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

trembling before him.
And do YOU feel it. then; at last I?
said he mouiniully.
She made no reply. but covered her
eyes with her hand. and turned TO leave
the room. lie rushed forward and
caught her arr.
"llave patience with me, Elizabeth "
cried he passionaiely. "Do not desert
me, though This veil must be betwee us
here on earth BE mine. and hereafter
there shall be no veil over my face-no
darkness between our souls Ii is but a
mortal veil--it is not for eternity Oh F!
you know not how lonely am, and how
| frightend, 10 be alone behind my black
yeil--it is not for eternity DO not
leave me by this miserable obscurity
forever"
"Lilt The veil but once, and look Inc in
the face" said she.
Never. it canno, be, replied Mr
Hooper.
Then, farewell !" said Elizabeth.
"She Withdrew her arm from his grasp
and slowly departed, pausing at the
door TO give one long, shuddering gaze,
that seemed almost to penetrate the
mystery OF the black veil. But, even
amid his grief, MIR. Hooper smiled 10
think that only a material emblem had
separated him from happiness. though
the horrors which il shadowed forth
must be drawn darkly between the fond.
est of lovers.
From that time no attempts were
made TO remove Mr.. Hooper black veil.
only direct appeal to discover the secret
which it was supposed to hide
BY persons who claimed superiority 10
popular prejudice. it was reckoned an
eccentric whim, such as often mingles
with the sober actions OF men otherwise
rational. and tinges them all with its
own insanity. But with the multitude
good Mr.. Hooper was irreparably a
bug bear He could not walk the street
with any peace OF mind, 50 conscious
was he that the gentle and timiJ would
turn aside to avoid him, and that others
would make it u point OF hardihood TO
throw themselves in his way. The in
perinence of The latter class compelled
him to give Up The customary walk Al sun
sci 10 the burial ground for when he leaL-
ed pensiyely over the gate, there woa.d
always be faces behind the grave stones
peeping at his Ilack veil. A fable went
the rounds that the stare Of the dead
people drove him hence. 1t grieyed
him to The very depth OF his kind heart
to observe how the children fled from his
approach breaking up their merriest sport
while his melancholy figure was yet afar
of. Their instructive dread caused him
10 feel more strongly than ought else
that a preternatural horror was inter.
woven with the threads oil the black
Grape. In truth, his own antipathy to
the veil was known 10 be so great that
be never willingly passed before mir
ror, nor stopped 10 drink at still ioun'
tain. lest in its peaceful bosom he should
be afirighted by himself. This was what
gave plausibiily to the whispers that
Mr. Hoopels conscience tor tuIed him for
some great crime too horrible to be en-.
tirely concealed, or otherwise than so
obscurely intimated. Thus from beneath
the black veil, there rolled cloud into
the sunshine, an ambiguity Of sin or sor.
row. which enyeloped the poor minister.
so that love or sympathy could never
reach him. II was said that ghost and
iend consorted with him there. With
self.shudderings and outward terrors, he
walked continually 10 its shadow, crop.
ing darkly within his own soul, or gazing
through 4 medium that saddened the
whole world. Even the wess wind. it
vas believed. respected this dreadful Sc
cret, and never blew aside the veil. But
still good Mr.. Hooper sadly smiled ct
the pale visages OF the worldly throng
as they passed by.
Among all its bad influences. the black
veil had the one desirable effect oil max.
ing its weaier very efficient clergyman.
By the aid of his mysterious emblem
for there was no other apparent cause
he became q man of awful power over
souls that were in agony for sin. His
converts always regarded him with
dread peculiar 10 themselves, affirming.
thongh but ligura,ively. that. before be
brought them to celestial light they had
been with him behind the black veil.
Its gloom, indeed. enabled him TO sympa.
thize with all dark affections. Dying sin
ners cried aloud for Mr.. Hooper, and
would not yield their breath Till he ap.
peared-though ever. rs he stopped TO
whisper consolation. they shuddered at
the yelled face $50 near their own.
Such were The terrors OF the black veil,
even when death had barred his visage!
Strangers came long distances to attend
service at his church, with the mere idle
purpose of gazing at his figure, because
il was forbidden them to behold his face.
But many were made to quake ere they
departed Once, during Gov. Belcher's
administration, Mr. Hooper Unsupported