The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-23

".Helen, ~ he went OH, stthere he's been
one Inequality between us always. You
have, where you choose, can iron witk 1 I
am naturaliy Meak, easily persuaded.
HoH have made up, your mind tol break
your word to me, and to marry this earl.
You will do it, But for once 1 am as
resolute as you, Here in this very place
where three years agoGyou promised
solemhiy, in'the sightIof Heaven, to be
my wife-here, where you have over and
over again repeated your promise, tell
you 1 never will release you from. it.
Go, marry whom you will--get all, the
good you can from the bargain; but,
married or single, rich or poor, living or
dying, you are mineT' L,...r|7
He had raised his hand with threat
ening gesture. His words sounded like
q, curse, for all her steady nerves, she
shuddered. -. ...~f ,3
"Philipl hear reason-let me speak !"
she cried. - - ssSssssa.
"No more; HI have been blind, it
has beer. Yilfully. Now Isee: But you
are bound, now and forever, in lifa and
in death. ~, 'l,' r.
He broke from her, and rushing away,
through the window, past the white
nymphs, was lost instantly in the dark
ness. T. =
The1ittle church at Gaysborough stood
within the park, It was older than the
present. hali-smali, quaint, ana very
peaceful in its aspect. The hall had seen
many changes-had had it's days of splen-
dot and of utter ruin-of renewal and of
gradual decay, following the varying for
tunes of its lords; but the church,
through its centuries of existence, had
lost little and gained much. It had been
draped with black for many funeral; it
had been decked with flowers for many
bridal; hidden away in its old registers
lay the chronicle of each generation from
Sir Hugh Gaysborough, in the time of
Henry VIII, to Edward, last of the race,
who had been obliged to marry rich
woman lest the soanty remains of his
fathers lands should slip from him even
while he lived. And to-day there was
to be another wedding from the hall.
The morning had been fair and lovely
village children were out early gath err
ing flowers and weaving garlands, &C.
cording to their custom, to strew the
brides path; but at 10 o'clock all was
changed. A heavy black cloud rose up
from the horizon, and passed before the
sun; strong, fierce wind seemed to fol-
low;it, and, ,shrieking around the church,
swept the flowers from the path, and
tore down the arch above the gateway.
1t fell with crash upon the roof of the
carriage, which that moment passed, car
'rying Helen Fortescue to her marriage.
The startled horses plunged, and could
hardly be drawn up at the church door;
but the bride stepped out, calm as ever,
though her face was deadly pale, and its
delicate lines drawn into unnatural hard
a. II . fAzl,1 4
man, followed her trembling, and as
they passed into the aislei the storm
hurst. Sheets of rain fell like deluRe,
vivid flashes of lightning shone, and
quick terrific peals Of thunder ratified
over the building. The party gathered
around the altar, but there was q minutes
pause while the clergyman waited for a
lull In the storm before he commenced
the service.
The lnll came-heagy. death like, omi-
nous. The darkness seemed to increase,
but through the silence the clergyman
voice was heard, low and unsteady at
first, but rising fuller and clearer each
moment, till he came to the words, eff
any man can show just cause why they
may not lawfully be Joined together, let
him speak, or else hereafter forever hold
his peace" go
Then at that instant peal of thunder,
louder than before. shook the building;
crash after crash it came, and in tho
midst of it q voice cried. ''There is
cause, Before God, forbid this mar
riege." But the thunder and the ~oice
ceased, and the speaker was invisible.
The frighted guests looked at each other,
and then into the dim corners and re-
cesses of the church, but there was no
one but Themselves, and the old sexton
covering and trembling behind n monu-
ment. The bride caught at the altar rail,
but neither cried ont nor tainted; the
bridegroom glanced round haughtily,
hiding his dismay under show of pride.
The vicar, stepping back, called aloud
for the unknown to come forward, but
none answered. A second and third
time he called, but in vain. Then they
began to say that it must have been
fancy-that the thunder had sounded
like voice-and that the marriage
should 60 on.
So it went on. II require and charge
you both, as you will answer at the
dreadful day of judgment, when the Sc
crets of oil hearts shall be disclosed. that
&c a. 80