Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1845-11-08

gold, "wlll compensate you for the trou-
ole. and for the surprise of being called
upon thus unexpectedly" -
The priest made no reply, but gazed a,
the strangers. who had something wild.
and even startling in their aspect, in mo.
"onless establishment. The stranger re-
peated his demand in more urgent a nd
imperative manner. The good father be-
gan to represent, as mildly as possible,
that his cuty permitted him not to enter
on SO solemn transaction without knowl.
edge OF the parties concerned, and without
such formalities as the laws required.
The other stranger now ca1ie fnrmn-l
.fou iruvc ire CHOICE, SAID he, in a
rough and stern voice, ITO do our bidding,
and receive the offered reward, or TO re-
main here. and have bulle. sent through
your head.' So saying. he drew forth
pistol, and held it TO the priests forehead.
The minister in sacred things dared no
longer hesitate. He signified his readi.
ness to obey. and, pale and silent, attired
himself as speedily as possible.
Both The intruders had spoken Danish
but with an accent that betrayed them as
foreigners. The priest could not deter
mine 10 what county they belonged
They left the house, followed by him.
| and in silence passed through the little
village. The night was quite dark, the
moon having already gone down. AS
| they passed out of the hamlet, the old
man observed. with SINE surprise tina,
the church, on all elevation at consdera>
| hIp Jictapco yoc illuminated IL, $3.50.
panions moved on in silence over the fla,
sandy waste. so rapidly, that he could
with great difficulty keep pace with Them.
Before the church they stopped, and bound
handkerchief over his eyes. The side.
door. so we'll known to the priest, opened
creakingly. and he presently became a
ware OF the presence Of number Of OTHER
persons. A confused murmuring of voices
! filled the building; and near him he heard
persons speaking with earres,ness in an
unknown tongue, which, however, he
supposed 10 be Russian. He stood for
| some minutes bewilderel and embarrassed.
! Al length lie felt his hand seized, and was
pulled along with some force; presently
| he heard the people retire, leaving a clear
space round him The bandage was now
taken from his eyes; he recognized his
--,,,uauor,r7, tIItfiseiI sIa!Iu-
ing at the altar. A row Of large wax
| lights. in silver cnndles,icks, stood upon
the altar, and dilrused light throughout
the church. The company had retired
| into the side seats, leaving the middle aisle
entirely empty. A large fat stone in the
| floor had been lifted on, Of its place, and
leaned against one of the pillars. A,
| some distance, in the dubious light, tie
priest thought he could distinguish the fig
ure Of a woman--lhe rest, as far as he
could see. were men.
The profound silence, succeeding the
mingled sound of many voices, was al
most fngh,fuI. 1t continued some mo.
men,s. At length man rose, whose air
and appearance denoted him Of superior
condition. lie came quickly along the
empty aisle, his footsteps echoing through
the church. lie was of middle height.
broad shouldered, and naughty in his car
rage: his complexion was salow and
dark. his hair black and bushy; his fea-
lures were stron ely marked, and the lips
compressed with an expression of pride
and anger. The dark, heavy eyebrows
overhung pair of deep set, flashing,
black eyes. lie wore green coat, trim
med with gold lace and with brilliant
star on the breast.
The bride, who came forward also, was
dressed with care and magnifcence.
blue robe, embroidered with silver, en-
closed her slender form, and fell in rich
folds to her feet. A tiara of jewels gilt
tered upon her fair head. Her figure was
symmetrical and graceful; and beauty Of
the highes, order might be discerned in
the delicate features. altered as they were
by evident suffering. The cheeks were
sunken and deadly pale; there was hardly
trace Of life in the white mo,ionless lips
nor in the open. rigid blue eyes; and
the relaxed arms hung nerveless by her
side. She knelt mechanically at the altar;
but her vacant look showed that some
overpoweripg anguish. or horror. had
crushed her mental faculties, and suspend
ed within her even the full consciousness
of wha. passed.
For the first time, the priest now OBJ
served an old woman with most repul>
sive visage. dressed in ridiculous variety
of colors; her head covered with a red
turban-who stood regarding the kneeling
bride with angry and scornful gestures
A tall man, of powerful frame. had placed
himself behind the bridegroom. looking
before him with an expression full of
gloomy and infexible sternness.
The priest, alarmed at the strange as
pect of what he saw, hesitated to begin
| The ceremony. But fierce look from the