Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-07-07
lie wore . green coat. with broad

lie wore . green coat, with broad
gold braids, and a brilliant star. The
bride, who also approached and kneel-
ed beside him ut the altar, was magni-
ficently dressed. A sky blue robe.
richly trimmed with silver, enveioped
her slender limbs, and foated in large
folds over her graceful form; q diadem
sparkling with diamonds adorned her
fair hair; the utmost Ioveliness and
beauty might be traced in her features,
although despair how expressed itself
IN them; her cheeks were pale as those
Ut a corpse; her features were unani-
mated; her lips were blanohed her
eyes dimmed, and her arms hung mo.
tionless at her side rs she kneeled be.
fore the altar; terror seemed to have
wrapped her consciousness as we'll as
her vital powers in deep lethargy.
The cure now discovered near him.
an old ugly bag. in a party colourcd
dress. with blood red turban upon
her head, who stood gazing with an
expression Of malignant fury on the
kneeling bride; aud behind the bride
groom, he noticed q man Of gigantic
size and gloomy appearance. whose
eyes were fixed immovabIy on the
ground.
Horror struck by the scene before
him, the Priest stood mute for some
time, till thrilling look from the bride
groom reminded him of the ceremony
he had come thither to perform. But
the uncertainty whether the couple he
was now about tn marry understood
his language, afforded him fresh
source of uneasincss. lie ventured,
however, to ask the bridegroom for his
name aud that Of his bride Neander
and Fedora was the answer returned
in rough voice.
The priest now began to read the ri
tual in faltering accents, frequently
stopping TO repeat the words, without.
how ever, either the bride OF bridegroom
appearing to observe his confusion,
which confirmed hiln in the conjecture
that his language was almost uni uown
to either of them. On putting the
question, Nesnder, wilt thou have
this woman for thy welded wlieI' he
doubted whether he should receive any
answer; but to his astopishment, the
bridegroom answered in the affirmative
with a lord and almost screaming
. voice, which rung throughout the whole
church, while deep signs were heard
from every quarter Of the building, ard
silent quivering like the rcilec ton Of
, distant lightning. threw a transitory
. motion over the death pale features Of
the bride. When the priest turned to
her with the interrosatory: Fedora,
wilt thou have this man for thy we'd
ded husband = the lifeless form before
him seemed 10 awake; u deep convul-
siye throb Of terror trembled on her
checks; her pale lips quivercd pass.
ing CLEAN Of fire shoue in her eve; her
: breast hcayed a violent gush of tears
, Hooded the bFllliance Of her eyes, and
, the yes was pronounced HE the
/ scream OF anguish uttered by a dying
| person. aud seemed To find a derpechO
, in the sounds Of grief which bars, from
, the surrounding multitude. The bride
then sank into the arms Of the h0rrid
. old bag, aud after seine minutes had
. passed in awful silence, the pale
corpse-like female kneclcd again. as If
, IN deep trance. and the ceremony
Was finished. The bridegroom now
| rose aud led away the trembling bride.
, followed by the tall man and The old
{ woman the two strangers then ap.
pcared again, and having bound the
, priests eyes, drew him With violence
through the crowd. and pushed him out
at the door, which they boiled within.
For some minutes, the old man stood
endeavorIng to rccollcct himself. and
, uncertain whether tie horrid scene,
, with all its CHASTITY attendant circum.
stances, might not have been a dream !;
but when he had torn the bandagc from
his eyes, and saw the illuminated
church before him, and heard the mur-
. muring of thc crowd. he was forced 20
believe ITS reality. 10 learn the issue,
. he hid himself in corner Of the build
ing, and while listening there. he heard
the murmuring within grow louder and
, lOudc---then IL seemed az % a fierce
, alteration arose, IN which lic thought
he could recognize the rough voice Of
the bridegroom commanding silence
long pause followed, IA shot fell. the
shrek OF a female voice was heard,
which was succeeded by another pause;
> then followed soubd Of pick.axcs.
which lasted about a quarter Of an
hour, after which tlic candles were ex
tinguished, The door was flung open.
and multitude Of persons rushed out
Of the church. aud ran towards the sea
The Old priest now arose from his
hiding place, and FASTENED back 60 tie
village, where he a~okc his neigl.bar.
:. and friends, and related to them has