Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-07-04
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THE HERALD.
THE NIGHT OF YEARS.

York, lived the father of our hero
inc, an honest and respectable farm
CIR. He had but two children-Lucy,
noble girl of nineteen, and Ellen, a
year or two younger. The first
named was winningly, rather than
strikingiy beautiful. Under man.
ner observable for its seriousness and
nun-liixe serenity. were concealed an
impassionate nature, and heart of
the deepest capacity of loving. She
was remarkable from her earliest
childhood for voice Of thrilling and
haunting sweetness,
Ellen Dutton was the brilliant an
tipode other sister, I" born beauty"
whose perogative in prettiness was
to have her own way in all things
and at all times. An indulgent
father, a weak mother, and an idol
lied sister, unconsciously contributed
TO the ruin of nature not at first
remarkable for its strength or gener-
osity.
Where, in all Gods creatures, is
heartlessness so seemingly unnatural
is selfshness so detestaDle, as in O
fine beautiful woman?
Lucy possessed a fine intellect and
as her parents were we'll 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-teach
ing from the honor and pleasure il
afforded rather than necessity.
Thus, few months previous to the
commencement OF our story, Lucy
Dutton left for the first time her fam.
lily circle, to take charge of schoo
some twenty miles from her native
town.
For some time her letters home
were expressive only of the happy
contentment which sprarg from the
consciousness of active usefulness, o.
receiving, while impartiDg good
But anon there came change
Then were those records from home
characterized by fitful gaiety OF
dreamy sadness /; indefinabIe hopes
and foars seem struggling for So
premacy in the writer's little
troubled heart. Lucy loved, bu
scarcely acknowledged it to herself
while she knew not that she wal
loved. So, for a time the secone
birth of woman's nature was like {
warm sunrise struggling with thu
cold mist of the morning.
But ono day brought a letter
which could not be forgotten in th'
home of the absent, and hand tha
trembled in sympathy with hear
tumultuous with happiness. Luc,
had been wooed and won, and SHIT
but waited her parents approval o
her choice to become the hetrotheC
of Edwin w, a man of excellent
| character and standing in the towr
where she had beeu teaching. The
father and mother accorded theil
sanction with many blessings, and
Lucy's next letter promised speedy
visit from the lovers.
To such natures as Luey's, what
sn absorbing, and yet what reveal,
ing of self is first passion--what q
prodigaliIy of giving, what on meal
culablo wealth of receiviDg--what o
breaking up is there in the deep
waters of the soul, and how heaven
descends In sudden star shower
upon life. If there is season whom
an angel my look with interest upon
her mortal sisters, it is when she be-
holds her heart pass from its bud
like innocence and girlhood, and TAX
ing to it's very core the fervid light
of love. glow and crimson into per-
feet womanhood.
AT last the plighting lovers came,
and welcomed tho festivities await
ing them. Mr.. W gave entire
satisfaction to father, mother. and
even the exacting g beauty" lie
was handsome man, with some
pretensions TO fashion but in man
ner, and apparently in character. he
was the opposite to his betrothed.
1t was decided that Lucy should
not leave her home until after her
marriage, which. at the request OF
the ardent lover, was TO be celebrat-
ed within two months, and on the
birthday of the bride. 1t was there
fore arranged that Ellen should re-
turn with Mr.. W. to take charge
Of her sisters school for the remain
der of the term.
The bridal day had come. 1t had
been ushered in by May morning
of surpassed loneliness, and the busy
hours had worn away, and it was
now well nigh sunset, and neither
the bridegroom nor Ellen, the first
bridesmaid, had arrived.
But in her neat little chamber sat
Lucy, nothing doubling, nothing
fearing. She was already arrayed in
simple white muslin, and her few
bridal ornaments lay on the table by
her side. Miss Alien, her second
bridesmaid, bright-eyed, affection
ate. hearted girl, her chosen friend
from childhood, was arranging to d
more graceful fall the wreath OF light
ringle.s that swept her snowy neck.
10 the anxious inquiries of her com.
panion, respecting the absent ones,
Lucy smiled quietly and replied
"Oh, something has happened to
detain them we heard from them
The other day, and all was we'll.
They will be hero by and by, never
fear"
Evening came, the guests assem-
bled, and yet the bridegroom tarried.
There were whispers, surmises and
wonderings, and shadow of anxiety
passed over the face Of the bride
elect. AT las; carr age drove up
rather slowly to the d. or.
They have come" cried many
voices. and Ellen entered. In reply
to the hurried and confused inquiries
all around him, Mr. W muttered
something about :, unavoidable dc.
lay" and stepping TO the sideboard
tossed off glass of wine, another
and atother. The company stood
silent with amazement. Finally, a
l ~1,..h old farmar N " IA a rood.