Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-04-13

nuSOanI, lne ph) siSiah VI tho '''"S'
"But the strangest part Of the affair !:
the effect OF this vagary, even on a sober
minded man like myself. The black veil
though it covers only our pastors face.
throws its influence over his whole person
and makes him ghostlike from head tC
foot. DO you teel ii so?'
Truly do l." replied the lady. land
would not be alone with him for the
world. wonder he is not afraid TO be
alone with himself?"
"Men sometimes are So" said hei
husband.
The afternoon service was attended
with similar circumstances. At its con-
clusion, The bell tolled for the funeral ol
q young lady. The relatives and friends
were assembled 10 the house, aud the
more distant acquaintances stood about
the door, speaking OF the good qualities
OF the deceased, when their talk was in
terrupted by the appearance Of MIR.
Hooper, still covered with his black veil.
1t was now an appropriate emblem. The
clergyman stepped into the room where
the corpse was laid, and bent over the
coffin. 10 take last farewell of his de-
ceased parishoner. As he stopped
forward, the veil hung straight down,
from his forehead, so that. ii her eyelids
had not been closed forever. the dead
maiden might have seen his face. Could
Mr. Hooper be fearful ot her glance. that
he so hastily caught back the black veil |!
A person who watched the interview
between the dead and the living scrupled d
not 10 affirm that, al the instant when the
clergyman's features were disclosed. the
corpse had slightly shuddered, rustling
the shroud and muslin cap. though the
retained the composure OF
death. A superstitious old woman was
the only witness of this prodigy. From
the coffin, Mr. Hooper passed into the
chamber of the mourners, and thence to
the head Of the staircase. TO make the
funeral PRAYER. 1t was tender and
heart dlsSolving prayer. full of sorrow,
vet so imbued with celestial hopes that the
music of heavenly harp. swept by The
fingers OF the dead, seemed family 10 be
heard among the saddest accents OF the
minister. The people trembled, though
they but darkly understood him when he
prayed that they, and himself, and oil OF
race. might be ready, as he trusted
this young maiden had been. for the
dreadful hour that shall snatch the veil
from their faces. Tho bearers went
heavily forth. and the mourners followed.
saddening oil the street. with the dead
before them. and Mr.. Hooper 10 his black
veil behind.
why do you look back ?" said one in
the procession TO his partner.
IL had q fancy" replied she that the
and the maiden's spirit were
hand in hand"
And so had I, at the same moment" "
said the other.
That nigh, the handsomest couple in
Milford village were TO be Joined III
wedlock. Though reckoned a melancholy
man. Mr. Hooper had placid cheerful
ness for snch occasions. which often
excited sympathetic smile where livelier
would have been thrown away.
There was no quality OF his disposition
which made him more beloved than this.
The company At the wedding awaited his
arrival with impatience. trusting that the
strange awe which had gathered over
him throughout the day would be dis
pelled. But snch was not the result.
When Mr.. Hooper came. the first thing
that their eyes rested on was the same
horrible black veil. which had added
deeper gloom, to the funeral. and could
portend nothing bu. evil to the wedding
Such WAS its immediate effect on the
guests, that cloud semed TO have rolled
duskily from beneath the black Grape. and
the light of the candles. The
bridal pair stood up before the minister.
hut Tie brides cold fingers quivered n
the ,remulous hand OF the bridegroom,
and her deaih.like paleness caused a
whisper that the maiden who had been
buried few hours before, was come from
her grave 10 be married. If ever another
wedding were so dismal. it was that
famous one where they to:led the wedding
knell. After performing the ceremony,
Mr. Hooper raised a glass OF wine 10 bis
lips. wishing happiness 10 the new
married couple in strain of mild pleas.
antry that ought to have frightened the
features OF the guests, like cheerful
CLEAN from the heart. At that instant,
catching a glimpse of his figure in the
looking. glass, the black veil involved his
own spirit in the horror with which it
overwhelmed all others. His frame
shuddered-his lips grew white-he split
The untasted wine upon the carpet-and
rushed forth into the darkness For the
earth. loo, had on black veil.
The next day, the whole village of Mil.
ford talked of little else than Parson
IIooper's black veil. That, and the mys.
.ery concealed behind it, supplied topic
Tor discussion between acquaintances
meeting in the street, and good women