, 1874-12-13

veil? A. person who watched the interview be-
tween the dead and living Bcruplod not to affirm
that, at the instant when the clergYman's fea-
tnres were disclosed, the corpse had slightly
shuddered, rustlng the ehroud aud muslin CAP,
though the countenance retained the composufe
OF death. superstitious old woman was tho
only witness Of this prodigy. From tho coffin,
hlr. Hooper passed into tho chamber OF the
monrners, and thence to the head Of the stair
case, to make the funeral prayer. It was tende.
and heart -dlsso1ving prayer, full Of sorrow, vet
so lmbued with celestial hopes that the music OF
heavenly harp. swept by the fingers Of the
dead, seemed family to be beard among the sad
dest ACCENTS OF the minister. The people trom-
bled. though they but darkly understood him when
be prayed that they, and himself, and all OF NOR
tai race. might bo ready, as he trusted this
Young maiden had been. for the dreadful hour
that should snatch the vei1 from their faces The
bearers went heavily forth. and tbs mournsra
followed, saddeninR all the street, with the dead
before them. and Mr.. Hooper in his black veil
behind.
"why do you look back ?" said ono in the pro-
oeBeion to his partner.
II had fancy" replied abe, athat the minis-
ter and the 1naidens spirit we're walking hand-in-
hand"
"And so had I, at the game moment" eAid tho
other.
That night the handsorneet couple in Milford
village we're to be Joined in wed!ock. Though
reckoned = melancholy man, Mr. Hooper had a
placid cheerfulneBs for such occasions, which
often excited q sympathetic smile where 1ivclier
merHment would have been thrown away. There
was no quality of his disposition winch made
him more beloved than this. The company at
the wedding awaited his arrival with impatience,
trusting that the strange awe which had gatil-
cred over him throughout the day would now be
dispe'led. But such WAS not tho result. When
Mr. Hooper came, the first thing that their eyes
rested on WIS tho same horrible black veil, which
had added deeper gloom to the funeral, and
could portend nothing but evil to tho wedding.
Such Was it's immediate effect on the guests that
cloud seemed to have rolled duskily from be-
meath tue black Grape. and dimmed the light of
the candles The bridal pair stood up before tho
minister. But the BRIDES cold fingers quirered
10 the tremulous hand of the bridegroom, and
her deathlike paleness caused o whisper that the
maiden who had been buried few hours before
war como from her grave to be married. II ever
another wedding were 30 dismal. it WAS that
famous one where they tolled the wedding-knell.
raised glass Of wine to bis lips, wishing happi-
ness to the new~married couple in strain of
mild pleasantly that ought to have frightened
the features OF tho guests, like cheerful gleam
from the healt. At that instant, catching 3
glimpse OF his figure in the looking-glaas. the
black veil involved his own spirit III the horror
with which it overwhelmed tho others. His
frame shuddereu-his lips grew whitc-he split
the untasted wine upon the carpet-and rushed
forth into the darkncss- For the earth, too, had
on black veil,
The next day tho whole Village Of Milford
talked Of lttlo else than pa1son Hooper's black
veil That, and tie mystery concealed behind it,
supplied topic for discussion between acquaint-
ances meeting in tho street, aud good women
goesiping at their open windows. It WAS the
first item Of that tho tavern-keoper told his
guests. The children baDb1od Of it on their way
to school. One initiative little imp covered his
face With an old black handkerchief, thereby SO
nffrgi,ting his playma.cs that the panic seized
l. L.
own wagGery.
It was remarkable that, Of all the busJbodies
and impertincnt people in tho parish. not one
reutured to put the plain question to Mr. Hooper,
wherefore he did this thing. Hitherto. When
ever thoro appeared the slightest call for such
interference, ho had never lacked advisors, nor
ehown himself ayorse to be guided By their
Judgment. II he erred at all, 1t Was by 30 pain
full degree Of self -istru6t that even tile mi.dest
censure would load him to consider indifrer-
ent action q crimo. Yet, though 60 we'll nc
quainted with this aminble weakness, no indi-
black veil subject OF friendly remonstrance.
There WAS feeling Of Gread, neither plainly con-
fessed nor carefully concealed, which caused each
to shift tho responsibility upon another, till at
length it was found expediont to send deputa-
tiou OF the church, in order to deal with Mr.
Hooper about the mystery, before it should grow
into scandal. Never did any embassy so i'll dis
chargo iss duties. Tho minister received them
with friendly courtesy, but became silent after
thoE we're scared leaTing1 70 MS Vls'toEs tho "hoe
bulden OF introducing their important business.
1he topic, 1t might DO supposed Was oos1ons
enoueh; 1nere was tue placA Feu s"atnea
round Mr.. Hoorers 1orehead, ana conceailnG
every feature above mis- placid mouth on s:hlch:
at times, they could perceive tue glimnerlng OF
3 melancholy smile. But tnas piece OF Grape, 70
thelr Inauguration, soemed 20 hang do"n oefora
MS heart, the Symbol OF q 1eas1nl secret oet"sen
h'm and them. We're the veti put cast 81, as1ae.
they might epeak freely OF It, but NOT I'LL then.
Thus they sat considerable time, speechless,
confused, and ehrlnk'ng uneaslly from MI
them with an invisible glance Finally, the dep
utles returned apassed tc their constituents,
pionouncln5 tne Matte1 soo "e'8nty ~ ~ uan-
died. except BY Council OF tue churches: Il,
indeed, 1t might not require q ueneral nynoa.
But there was Que person IN tno F,!Iage un7
appalled, by the awe WIN "hlca inc n'acK Feu
had impressed ~ beside herself. nhen tie
1eputles returned %'thou1 an e1p!anatlon' OF
,ven Ventu1lns to demand one, she' with the
calm energy OF her character, oeteln'neo 10
chase away tho strange cloud thas appeared TO
be settling round AlF. Hooper eFerY moment
more da1kiy than before. as LIS pugatea VIE,
t should 10 her priFllege TO KNOW "nas tne
black veil concealed. At the mlnlster hrst
7isit, therefore, she entered upon tho subject.
With direct EIG1DllC1ty WHICH n8Q0 the TASK |