Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-06-10
The Mysterious Wedding.
ny 2. BuLwER LUTON

ed by narrow, desoate, sandy neck Of land to a
peninsula, which is beautiful. fertile, and covered
with villages forming within themselves one parish.
Beyond the only little city Of the peninsula, how
ever the country extends on 10 the stormy Caiegat
IL is region Of fearfully desolate and wild char
acter. Quicksands have prevented every trace Of
vegetation. and moving sand heaps, the sport OF
storms which unrestranedly blow over the land
from the rude sea, perpetually change their posi-
ton, are heaped up, blown away, and then again
collected 10 another place. ! spent an hour, not
without danger, in travelling through this region
which efi behind in my mind an image Of the Wild
est desolalon. Whilst was riding solitary through
this dreary, sandy district there arose from the sea-
norihward, a tempest with lightning. The waves
heaved themselves with troubled motion; the
wild stormy clouds careered along the sky the
heavens became darker and more threaining every
moment; the sand began 10 move in vaser masses
under the feet OF my horse, and at length even
whired into the air. Il was impossible to discover
the path; the horse sank deeper and deeper IN the
loose sand heaven earth aud sea informing led,
and every object was concealed in a cloud Of dust
and sand. There not trace Of life yege-
tation; the storm whistled through the air; the
raging pillows dashed the shore the thunder rolled
in the distance and. scarcely able to penetrate the
cloud Of dust. flashed the troubled, dark red light
ning The danger instantaneous when all al
once, sudden, violent fall Of rain brought the
whirling sand into state Of repose, and allowed
me- entirely wet through, 10 find my way to the lit
lie town.
II had been fearful commingling Of the elements
As the earthquake is groan from the deep bosom
Of nature, SO did this chaos present image Of
wildly tempested character; all hope destroyed ;
every Joy shattered; the ruins Of the past conceal
ing cruel rage and sorrow; restless passions hidden
beneath desolstion the voice OF conscience threat
ening thunder.like ir the distance. and consuming
FIRE flashing darkly through the troubled soul. until
the so long sealed up fountain Of tears vehemenlly
burst FORTH and the melancholy Of the lacerated
soul is buried in their waters.
In this desoate region there stood in former time,
village, called Rorwig at about the distance OF a
mile from the sea- The quicksands, however, I'M
dermined the village, and the inhabitants, mostly
fishermen. have now settled themselves farther from
the shore. The church alone remains on firm
ground. having been built upon rocky height, and
now stands solitary, surrounded BY the mournfuI.
, movable desert. This church is the scene Of the
following mysterious relation.
y During the first half Of the last century, there
sat one night in his solitary chamber, the venerable
A old preacher Of the place, sunk in deep meditation.
The hour approached midnight. The house in
habed by this good man lay at the end Of the vii
lage, and such were the simple manners Of the in
}, haban,s and so little they troubled by mutu.
al suspicion, that bolts and bars were unknown 10
them, and every door was unsecured excepting the
s;,,nia C..,annr &c l.,.h III. n;rh,. lam, h,,,
d al d;u,v re soamn s;lsn.s ,.ss aels h,at an 4,
tho ,nsb;nr n he sea .nd he n.e rooon ;r,o,e5
d ;,"sls - re 800. H., ,f,,s,, NJ H.. no.
- heard TO open the old pastor heard the sound Of
. aa;nsd !, - ~ s,n,,ons cr H., -, ,hs dssS No.
!. Of some peasant neighbor who needed ghostly con
ISOLATION at his hand
,hs ,ooo, :. r.n,,s5 n nah'.olo,sd 49,. nns =
"a ,hs,, ad..n.ad oo,;,a,. s .oas,ds ~,
"S;r - All he "So' mus, ;mmsd;.,slv .ecoro,
n ,vn Won mus, celsbra,e a msr,;age. The br;dn
n.;r ave Arcade ,ss;,;nn for vo, p ,bs d;s,,n
rhn,sh Th;s - ~ So. ;, la he sh,v;a,, :,
90 re IA r,, f,ll ~ IA .s. sn;e;sn,l, 20
n ,na.. 49,, e. , ,,,.s,,Ia "a a. ,lo ,.,,,, =
80 ,,,s. 80 a. sao,.,o,sn
Tn. r,J ..s,d s;lae,,v .od ho,.;6ad :, ,h
o. s,,.ara s,a' ,sh;.I .sen,sd 20 h;, -, h.vs sons
y ,h;na Vs 80. srss,ra'i;S. i ,hs,, an,o,,sncs
III Tn s,.n,a, rsnss,sJ H. Grand n,sssnalv an
he he.oech;nris
be Whsn ~ ,ld ma, had some,yh,, collec,ed him
!" self he began mildly 10 remons,ra,e and 10 repre
con, 70 ,ha s,r.ncey tb., he n;ee d;d M, rer,n
him ~ nsrform snch Solemn rites wi,bon, Know
edge 81 he nar,ies or yi,hou, those preparstor
:. eo,n,.I;,;ss ,,hch ,he la,y racn,ss
IL, With Ia, The other STRANGER slammed forwart
"Sirp said he in an imperative tome 'syou bav
-. .h.;,.. e,tlo,,, ~. ~ xo..,a 10 f,na,aa =.
your cno'ee' ono" us a"u 'ese'e '"e o"S's' y
Of nsss ,hro,rh vn,, be,d - and with these words
lily rsv r,s,h ns,ol yh;ch he heId 10 he forebea'
2 and ,h,s ,ya;,rd for III ansver
an rhs old m,eachsr ,nrned male. and ,v;,bout "a,
ies ,yo,d rose nm n terror dressed himself a.,
= a,is .nd ,bsn aid 81 am ,eadvn
'e r 1880. ~ sno.an 4, ,hs n.n;.