The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-06-12

ride to church, which stood in n glen
about half mile distant and on such
an occasion the bride and Bridegroom
rode donblc, that is, on one horse, the
lady sitting behipd. on an ancient pad
used only for that purpose. Twas one
of those old apiiquated observances
which almost every family of any stand
ing has, and which is kept up merely
because practised by former generations,
aud as the ceremony generally took
place a little after midday, so l fully
calculated on meeting the joyous throng,
midway at least. sit will he INV broth
er's bridal said /, sand my father will
be there and my old uncle will be there
and Helen We're, perchance will be
there as bridemaid. LiisIe does che
dream how soon she may ride the prici-
pal feature in similar solemnity. The
thought of Helen inspired me with new
vigor; the legend of the church yard
was all forgotten. l spurred up my
horse, and ere long The gray towers and
turrets OF my fathers rose before me,
gloriously sprinkled by the fervid beams
of an unclouded July sun. ] recognised
a friend in every stone, an old acqnaint-
ance in every tree. l even thoughn |
knew the crows nests, which had so
often despoiled and could swear TO
the initials of my name, which, with Hell
ems assistance, had fenoniously carved
out Of the smooth bark of huge chest
nut free.
But other thoughts now occupied my
mind, for heart, the joyous shouts of
many light-hearted boy and maiden !;
and presently, turning a corner of the
way, saw indeed bridal procession,
advancing in all its gllttering circum-
stance an panopIy. My beast beat high.
81 will meet them on foot" said, 7" as
an unknown individual, and their Joy
and surprise will be the greater" So /
turned my horse into an adjoining field,
and, mantling my face IN my capacious
cloak, pursued my way, filled with
variety of contending feelings, which
can neither analyse nor describe.
On came the procession. My father
according to rsage) rode first, on an
ancient steed, which had faithfully serv-
ed him for more than twenty years. The
old man was feeble, and more bent than
when l parted with him; yet still was
rejoiced to see that time had laid his
hand but jently on his honored head.
His eyes had waxed dim, however, and
he rode past me without stop or recogni-
ton. Then came my relations,-dIstant
connexions. whom had never seen, or,
having seen them merely as Echildren,
did not know. The ignorance was mu-
tual. l was merely regarded as a spec
tator of the solemnity of the day. AT
last the bridegroom appeared, on gall
Ian, piebald steed, which proudly pranc-
ed beneath his joyful burden, as if he
gloried in the weight. could net be
mistaken 1t was indeed my brother, my
only darling brother, who, from laugh
ing lad, had grown up into noble man,
IA man whom in a crowded street you
would turn back and gaze upon, as
perfect model of his race. Grace and
power were in every motion and look
the light ease of the Apollo was admira-
bly, pleaded with the nerve and muscle
of the Hercules.
He rose no, and, as usual, the bride
sat behind him, tall, slender, and nobly
fashioned, and bashf,lIy retiring as the
graceful gazeIle. was about to speak,
when passing gust of wind blew aside
her veil. and there, beheld Helen ay
Helen We're, my first, my only love, and
my all but pledged bride. What misery,
and despair, and ragged, were concentra-
ted in that little moment All my hopes,
all the wanderings, and tolls, and priva-
tions, became but as empty wind by that
look, l seemed in a moment to live o.
yer fifteen long years of my life. My
first feelings of love-my parting kiss
my dreams of her when far away, dane
ed wildly in my brain. The sudden
shock was too much for feeble reason to
sustain. | forgot where l was-what ]
was doing. rushed forward; l threw
out my arms, like one battling with
some tempest-vexed sea. screamed,
laughed, shouted ha, ha, ha (! till the
rocks echoed MS with the bowling of
thousand wolves. My blood felt like
liquid fire; my eyes seemed starting
from their burning sockets; my veins
were swollen to agony, and my heart
seemed glowing and cracking, as if the
Internal fire of whole eternity we're
concentrated in its narrow limits. "Wel-
come, my love welcome, my lady
bride" | shouted, "you have kept
your troth bravely-we shall have
merry bridal, ha, ha, ha! But who
laughs 7" exclaimed, started at the
hideous sound of my own maniac voice
=" who dares laugh at us-ha she
rides with demon - tis death, death
himself-see you not the feshless limbs
through the bravery of his Crimson robes