Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-10-16

She knelt mechanically at the altar; but her va
cant look showed that some oyerpowering anguish
horror had crushed her mental faculties aud sus-
pended with her the full consciousness Of what
was passing.
For the first time the priest now observed an old
woman with mos, repulsive visage, dressed in
ridiculous variety Of coors her head covered with
a red turban-who stood regarding the kneeling
bride with angry aud scornful gestures A tall
man, OF powerful Frame had placed himself behind
the bridegroom, wearing expression Of gloomy
and inhexible sternness
The priest, alarmed at the strange aspect Of what
he saw, hesitated TO begin the ceremony. But
fierce look from the bridegroom warned him that
by so doing he pered his own safety Then he
was at loss to know il his language would be I'M
derstood by those present. Il seemed hardly prob
able yet he ventured to make the trial, and col
lee!ng himself asked of the brideDronm his name
'Neander-Feodora, was the reply in aharsh tone
The priest began to read the marriage ceremony.
HIS voice laltered with emotion, and he was often
obliged TO repeat the words, so frequent were his
errors; but no one seemed TO notice his embaTass-
ment, or testified impotence This confirmed him
in the opinion that the Danish language must be in
great part. il not altogether unknown to them. II
was therefore with great surprise, almost amount
ing to terror, when he asked the question: Mean
der, wilt thou take Fedora to be thy lawful and
welded wifef--that he heard the bridegroom an
swer, will, and loudly that it resounded thro'
the whole church. The sound, like sudden clap
OF thunder, seemed TO arouse once more 10 life the
unconscious bride. Her bosom heayed forth deep
BREATH and a convulsve motion fitted across her
marble features. The holy man turned towards
her, and speaking in stronger aud more deliber-
ate tone, so as 10 fix her attention, asked Wilt
thou, Fedora, take Neander for thy lawful and
welded husbandr The bride started; CLEAN Of
shot athwart her pallid face; her lips moved
TREMENDOUSLY; light came in her eyes; her breast
heayed again, and she burst into agony Of tears.
Yet amidst her weeping. murmured / will might
be heard in reply, uttered in a tone of such pro-
found anguish would have moved the hardest
heart TO pity.
Scarcely had she pronounced the words, when
the bride sank backwards into the arms Of the fan
tastically dressed old woman. Some minutes of
silence ensued, at the end Of which she resumed
her kneeling posture, with her former aspect Of in
sensibi,ity, and the ceremony was finished The
bridegroom rose aud led his bride back to her for
mer place; the tall man aud the old lady followed
The conductors Of the priest came forward
bound his eyes again, and led him out Of the
church, re-entering themselves at the door which
they closed after him.
1t some time before the good father could
recover from his bewderment, assure himself that
the strange scene in which he had been forced TO
take part, was not all dream. But when he had
torn the bandage from his eyes, and the lighted
church, and heard again the murmur Of voices, he
was convinced that his senses had not deceived
him. Anxious, if possible, to learn something that
DENLY nnb,lo,yed nrooednre he Wall ed round he
church 10 The onnos;,e side and concealed himself
in n nook within the old wall Here Gs,en;ng be
heard the sound Of many voices, increasing until it
swelled into tumult There was evidently strife,
and fierce dispute. The priest thought he recog-
ousIv command;,c silence A, I,s3 i. sbon, us.
besrd ,han Tie an, 49,. ~ ca.,aIs - Th.sa
was again \ nance ,hsn ,,,nnI;nr 40 and f,o
with confnsed Voices iha, continued anon, \ mar
Ter Of an hour the lights were e,,;ncn;shed and
presently an came out Of the church. and fastened
together towards the seaside.
THE old nr;est NOW crent from his hiding nIace
and made haste hack 10 the hamlet- Here he ava.
kened one or two of his nearest nerhbors. and ac-
ouainted them with The strange event. which had
filed him with an mncb as,onisbment and alarm
So ouie, was the ordinary life of these s;mnIe ia.
anders that thew were seized with onite ano,her
sort of apprebension-w was ,ha, their beloved
pastor had lost his reason. II was with no little
difficulty tbat he eoud nreva;l on them 10 accom-
pany him 10 the church.
Meanwhile the day had dawned; the sun rose
from the ocean; and as the good father and his
companions assembled the elevation on which the
church Stood they plainly distinguished a ship un-
der full sail, not more than league from the land
aud heading northward So novel and surprising
sight in this lonely region was enough TO excite
engagement and suspicion; and full belief was Yield
ed to the narration of their pastor when they saw
the side door Of the church broken from its hinges
The stone which had been loosened and hastily re-
placed in the middle aisle was pointed out, and
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