Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-05-19

again prove its truth.
Two years had passed since the nigh
of the suicide of Henry Cleveland. I
was a beautiful May morning in a littl,
New Jersey village, less than a hundred
miles from New York. The sun shonC
as brightly and the air was as balmy a
though Midsummer had arrived; and sud
denly the village church bell rang forth
a merry peal, while shortly after, a bri
dal procession entered the church. Thi;
was the wedding day of Jenny Gray, the
best and ~lovliest girl in the village, and
many spectators were there to honor the
scene with their presence.
Lovely, indeed, did the fair bride ap
pear, as she leaned upon the arm Of him
by her side and stood before the altar
1t can be hardly said that she distrusted
in the least the dark handsome man with
whom she was about to plight her vows
but ye she surely trembled as the clergy.
man opened his book and commenced the
solemn marriage ritual. The dark bride
groom had won her heart, because it was
past her power Of v%olition to resist him
he had compelled her to love him, by the
influence of a will superior to her own.
and she stood with him before the altar,
knowing as little of his heart, his passion
or his past life, as when she had first be.
held him.
The ceremony commenced. continuing
for a moment in the midst of deep silence
and then these impressive words were
spoken
III any man can show just cause why
these twain should not be lawfully joined
together, let him now speak, or hereafter
forever hold his peace"
There was a hurried trampling of feet
IN the aisle, and a man suddenly appear
ed at the altar. His face was pale, thin,
faad wore half sad,chalf fierce expires
sion, and his manner was wild and atful.
lie was young too,-not as old by several
years, as the bridegroom, who now COW
cred before the fierce gaze Of his luming
eyes. But we need not pause to describe
him--we have seen him before. It was
be who knelt so wildly and despairingly
over the dead body of Henry Cleveland.
in the gambling saloon in New York.
STAY forbid Ills marriage |" he
exclaimed, laying his hand npon the al
tar rail. There is cause why these two
should not be united /"
And who are you STRIP the aston shed
clergyman asked.
the intruder fixed his burning eyes
upon the shrinking bridegroom, and re
Piled, in a clear, musical voice
Il am one whom this assembling vii
lain well knows and if l mistake not
there are others present who will also
recognize me-"
As the speaker paused, Jenny Gray
(who had at the first interruption, in
stlnctively shrunk away from him to
whom she was about pledging her irreyo
cable vows) started forward a step, with
the surprised and half joyful words:
Jasper Cleveland"
you are right" he said " / am Jas.
per Cleveland the brother of that Henry
Cleveland, to whom you were once be
trothed, and who was driven to fill a su-
icide's grave by the black villainy Of his
traitorous friend-Edgar Monroel |"
"How-explain your words" the shud'
dering maiden whispered.
Il will, and gladly. You know that
Henry Cleveland died the death of sin in
the great city but you have never known
that yonder bafled Observation-Disclosures
Heaven that l had it in my power to save
you from his clutches !-you never knew
| say, that he betrayed and tempted the
noble soul who trusted in him, to his
death. But this is the simple truth he
whom you were about to wed is a mur
deres-as guilty in the sight of God, as
though the blood of Henry Cleveland, at
this moment, crimsoned his hands |"
at is falsel !" the bafled gamester his
sed through his set teeth. "Jiar-im
poster, whoever you are, begone, and de-
law this ceremony no longer !"
There was an ominous flush upon the
brow. and a dangerous light in the eye
Of Jasper Cleveland, ashe turned toward
Monroe. He was but human, and ii, in
the deep excitement of the moment, he
forgot the sacred character of the place,
we can we'll pardon him. He forgot eve
rything, in fact except that the murderer
of a Lowell brother was before him /; his
muscles swelled with the strength OF a
giant; and seizing Edgar Monroe in his
iron grasp, he hurled him, stunned ano
senseless to the earth.
Il have thought, at times, when my
brain was almost crazed, that L would xii
him, and make him atone for his crimes
with his life. But, not were better te
leave him to the vengeance of Heaven I
There was no exhibition of unwomanly
feeling upon the part of Jenny Gray q
the conclusion of this extraordinary scene
She realized, shudderingly, the full ex
tent Of the wretchedness from which sh,
had escaped, and turning without a sig
from the PROSTATE form Of Monroe, sh
took the arm Of her friend and preseryer
and left the church.
One brief addition, and this brief lif
record is complete. just n year aftel
ward, there was a happy bridal celebr'
ted in this same village and as befor