The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-04-17
wood helplc.s and blindlo.ded. he M,

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himself seized upon by a mans hand
aud drawn violently through the crowd.
At last the bardnge was removed from
his eyes, and he found himself standing
with one Of the two strangers before the
altar. A row of large tapers, in mag
ni6cent silver candIesticks, adorned the
altur, and the church itself was splendid
ly lighted up by profusion of candles.
The deepest silence now reigned through
out the whole building though the side,
passages aud all the seats were crowded
To excess; but the middle passage was
quite clenr, and he perceived in it a new
~ dug grave, with the stone which had
covered it leaning against bench.--A-
round him were only male figures. but
on one of the distant benches he thought
he perceived female form. The terri
bic silence lasted for some minutes, dur
ing which not a motion could he detected
in the vast assembly. Thus when the
mind IL bent on deeds Of darkness, ST.
lcnt gloomy broodpg of soul often pre-
cedes the commission Of the horrid ac-
ton.
At last man whose magnificent dress
distinguished him from all the rest, and
bespoke his elevated rank, rose and
walked hastily up to the altar; as lie
passed along. his steps rosounded thro'
the building, and every eye was turned
on HIM; he appeared to- be Of middle
stature, with broad shoulders and strong
l i'm lhc-hto = L..
complexion a yellowish brown, and his
hair raven bIack--his features were Sc
we're and his lips compressed as if in
wrath-a bold acquiline nose heightened
the naughty appearance of bis counte-
nance, and dark shaggy brows lowered
over his fiery eyes. He wore green
coat, with broad gold broids and bril-
liant star. The bride, who also ap-
preached, and kneeled beside him at the
altar, was mngnlfcentiy dressed A sky
blue robe, richly trimmed with silver,
enveloped her slender limbs, and hoat.d
in large folds over her graceful form. o
diadem sparkling with diamonds adorn-
ed her fair hai:---,he utmost lovliness
and beauty might he traced in her feat
ures, although despair now expressed it.
self in ,hem--her cheeks were pale as
those Of corpse-her features unanima-
ted-her lips were bIanched, her eyes
dimmed and her arms hung motionless
at her side as she knceled before the
altar, terror see emed to have wrapped her
as well as her vital powers
in deep Iethargy.
The cure now discovered near him
m old ugly bag, in parti-coored dress,
with hlood-red turhan on her head,
who stood gazing with an expression of
malignant fury on tho kneeling bride
and behind tho bridegroom, he noticed
a man of gigantic size and gloomy ap-
bearance, whose Dyes were fixed immo-
'eably on the ground.
Horror struck by the scene before
him, the priest stood mute for some
lime, till a thrilling look from the bride
groom reminded him of the ceremony
he had come hither to perform. But
the uncertainty whether the couple he
was now about to marry understood his
language, afforded him fresh source
of uneasiness. lie ventured, however
to ask the bridegroom for his name and
that Of his his bride. "Neander and
Fedora" was the answer returned in a
rough voice.
The priest now begun to read the rit-
ual in faulterlng accents, frequently
stopping to repeat the words, without
however either the bride or bridegroom
appearing to observe his confusion,
which confirmed him in the conjecture
that his language was almost unknown
to either Of them. On putting the ques-
tion, "Neander, wilt thou have this wo-
man for thy welded wife 2" He doubt
ed whether he should receive any an
swer; but to his astonishment, tho
bridegroom answered in the affirmative
with loud and almost screaming voice,
which rang throughout the church, while
deep sighs were heard from every quar-
ter ofthe building, and slight quivering
like the reflection Of distant lightning,
threw transi'ory motion over the death
pale features of the bride. When the
priest turned to her with the interrogu-
tory: "Feodora, wilt thou have this
man for thy welded husband 1.-THE
lifeless form before him seemed TO a.
wake, deep convulsivo throb of terror
trcmbled on her cheeks, her pale lips
quivered--n passing glenn of Gre shone
in her eye--her breast heaycd---a vio-
lent food of tears flooded the hriiiancy
of her eyes, and the "yes" was pronoun-
ced like the scream Of anguish uttered
by dying person, and seemed to find
n deep echo IN the sounds of gricfwhch
burst from the surrounding multitude.
The bride thon sank iuto arms Of the
old hag aud after some minutes had