Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-04-07
Che 5tprp Qfller.
Tar HlsTERIoUs MARRIAGE.
a. Danish Tale
BIZ n. srEFrENs.

sand. Movable sandhilIs. the play Of the
winds constantly shifting their places,
arse snd disappear. to arise again at some
distance. When travelling through the
island. spent an hour here. which inn
pressed me with the idea of loneliness and
dssolatio While slowly rode along
on horseback. storm arose 10 the north
srom the SEA shore The river rose o. the
clouds were driven along in the armament.
the sky grew darker and darker. the sand
began to move in larger and larger m ass,,
under the heels OF my horse. it was whirl-
cd about By the wind aud filled the sir.-
Ihs hcrss sank deep into the loose sand
Sky and earth and sea were mixed I'D with
each ether. and everything was wrapped in
clouds OF dust and sand. so that found
II Utterly impossible to see my way or
to know IN which direction to 90. There
was no trace Of life or vegetatiou-the
storm howlel through the air-thundcr
rolling ata distaace-and the flashes of
lightning could scarcely penetrate the
thick clouds OF dust around me. Ths dan
ger Was apparent. when . sudden violent
rain brought the sand to rest, and rendered
itpossibls for me. wet to the skin, to find
my way to the next little town.
In this dreary neighborhood there was, q
hundred years ago. village at distance
ofabout mile from the sea- shore. The
quickssnds have buried the village; the in.
habitants, most OF whom were sailors or
fishermen. have erected their cottages clo-
ser TO the shore. Only the church, built
on'the top OF hill. is still in the same
place. surrounded by the dreary movable
wilderness. 1t is in this church tha. the
svsattosk place which am going to re.
late.
The venerable old country parson sat in
his lonely room, being absorbed invpious
contemplation. 1t was about midnight
The house was at the end of the village:
Its door was not locked, the patrisrchal
simplicity..of the inhabitants being so grea,
that lock and key were almost unknown
to them. The parsons lamp shone dimly,
while the sullen silence of the beuss was
only disturbed by the rushing of the wsves.
He heard that the door was opezed. and
heard manly steps approaching on the
staircase: he expected. that he should be
summoned to give spiritual comfort to .
dying man b Ifs sgouies. Two unknown
men. wrapped in white cloaks. stepped in.
to the room. One of them said. while ap.
preaching in . civil manner Sir you
must oficiste ct the marriages. Bride and
bridegroom are waiting IN the distan,
church. This sum-" said he, pointing to
. titled purse. "will sufficiently make I'd
for your trouble and for your being start.
led by the unexpected summons" The
old man starsd at the foreigners. whose
appearance seemed to him strange and
fsarful-nay, even ghostlike. The man
repeated his demand in pressing and
commanding manner. After having re.
covered from his establishment, the clergy.
msu began mildly to demonstrate that hii
office did not allow him TO dispense with
the due formalities. or to perform the sa,
cred duty without knowing the bridal
couple. Ihen the second of the strangers
stepped forth IN threatening attitude
SirI-said he lyon can choose. Yor
follow-us, and take the Offend sam Of
money. or you remain: but then you are .
dead-man. He raised pistol 10 hi.
forehead, and waited for the answer. Tb,
old passon grew pale. rose up in fear snt
silence, dressed himself and said: 81 an
seady" The strangers had spoken Dan
ish, bos in such a way that there could b,
no mistake as to their being foreigners.
So-they crossed the village in the silenc
OF dark susunual night. When leaving
1t. the clergyman perceived with horror
that his church was brilliantly lit up
And forth in siience marched his compan
IONS over the lonely sandy plain, while he
absorbed inlhis reflections. with difficult
followed them. When arrived at tn
chureh-door.t they bound up his eyes; b
heard 9 we'll known side-door opening wit
sreaking noise, and was pushed forwar
into a-dense crowd. An around throug
the whole church he heard whisperin
murnur; in his neighborhood, discourse
IN anpnknown language, which he too
for Hqssia- w lille thus standing in utte
perplexity. with closed eyes, aud presse
fromsm side, bis hand was taken hold {
and hgwas<forcibly pulled through tn
crowd AT last thepeopls gave way, th
tie was takeau of. snd he found himse
standing before the altar. 1t was adorne
by long row of wax candles. In msgnif
cent silver cand,esticks; the whole churc
was % we'll lit up by a great many car
dies. that the most distant matters coul
be distinctly recognized, The sulIen S
bsnee-vf the great multitude filled now b
soul with horror, As shortly before hs
done their nurmurs.S Sidewsys and pew
were'escnpied by the crowd, but ths mi,
die passage Rss clear, and the minist,
saw deep beIox. himself fresh, dug gray
The stone. that before had served to GOV,
1t, staod lseaipg against a pew. II
minister san nothine but men. except OF
woms6 whom he could dimlys recosni
m . distant view. : The still ness last,
some minutes. No one stjsreds
Atlsst ANN srsse. whose nagni6ce
garueAts d1einguished him from the res
and manifested his high rsnk. He stepp
resolutely thf6sgh the empty passages,
steps -resouudisg through the churc
while stared at by the. multiiude. T
man vas of fiddle size; broad -shouldere
his gaitproud, his countepsuce Of brow
ish-yeilow color. bis hair. black. bis fe
lures hard md severe. tho lips spiteful
closed y bold 1quilins nose increasing |
commspding appearances; his little 6a