Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1845-11-08
"Neander-Feodora" was the reply.


ton and he was often obliged 10 repea,
the words. so frequent were his errors:
but no one seemed to notice his embar-
rassment, MOI. testified impotence. This
confirmed him in the opinion that the
Danish language must be in great part, if
not altogether, unknown 10 them. It was,
therefore. with great surprise, almos. a.
mounting 10 terror, when he asked the
question:" Neander, wilt thou take Feo-
-l--. - !, al s. e..i zr.tI veuueU WIG 2
that he heard the bridegroom answer II
will,' so loudly that it resounded through
the whole church. The sound, like "a
sudden flash of lightning, seemed TO rouse
once more to life the unconscious bride.
Her bosom heaved with a deep breath,
and a convulsive motion passed across her
marble features. The holy man turned
towards her. and speaking in stronger
and more deliberate tone, so far as to fix
her attention, asked twill thou, Feodo-
IA, take Neander for thy lawful and we'd
ded husband! g The bride started;
CLEAN of sense shot athwart her pallid
face; her lips moved TREMENDOUSLY; light
came into her eyes-her breast heaved
again, and she burs. into an agony Of tears
Yet am'ds, her weeping. murmured IL
VIII might be heard in reply, uttered in
tone of such profound anguish as nigh,
have moved the harles. heart to pity.
Scarcely had she pronounced the words,
when the bride sank backwards into the
arms Of the fantas,icalIy dressed old wo.
man. Some minutes Of silence ensued,
at the end of which she resumed her
kneeling posture. with her former aspect
Of insensibiliiy, and the ceremony was fin
ished.
The bridegroom rose, and led his bride
back to her former place; the tall man and
the old woman followed. The conductors
Of The priest now came forw ard, bound bis
eyes again, and led him out of the church,
re-en,ering themselves, and closing the
door after them.
1t was some time before the good father
could recover from his bewilderment, and
assure himself that the strange scene in
which he had been forced TO take part, was
not all dream. But when he had torn
lighted Church, 0 and he ea fda: again HE mur-
muir Of voices, he was convinced that his
senses had not deceived him. Anxious.
if possible, 10 learn something that might
explain the meaning of this singular, and
evidently unhalIowed procedure, he walk
ed round The church to The opposite side,
and concealed himself in nook within
the old wall. Here listening, he heard
the sound of many voices, increasing till
it swelled into ,umull. There was ev>
IDENTIFY strife and fierce dispute. The priest
thong hi he recognized the harsh voice of
the bridegroom. imperiously commanding
silence. At last sho. was heard, then
the faint cry of female voice. There
was again pause; then Il trampling 10
and fro, with confused voices, that con-
linued about quarter of an hour. The
lights were exlinguished, and presently all
came out of the church, and fastened to-
wards the seaside.
The old priest now crept from his hid
ing place, and made haste back to the
hamlet. Here he awakened one or two
of his nearest neighbors, and acquainted
them with the strange event. which had
filled him with so much astonishment and
alarm. So quiet was the ordinary life of
these simple islanders, that they were
seized with quite another sort Of appre-
hension-which was, tina, their beloved
pastor had lost his reason. 1t was with
no little difficulty tina. he could prevail on
them to accompany him to 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 ship under full
sail, not more than league from the land.
and sailing norlhward. So novel and sur
prising sight in this lonely region was
enough 10 excite amazement and suspi-
cion, and full belief was yielded 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 replaced, in the mid.
die aisle, was pointed out. and easily re-
moved again by the aid Of bars. II show
ed an opening into the vault, into which
a dead body had oeen hastily thrust. 1t
was wrapped in rich silken mantle
With almos. frantic eagerness 10 learn the
truth, the priest descended. and. assisted
by the others. lifted the body ont of the
vault. Alas his mos; fearful apprehen-
sions were realized! 1t was the muir.
dered bride! A leaden ball had penetrate
ed her heart. The tiara of jewels had
disappeared from her brow. But the rigid
look of agony, SO intense that it had sus-
pended even the sense Of feeling, was gone
also; heavenly repose had settled on the
marble coun,enance, and the pale lips
were closed with smile of peace.