Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-10-16
SELECTED TALE. {
THE SECRET MARRIAGE.
A Danish Tradition.

II is many years since the following mysterious
occurrence was talked OF among different circles
in Europe II will probably always remain one Of
those inexplicable matters which battle the ingenu-
ity Of the historian or The philosopher. have
translated it without establishment T.. F. L.
AT the lower end OF the hamle, Of Rorwig, on
the Danish Island Of Zealand or iceland stood, in
the autumn Of year in the first half of the last
century, house occupied by the priest of the viii
lagc, venerable and excellent man. It was mid
night and the tenant Of this humble dwelling was
seated in his chamber, in his wooden chair, alb
sorbed in pious contemplation. A lamp was burn
ing upon the table, on which also lay some books
the good father had been reading The deep ST.
lence Of the night was broken only by the distant
murmuring Of waves upon the sea shore.
The door Of the house was suddenly opened be-
low, so simple and primitive in their customs were
the inhabitants of this island and so free they
from the suspicious engendered by greater civilian
ton, tina, locks and bolts things almost IN
known. Each mans house was open TO his neigh
Dor by night well as by day And Of all others
the good old priest had least to dread aught
from the presence Of intruders So that he felt no
alarm If some surprise, at the prospect of visit at
this nnwnnisd hour.
Heavy steps were heard ascending the stairs-
The priest listened calmly; he expected sum-
mons to the dying bed Of some unfortunate person
70 VINO" ne was 10 ,ehoe' 'he last CONSCIENTIOUS Of
Religion. MS chamber door was pusned OPEN ana
tered One ofthem approached, and addressed the
priest abrupty-thongh with much courtesy.
Father said he, you must go with us immed-
atey. You are to perform marriage ceremony
me o.lue anu are aireauy IN 'he cnu'ch
. III sun, ne aoue' W"i compensate YOU TOT 'iie
uo"o'e' anu ior .he surprise OIL oeing cahea upon
'hu ", unexpectedly.
LUG P',es, "aue no reply, ou' gazed al 'he stran-
gers VINO nau something VIVA, ana even siafuing IN
'nel asPeo'-m n'onoh'ess as'oh'snmen' Inc
ua"gei iepea'eu n'S ec,nanu W more urgent anu
'n'Pel"."e uannsI Inc goou ,a'ne' oeeah 70
'epIesen. as mhuy as possible ina, MS duty per-
.i'''eu n'ln nol 10 en,er upon 50 solemn uansae-
'on "nnoui Ano"Ieoge Oh Tue parties coneefhed'
anu m'loul such 'o1nali'les as ihe Jaws required
ine o'ne' strange, no" came forward lou
"a.e 'ne 'io'ee, sa,u me- ~ rough anu s'eIn
VOICE. W uo "u' oiuuipg anu tece"e ,"e onefeu
'e"a'u, OF 10 remain mere anc nave pune. sent
""ough your neau. 90 saying ne Gre" iof'h
P's ua anu neiu u 10 'he P,,es' 'o,ehesu'
Jug minister III sacIeu 'hngs uaieu no ionge,
ue,"e ne s'gn'ne1 JUS ,eau''ess 70 opey, anu
paie a,o non, as'leu nI.nse as sP1euny as
Do. VIC '" a. "ap PuAs Ta'';'", ou mn
@H as0e"' ,n". 1890 mem % .
pies' o1u'u nj nos &c W "" sl,,n ~
=" 'as "o, ,,..,' ~ .'''''
I',u :. s.snoe pa,se a..s ."e ,'e
ine "'g". was fu'1 ua' '''e ''oo" ns,s ane1uy
go"e wv" NY Pa'seu oo' " '"e na'',.''
he o'u 'la. ".,'' So.'e ''e
.nu'yn vi ~ eie NJ .. aDI
a. m ';'I,. III ~ ~ ~
oss ,,,, 'u ns VASE 80 .aP'u 'ids nc
So1.u WV" la aa,' AesP p1Ie WI. ne'l
' s"s ~; my ia "a Sa "an a,,
' e,ee' ~ ~ ~; .d ".L; s Joo - wei
SnJ INV ~ me p''.., op eS ~ p1 S"u pres
sn.y NC pe.s ava" a. cisn sS'n.o =, 1u' ~
oei VI e eune' il .oi'seu . u
so,ees 'i,,eu lIe ou"Ig a"u nea' n.' NC nea.a
persons sPeaA"g w;'a g.ea' ea'"es'ness III an IN
nnowh 'ohg1e-wn,'e' however ne supposed 70 oe
RUSSIAN ne s,00u ,OI some mo el,. pewnue'eu
anu ,eng.i nc le', ms manu- sel--
co, ahc was puneu a,o"g WIN some loice present.
NC nesiu '"e psoP,e Ie''e' iea''"g eiea' space
around MN. Inc Danuhge was now taken from