The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-12-08
Touching Incident-The Death Bridal

1OuchlnB AuCluouL-1n6 u0aLn bf1QaI
"Hore was tho scone Of she doa,b bridal
said Herman, as they passed little, seolu.
ded church yard, high among the mount.
aims.
"What was ,ba,7" inquired bis companion
whose attention was instantly aroused By
anything that promised legend.
Rather curious story" returned fIer.
man; "a sort Of revival of some middle. aged
superstition, boliovc, which took place no.
many .yoars ago I hoard of il from my
nurse Marguerite, who knew all the parties
Suppose, instead of proceeding to the town,
wo stay tonight at her chalet; Il is very lit
tie out OF our way, and there 10 a glorious
view thonoc, which will repay u.s."
Tho logond Ia an ample temptation" an
swered Vernon; and ere long thoy wero en-.
joying tho welcome and cordial hospitality
Of tho old peasant.
supper being ended, tho young mon wen,
out In front Of tho cottage, and watched With
tho enjoyment Of artis.s, the splendid effeo,
OF the sunset on tho extensive view before
thom. Tho rose tints faded slowly up the
snowy mountain summ,ts, and the moot, al.
ready high In tho heavens, blended q cold,
blue iustro, with the warmer tints still lin.
gering In tho west
Marguerite, having finished her house
hold labors came TO the door With her knit.
ting; but it was not until the last gloam of
sunset had faded from the eky thai Norman
said: ..
Marguerite, will you tell us about the
death bridalT
Poor Aline!" said she, sighne, 'she was
30 young and 30 fair; 30 had been friends
from the timo wo could walk or speak.---
Claud WAS her cousin; but no one knew how
wcll he loved hor, until che was gone, al
though ho had always been fond of her; bui
sho was the favorite Of tho whole parish.
When Alino was about sixteen, she vent to
spend o year With some relations In Geneva.
"Claud had never told her that he loved
her. He was poor, and many years would
pass before bo could win her. Then they
woro both 30 young, aud perhapss 10 feared
TO try his fate. Ialways think he felt thai
ho was not long for this world, and ho would
not sadden hor life by any grief that be
could spare her; or perhaps mother Agns &C
was right. But sbo was eone and be had
not spoken. r- .r.
Before the winter was gone, be died.
Whom be was dead, they found on bis hoart
a little case like those which people carry
charms in; but il contained lock OF Alne' q
hnir and flower che had given him the day
she went away. We did not remove 10, but
laid 10 10 the grave With him.
"In the summer Aline came home. All,
I shall never forget how lovely abe looked
that day. The joy of her return, and our
ghdness at seeing her again. had given such
life and bloom to her sweet face. We talked
of one and another of our friends in the
mountains, and of oil she had seen and done
while away but che never mentioned Claude.
At las. tho evening began 10 fall; she grew
restless; some Of her friends came In, and
among them CIaude's sistor. Aline kissed
her. "Couid not Claude como with you,af-
tor ell these monshs:" said she.
Louise started and was silent, but one Of
the others said:
Did you not know that poor Claude i.
dead:" 0.' .. 4a
My Aline! she uttered but one cry, &C
long and bister that Is soemed ber life must
60 with II, and sbe fell as If dead.
II was long before We could bring her TO
herself. and through oil that night she nov
or spoke one word; but one fsintirg fol-
lowod another until morning-theu she
seemed to revive q little, but 90 wan, she
looked nero wreck of what she had been
but yesterday; and in her oyes shone 0
strange sort Of glttor. like sunlight reflect
ing from ice, 80 cold and bright. Al last
she spoke .. .r. o.-f.
"Margueritte," she said. taking both my
hands, II saw Claude yesterday; do not s,nr.
-he told mo he would have death bridal,
and then they can never part us more"
"No ono parted you, DEAR" said l.
"Abl they did-they did," she answered;
"they knew how happy We would bo, and
they envied u.s." ....
She looked cautiously at me for mo.
mens, and shook her head without speak.
ing. i ..... .. ..7.
"Sbe says what Is true" said Motbor Ag-
paco, who had come to help Us nurse hor.
"There arc malignant spirits who always
try to sunder true hearts; if they take the
life OF one they watch the other; aud that
other must marry the dead in bis gravo, or
the spirits will cast spell upon thou, and
tbey can never meet after doatb."
Marguerite" sold poor Aline. "you must
60 to tho priest and bring him. must be
married now, as soon as my wedding dreas
is made"
Il went to Father Bernard. for she would
not be satisfied. Ho said her brain was
turned by the shock, and she must be
sootbed and reasoned out of such strange
fancy. He came to SEQ her, and, after he
had made her understand that he weuld
have her give up the idea, she began to
plead for her purpose 30 toucbipgly that at
last he gave way.
,"Poor SOUL" said he. as be went out, with
tho tears standing in bis eyes, "it's no harm
and may give her rest" ..r
30 We arranged things for tho ceremony.
l dressed my poor friend for her strange
marriage, all in white, with long veil, and
the bridal Drown of myrtle and white roses
on her head. She told Father Bernard what
she would have him do, with Q quiet compo-
sure Strapeelv belied bv her restless, glitter