souls of that guilty
pair, aud fell in death-like swoOn at
their feet.
Alter the insensible girl had been re-
moved to chamber, a stormy scene en-
sued III the room beneath. The PARENTS
and guests were alike enraged against
W.; but the tears aud prayers of his
young wife, the petted beauty and spoil
ed child, at last softened somewhat the
anger ot her parents, and an opportuni-
~ Tor explanation was accorded to the
offenders.
And sorry explanation it proved
The gentleman affirmed that the first
sight OF Ellen's lovely face had weaken.
ed the empire of her palmer sister over
his affections. Frequent interviews had
completed the conquest of his loyalty,
but he had been held in check by his
honor, and never told his love until,
when on his way to espouse another in
an unguarded moment, he had revealed
it, aud the avowal had called forth an
acknowledgment from Ellen.
They had thought il best, in order to
save pain to Lucy, and prevent opposi-
ton from her, and to secure their own
happiness, to be married before their ar
rival at c.. -.....
Lucy remaid insensible for some time.
When she revived, and apparently re.
gained consciousness, she still maintained
her strange silence. This continued for
many weeks. when it partially passed
away, her friends saw with inexpressible
griet that her reason had fled she was
hopelessly insane But her madness
was of mild and harmless nature. She
was gentle and peaceable as ever, but
frequently sighed, and seemed to be bur-
dened with great sorrow which she
herself could not comprehend. She had
one popularity which all who knew her
must recollect. This was a wild fear
and careful avoidance of men. She
could not, would not be confined, but
was continually escaping from her friends,
they knew not VIII ther.
While her parents lived, they, by their
watchful care and unwearied efforts, in
some measure controlled this sad propen-
sity but when they died, their stricken
child became a wanderer, homeless,
frendless and forlorn. And through
laughing springs and rosy summers,
tramp, tramp, tramp, no rest for her OF
the crushed heart and crazed brain.
remember her as she was in my
early childhood, toward the last of her
weary pilgrimage. AS my father and
elder brother 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 tireside. Her ap-
pearance was very singular. Her gown
was always patched with many colors,
and her shawl or mantle was worn or
torn until il was open work or fringe.
The remainder of her miserable ward
robe she carried in bundle upon her
arm, and sometimes had a number ol
parcels of old rags, herbs, etc.
In the season of flowers, her tattered
bonnet was protusely 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 of the bloom and the music of her
existence. Yet, no her meek and
childish 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 everywhere-a
torn and soiled volume, but holy still ;
! orl q. ,,1aSz ha ao Iaarlxy ohariahad my