The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-07-01

and their attendants, also arrived. To
dresses of the congregated thousands wer
gorgeous as summer flowers, and varlegater
as gorgeous. The people looked wit
wonier on the glittering threng. Th
trees had lost the hues oI their fresh an,
living green-for brown October threw it
deep shadows Ger the landscape tn
leaves yet trembled on the boughs fron
which they we're loatb to part and, as
rainbow that had died upon the trees, an
left its hues and impressions there, th
embrowning forest appeared.
The marriage cermOny was performed il
the Abbey, before Morel, the Lord Abbot
and glad assembled thousands. The towi
and the surrounding hills became scene O
JOY. The bale-fires blazed from every bill
music echoed in the streets and from ev-
cry house, while the light OF tapers gleam
ed, was heard the sounds OF dance and song
The Scottish maiden and the French cour-
tier dane d by the side Of the Jed together
But chief of all the festive scene was an as
sembiy in the hall Of the royal castle. A
the farther end of the apartment, elevated
on pnrpled covered dsis, sat King Alex
ander, with the hand Of bis bridal queer
locked in his. On each side were ranged
promiscuously, the Scottish and the French
nobility, with their wives, daughters and
sisters. Music lent its influence to the
scene, and the strains of hundred instru.
mentS blended in a swell Of melody.
Thrice hundred tapers burned suspend
cd from the roof, and on each side of the
hsll stood twenty men with branches of
Dlazng pine. Now came tie morris dance
with the antique dress and strange attitude
OF the performers, which was succeeded bv
a dance Of warriors in their coats Of mail
and with their swords drawn. After these
a masque, prepared by Thomas the Rymer.
who sat on the right hand Of the King. fol-
lowed and the company laughed wept.
and wondered, as the actors performed
their parts before them.
But now came the royal dance the mn
SIC burst into bOlder strain, and lord and
lady rose, treading the strange measure
down the hail, after the King and bis tair
Queen. Louder, and yet more loud the
music peeled and though it was midnight
the multitude without shouted az ia emil
veniDg strains. Blithely the dance went
on, aud the King well nigh forgot the
measure as be looked enraptured in the fair
face Of bis beauteOus bride.
lie turned to take ber hand in the dance
and IN Its stead the bony fingers Of a skel-
eton were extended to him. He sbrank
back aghast for royalty shuddereth at the
sight of death as doth beggar, and in IFS
presence, feeleth bis power to be as the
power Of blm who vainly comman led the
waves OF the sea to 20 back. Still the
skeleton kept true measure before him
sllIl i extended TO him its bony hand. lie
tell back IN horror against pillar where
torch bearer stood. The lovely queen
shreked aloud, and fell as dead upon the
ground. The music eeased-silence fell
on The multitude-tbev stood stiIl-tbey
gazed 90 each other Di,may caused tue
cold damp Of terror to burst from every
brow, and timid majdens sought refuge and
bud their faces on the bosom Of strangers
But still visible to all, the spectre stood
before the king, its bare ribs rattling as it
moved, and lts finger pointed towards him.
The music, the dancers became noseless,
as II death had whispered be
still !. For the figure Of death stood in
the midst Of them, as though it mocked
them, and no sound was heard save the
rafting OF tue bones, the moving Of its tee b
and the motion Of It's fingers before the
kin.
The lord abbot gathered courage. he
raised his crucifix fpcm VIZ breast Be was
ahout to exercise the strange spectre. when
n bent il grim head before him. and van
lshed as II came-no man knew wht%er.
''Let The reveIs eea-e y gaspcd the tpr-
~ Tor stricken king and they did cease.
The day had begun in joy, it was ended
IN terror Fear spread over the land. and
while the strange tale Of the marriage spec
ire wa yet in the mouth Of all men,
before SIX months had passed. the tidi
spread that the good King Alexander. At
whom the figure Of death bad pointed its
hnger, was with the deaf, and his Young
queen widow in a strange lard
The appearance Of the spectre became
tale Of wonder amongst all men descend
ing from generation TO generation, and an
to this day It remains mystery. Rut, on
the day after the royal festival at Jedburgh,
Patrick Douglas, the learned soldier, took
the vows, and became monastic brother
at Merose ; and though he spoke of Jo
lande in bis dreams, be smiled as if in
secret triumph, when the spc ctre that
bad appeared to King Alexander was men
toned IN biz hearing.