Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-01-28
head party had given way before the torrent

head party had given way before the torrent
Of gaiety and RIGHTEOUSNESS which swept ov-
er the land, and in the smashing gallants and
painted danes who graccd the nuptials, few
traces of the strai,laced proprety Of former
times could be fouod.
1t was gay bridal, in despite Of the
stern and row imbece old man who stalked
among the company like pcrsonifica,ion Of
time and mortality, marrlng the mirth OF all
among whom he paused. 1t was gay bri-
dial in despite Of the changing cheek and
troubled pances of the bride. 1t was gay
bridal, and music lent its charms to enlivcn
the hearts of all. yet in the midst of 1t, a
sound like the rustic Of the evening breeze
amid the dried leaves of autumn-thc sound
which had mingled with the voice Of the
priest aud the responses of the bctro,hed in
the Lovers Walk-ever came upon the ear
Of the bride, and the accents Of mirih SEEM
ed TO her troubled fancy blended with whis-
per of death. Was ii an echo Of the past, or
prescniment of the future, which thus
thrilled her soul with dread Why did she
feel as she looked upon her unsullied robes
Of virgin white, that the funeral pail would
ere long be spread before the wedding guests!
The consciousness of wrong had made her
prophecies. She had deceived the trust of a
faithful and loving heart, and she felt that
the sin ofthus appearing before God TO take
the vows of fidelity to one whom her silence
had already deceived. would not 20 unpun-
shed. The shadow ofcomng i'll was inl
deed upon he path, and 1t seemed TO be her
destiny ever TO find the cypress bough twin
ed with a nuptial wreath. Ere the morning
light dawned upon the gay nssenblagc, the
aged father of the bridc-ihe imbecile old
, man who had long seemed rather to belong
to the world Of spirits than to the beings OF
] this world-had yielded up the breath which
was all remained to him of life, and Alice
arose from the bridal bed to look upon her
: fathers bier.
Yet slight had this gricfbeen TO one who
: felt little ola daughters love, had it no, been
: for the consequences which resulted from il.
z Mr.. Arnod's sudden death rendered an i'm
j mediate examination of his effects and pa
e pcrs necessary This duty devolved upon
:, Alice and her husband, and faithfully was il
= performed. One morning they sa, together,
y lovingly and chcerfully, in the library at Ar
II nolds-biggIn, engaged in overlooking the
: contents of worn-ca,cn cabinet which for
e many years had occupied a nook in the old
+ hall. Old deeds, letters, whose faded char
II acters were no longer legible, memoranda
= of military orders, and old account books
h were laug hingly tossed aside by the gay
d scarchers, until at length an unseen spring,
n accidentally touched, revealed secret draw
= er. One single paper, whose snow-w htc
is hue con,rasted strongly with time stained
color of those on the table before them, lay
y within the drawer. Both Alice and her hus-
n band, in their gaieiy of spirit grasped the pa
'f per a. the same instan,-the eyes Of both
IA fell simultaneously upon tie fatal contents
y and the next moment the wretcfed Alice lay
10 senseless on the floor. 1t was the certificate
g of marriage between Charles NOVEL; and Al
r ice Arnold How came il there 1t such
'g "A papcr existed il ought to have been found
in in the person ofthc bridegroom when drawn
!, from the cruel waters. ii was mystery all
ie IA deep and as IT seemed guilty MYSTERY
Of One thing alone seemed clear. lie WhO had
al so long possessed the only testimony Of thu
H. secret marriage must hare knoun but too
al much of the untimely fate Which doomed thu
I'd ncmly aceddcd husband to a acatery Craze
I'd Alice recovered from her long and death.
ds like swoon, but it was only to learn that she
ID was hencefor,h TO be dlstrusted, and contem,.
:h ned by him when she really loved. Il could
IN have forgiven your early indiscre,ion, Alice
er SAID the husband, mourniully, 'could have
he forgiven your clandestine marriage, ant
T. loved you not the less but cannot forge
a the false hcartedness which led you to con.
e, ceal the error your youth by the dissimua
~ ton Of your later years. No, rather woult
NJ | take to my arms the foul and spotted lcpe
On than her whose fasehood has tainted for eve
X, the honor of womanhood. Hencctorlh W.
he must be as strangers to each other Ill
d. kept his word. Alice lived beneath his root
N, but entirel, es,rangcd from sight and spccc
ad of her husband, who Withdrawing from a
b. the active pursuits Of life, devoted himself T.
ia the study of painting, and that lie might hav
~ no temptation to indulge IN idle converse
rs ton he employed deaf mute to grind hi
~ colors, admitting no one else into his apart
Ill ment. His eccentric habits won for his nee
nm leced wife the pity of many while 10 non
all did he ever reveal the true cause of his es
e. arrangement. Alice dragged on miserabl
Is existence in helpless, hopeless brokennes
in, of heart and it was not until her bright lock
ler were braided with many silver thread tn;
his she was relieved from the weary burden {
he existence.
for Note.-The incidents upon which the foregoir
Id tale is founded TO be found in Whttakers Hist
~ Of the Deanery ofCraven but the curious read
would perhapsi c pzzled 10 recognise the origin
The legend in lis present form.
md BrOOkln l.. I,