Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-06-10

which he thrust was fearful 10 him, SO also did
now the awful silence Of this same Ihrong I'll his
terrified soul with horror Although the side
aisles and benches were closely occupied by men
still the middle aisle was perfectly empty, aud the
preacher Jaw here newly opened vault The
stone that hitherto had covered ii was reared up
against chair The preacher saw around him
but men, yet still ia the far distance he thought
he saw woman seated in chair. The profound
stiffness lasted for some minutes without any one
breaking il.
At length a man arose. whose magnificent attire
distinguished him from all the rest, and betrayed
his high rank. He stepped hastily along the empty
aisle whilst the crowd gazed at him, and his foot.
steps echoed through the church. The man was Of
middle height broad shouIdered aud Of firm
build his step was naughty his countenance Of a
dark hue his hair raven black the features strong.
y marked the lips compressed as if with anger
has Of bold aquilInc cut, added TO the lmperi-
business Of his expression, whilst thick and dark
eyebrows overshadowed the small black eyes in
which burned wild rage. He wore a green dress
ornamented with heavy gold buttons, and on his
breast shone a star The bride who knelt beside
him was spleadidly dressed. nay, even with great
care. sky-bue robss richly embroidered with
silver enveoped her slender FORM and fell in large
folds around her graceful limbs A circle of dia-
monds ornamented her fair hair. The utmost grace
and beauty exhibited themselves in her otherwise
dis6zured countenance. The corpse-like checks
saemed pelr6ed not feature moved the lips Of
ashy whiieness appeared dead the eyes expression
less and the powerless arms hung down on each
side Of the dropping body Thus knelt she, an
image OF death, and an Overwhelming sorrow SEEM
ed 10 have locked both life and consciousness in a
stupor
The preacher now for the first time perceived an
! ugly old woman in a whimsical, gsy-coored dress.
whose head was covered with a red turban, and who
looked about grimly and yet jeeringly above the
head OF the kneeling bride Behind the bridegroom
stood man Of gigantic size, and with dark as
pect, who looked straight before him with grave
and immovabe expression
The preacher, paralyzed by horror, remained ST.
lent for some time, till wild glance from the BRIDE
| groom adnonished him to commence the ceremo-
| ny. That which increased his perplexity still more
was the uncertainty to whether the bridal pair
understood his language; he thought ii probable
that they did NOT. He however, collected himself
and made the attempt by inquring from the bride.
| groom his own and the name of his bride: Mean
| der and Feodora," replied he, in stern voice.
The preacher now commenced TO read the mar
rsge formula, whilst bis voice faiered. and he lost
himself so frequently that he was obliged TO repeat
the words yet still neither Of the bridal party ap
peared 10 notice his bewilderment, that his
lecture that they not fully acquainted with The
language became only the more confirmed. When
he asked, therefore, wilt thou, Neander, acknow
edge as thy lawfully welded vile, Fedora, who
kneels here at thy side Z" he doubted whether the
} bridegroom clearly understanding, would reply
but TO his establishment he replied, "Yes." in
fearfully yelling tone which seemed TO ring through
the whole church. Deep signs which proceeded
from the attendant crowd accompanied that horri
J bic Eyes" and silent shudder, like lightning
fash. sgitated the deahy pale features of the bride
He then turned himself around. and as il he woult
awaken the bride from her deahly supor, asked il
: loud voice, "If thou, Fedora, wilt acknowledge
as thy lawfully welded husband Nesnder, VIII
kneels beside thee; !" then she replied by AUDIBLE
Eyes"
With that the almost dead bride seemed 10 arous
herself; deep sorrow agiiated her relaxed lea
lures the pale lips moved, quickly flashing FIR
seemed TO kindle in her glance; her breast heaved
ayioleni food of tears extingushed the Aashin
: light Of her eyes. and the yes" which she utlere
u was like cry Of anguish from the dying. and seem
ed 10 find deep echo in the involuntary tone @
pity which burst from the breast Of the crowd
: The bride sank backward into the arms of the oil
!, woman.
Several minutes passed in fearful silence, an
!. then the preacher saw the corpselike bride knee
:. ing again in deep Inconsistencies, and the cerem'
I, ny was ended The bridegroom arose and led III
i faltering bride TO her former place; the old w
' man and the gigantic man followed
The two men who had brought the preacher hitl
, er again appeared, bound his eyes and pushed hi
: not without difficulty through the crowd. and att
they had put him out Of the door he heard II bolit
n in The inside and he was lelt to himself Here
"a stood for a moment alone and uncertain wheth
4 the awful circumstance, with all its spectrelike d
= tail, might not be all dream. But when he hi
,. torn the bandage from his eyes and the inm
4. mated church before him, and heard the murmurir
Of the crowd within, he was convinced that I'll
n mysterious affair was all reality In order TO asce
q, tain as much as possible Of the AFTER occurrence
- he conceded himself ia corner Of the church, az
/. on the side opposite to that which he entered. az
!, as he here listened, he perceived that the tumt
"a within became every moment more and more Vi
~ lent Il seemed to him that combat took plac
~ and lie seemed to hear the sierra voice OF the brd
r. groom mperionsly commanding silence. A lo
N PAUSE then succeeded, a shot was fired, the cry
4, female voice was heard; again succeeded paus
an then sound as Of men al work with tools VIII
N. occupied almost quarter OF an hour. The ligl
III were ennguished, the tumut again arose, and I
nm whole ihrong poured Of the church and hurri
: rapidly down to the sea.
=, The old preacher now arose aud hHsiened TO
No own village; when he arrived there he awoke
llv neighbors and friends TO tell them, still oyerco
n by horror as he was, of the strange and incred
all events which had happened to him. But his SIM
~ neighbors had seen every thing around 50 periec
ID quiet, and in its ordinary state, that all at OF
A., another horrible idea seized upon them, which
oIe that some unfortunate accident had deranged
bs mind Of their beloved pastor; and It was theref
NJ only with extreme difficulty, and only as q
ov thought 10 indulge his strange whms, that q
ver were induced TO provide themselves with crowd