Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-12-17

yet the centre aisle was quite empty.
and the pastor perceived opened in it a
newly-made grave. The stone which
had covered 1t was placed leaning against
one of the pews. The pastor saw none
about him but men, but he thought he
could distinguish one female form in
one Of the most distant pews. The still
ness lasted some minutes without any
one attempting to break it, just as in
the human soul a still gloomy brooding
of the thought generally precedes some
deed of crime
At last man rose up whose noble ap-
pearance distinguished him from the
rest of the assem- blage, and betrayed his
high rank. Hestepped quickly through
the empty aisle, while the multitude ST.
lently gazed at him as his steps resound-
ed through the church. This man was
of middle height, aud stoutly built, of a
most proud and naughty carriage, his
complexion was very dark; raven black
hair and high aquiline nose gave
very commanding expression to his
countenance, while long and bushy
eyelashes overshadowed his small black
eyes, which appeared to gleam with
wild passions. He was dressed in
magnificent green suit richly embroid
~
tered star. The bride who knelt near
him was most carefully and even sump-
tuously attired. A dress of sky blue
satin, embroidered with silver, envel-
oped her slender form, and hung in
large folds of drapery over her graceful
limbs. A diadem, blazing with mag
nificent diamonds, adorned her golden
hair. The highest grace and beauty
could be traced in her face, disfigured as
it was by terror. Her bloodlesss feat
ures seemed immovably fixed; her pale
lips appearing death -like-her eyes half
closed-and her powerless arms dropped
helpless on her half-sinkipg body. So
she knelt, picture of death, an indie
scribable fear and paralyzing horror ap-
pearing to freeze both life and conscious
ness into the semblance of deep sleep.
The pastor then for the frat time per-
ceived hateful-looking old woman
dressed in fantastical costume, and her
head covered with red turban, who
grimly and even scornfully regarded the
kneeling pair. Behind the bride groem
man of gigantic stature and dark for
bidding countenance had placed him
self, who, standing there immovable as
a statue, glanced around him in fixed
and earnest manner.
The pastor, paralyzed with fright, re-
manned for some time as if struck dumb,
until a savage glance from the brides
groom woke him from his trance. What
now puzzled him was the uncertainty
whether the bridal pair could under
stand his language This appeared to
him improbable however, composing
himself, he ventured to ask the names
of the bride and bridegroom.
"Neander, Fedora" answered the
latter in rough voice.
The pastor now begins to read the
form of the marriage ceremony, and as
his voice faltereI and he made many
blunders in the reading, which the bri-
dal pair did not seem to remark, his sus-
picion was confirmed that they cd not
understand his Language. But when
he asked: "Neander, wilt thou take
Feolora, now kneeling beside thee, for
thy welded wife?" and he doubted
whether the bridegroom, ignorant of his
language, could answer him, to his great
establishment the latter spoke out,
Yes" in an almost screaming tone,
which resounded through, the church,
Deep sobs bursting out simultaneously
/ from the crowd accompanied this excla
nation, and a visible emotion, transient
AS the distant lightning flash. appeared
to pass over the almost eIno'ionless feat
uras Of the bride. The old man then
turned himself, speaking louder, to the
bride, as if he wished to wake her from
"Wilt thou, Fedora, take that man
kneeling beside thee for thy husband,
and honor him as such: If so, answer
me in the affirmative?" Then the life
less bride appeared to waken up, deep
and awful shudder appeared to move
her pale feature, her bloodless lips
moved. and quick transient fire spark
led in her eyes, her bosom heaved, while
plentiful flood of tears extinguished
the momentary sparkle of her eyes, and
the word "Yes" was heard like the last
word of u dying soul. and appeared to
find an echo in the unrepressed cry OF
sorrow which simultaneously burst
from all present. The bride sank ex
hausted into the arms of the old woman
behind her, and relapsed into her former
state of insensibility, and so the ceremo-
ny ended. The bridegroom rose up and
bore the lifeless form of the bride to her
former place, and the gigantic man fol-
lowed them. The PASTORS first conduc-
tors then appeared again and biindfold-
ed his eyes as before, and led him, not
without come trouble, through the
crowd, and having pushed him rudely
through the side door, they bolted it
on the inside and left him standing alone
in the churchyard.
| Here he remained for some time be-
wildered and confused, uncertain wheth-
er all he had witnessed was not dream.
But when he had torn the bandage off
his eyes, and he saw the church before
him, still lighted up, and heard the
noise of the people within it continue,
he felt convinced of the reality of the
mysterious event he had been an actor
in. In order to observe as much as pos
sible the conclusion of the strange
scene, he concealed himself in corner
of the porch, and anxiOusly listened, az
every moment the noise within became
louder and louder. 1t seemed as If q
warm strife had arisen; he thought he
could distinguish the rough voice of the
bridegroom, who loudly commanded 81.
lence. Then followed long pause
which was succeedad by the piercing
scream of female voice. After thai
another silence, and then a voice of louc
lamentations, which lasted nearly 6
quarter of an hour. The lights were
then suddenly extinguished, the con-
fused noise of the crown was again
heard and the whole multitude came
streaming out of the church and hasten
ed noisily down to the sea- shore.
After little while the pastor crep
out of his hiding place, and hastened t
the village He then awoke his friend
and neighbors, and, still laboring unde
the effect of his fright, related to then
all that had occurred. But so peaceful
still and monotonous was the usua
course of the community, that al
alarm of quite different nature seizet
on them. They believed their respected
pastor had lost his senses, and it was no
without some trouble that he at last per
suaded some of them to accompany hin
with pick. ayes and shovels. and follow
, ed him to the church.
: In the meantime the night had passes
f away and the sun had appeared; and
the pastor and his companions ascende'
the hill oil which the church stood, the.
saw a ship in full sail leave the shor
J and steer in northernly direction :
Such an unusual sightin sucE solltar
| neighborhood made them little 'mor
| inclined to credit the old MANS story
ond IL WAC fnlIv confirmed when the