The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-10-09

I VII III ooSS1L tAAoh OAA ~
ers. The priest could not determine to what
country they belonged. They left the house
followed by him, and in silence passed thro'
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 some surprise that the church
on an elevation at a considerable distance,
was Illuminated His companions moved
on in silence over the sandy waste, SO rap
idly that he could with great difficulty keep
pace with them. Before the church they
stopped and bound the handkerchlefover his
eyes. The side door SO well known to the
priest opened creakingly, and he presently be-
came aware of the presence of a numbero OF
other persons. A confused murmuring of
voices filled the building; and near him he
heard persons speaking with great earnest
ness in all unknown tcngue-whlcl, howev-
er, he supposed TO be Russian. Tie stood
for some minutes bewildered and embarras-
ed. At length he felt his hand seized, and
was pulled along with some force; presently
he heard the people retire, leaving a clear
space around. The bandage was now ia
ken from his eyes; he recognized his two
conductors, and found himself standing at
the altar. A row of large wax lights, in sill
yer candlesticks, stood upon the altar. And
difused light throughout the church. The
company had retired to.the side seats, leav-
ingthe middle aisle entirely empty. Alarge
fiat stone in the floor had been lifted out of
its place, and leaned against one of the pill
lars. AT some distance, in the dubious light
the priest thought he could distinguish the
figure Of a woman; the rest, as far as he
could see were men.
The profound silence, succeeded the min
gled sound of many voices, was almost fright
tul. 1t confined some moments. At length a
man rose, whose air and appearance denoted
him of superior condition. He came quick
ly through the empty aisle, his footsteps echo
ing through the church. He was of middle
height, broad shouIdered, and naughty in his
carriage; his complexion was sallow and
dark, his hair black and bushy; his features
strongly marked, and the lips compressed
with an expression of pride and anger. The
dark, heavy eyebrows overhung a pair OF
deep set flashing black eyes. He wore a
green coat, trimmed with gold lace; and with
a gold star upon his breast. The bride, who
came forward, also was dressed with care
and magniicence. A blue robe, enibroider-
ed with silver, enclosed her slender form,
and fell in rich folds at her feet. Il tiara oil
jewels glittered upon her fair head. Her
fgur e was symmetrical and graceful. The
cheeks were sunken, and deadly pale; there
was hardly a trace of life in the white mo-
~tionless 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 over
towering anguish, or horror, had crushed her
mental faculties, and suspended within her
even the full consciousness OF what passed
For the first time the priest now observed
an old woman with a most repulsive 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 BRIDE
groom, looking before him with an express
sion full of gloom and inflexible sternness
The priest, alarmed at the strange aspect
of what he saw, hesitated to begin the cere-
mony. But a fierce look from the bride
groom warned him that by so doing he per-
lied his own safety. Then he was at loss
to know whether his language would be un-
derstood by those present. 1t seemed hard
lily probable; yet he ventured 10 make the
trial; and collecting himself, asked of the
bridegroom his name, and that of the lady.
"Neander-Fredora"-was the reply, in
a harsh tone.
The priest began to read the marriage GER
emory. His voice fallered with emotion,
and he was obliged TO repeat the words, SC
frequent were his errors; but no one seemed
to notice his embarrassment nor testified i'm.
patience. This confined him in the opinion
that the Danish Language must be in a grea
part, if not intirely unknown to them. 1t was
therefore, matter of great surprise, almost a.
mounting TO terror, when he asked the ques-
tlon-"Neander, wilt thou take Fredona to
be thy lawful and welded wile?1-that he
E heard the bridegroom answer II Wills sc
loudly that it resounded through the whole
church. The sound, like a sudden fash o.
lightning, seemed to rise once more to life
the unconscious bride. Her bosom heaveC
with a deep breath, and a convulsive motion
passed across her marble features. The
holy man turned towards her, and speaking
IN a stronger and more deliberate tone, so al
TO nix her attention, asked-"Wilt thou, Ere
dora, lake Neander for thy lawful and wed.
ded husband?' The bride started; a CLEAN
OF sense shot athwart her pallid face, heI
lips moved ~tremuously; light came in he
eyes--her breast heaved again, and she burs
into an agony of tears. Yet amidst her weep
lng--a murmured 81 will" might be heard il
reply, uttered in a tone of such profound an
gulsh, as might have moved the hardest hear
to pity.
Scarcely had she pronounced the words
when the bride sank hackrardS into tn.