Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-07-17
THE MYSTERIOUS MARRIAGE.
F., Strange Story of the Eighteenth Gen.
fury.

tuI
One night in the early part of the
eighteenth century the old and respect
pastor of the village of Norwig, in
Jew Zealand, sat In his solitary cham
er, lost In devotional meditation. The
our was near midnight. His house
7as situated at the furthest ex-
remity of the village, and the simple
Inhabitants knew SO little Of mistrust or
ishonesty that bolts and locks were
lie strangers to them, and every door
emained either opened or without fast
ming.
The pastors lamp burned dim, the
solemn stiffness of the hour was only
Interrupted by the murmuring of the
waves, and the pale mconbeams were
effected on the surface Of the ocean,
when he suddenly heard his house
ioor open, and heavy steps ascend the
stairs, and he naturally expected call
o the sick bed OF some of his parish
oners to afford the last spiritual con-
solutions, when two strange men en-
erred his apartments, their faces con-
,ealed in large white cloaks. One ofthem
advanced and said to him very courte-
)usly:
"Reverend sir, be good enough to
ollow us Immediately. We want you
perform marriage ceremony, and
he bridal pair already await you in the
.hurch. This sum-" continued he,
aking a purse from his breast, "will re-
ward you for your trouble, and for
disturbing you at this unreasonable
our.
Silent and frightened the old man re.
arded his visitors, who seemed to him
have something strange and even
heartily IN their appearance. The
ranger repeated his invitation in a
,mmanding and threatening tone.
hen the old man had recovered him
If little, he began III mild manner
demonstrate. and told him that his
cred office did not allow him to per-
I'm the solemn ceremony of mar
.ge without knowledge of the indi-
luals themselves. and complying with
ch other formalities as the law di-
;ted.
Reverend SIR" said the other man,
piping forward in a threatening man
r." you have the choice to follow us
j, or remain here with pistOl-bul-
pistol to the old mans head, and
tied his answer.
The old rastor grew pale, rose up ST.
t and trembling, and hastily clothing
nself in his robes. said II am ready,
ltlemen."
The strangers had spoken in Danish,
with such foreign accent as could
be mistaken. The mysterious men
ut silently through the village, bur
as it was in slumber, and the pastor
owed them. 1t was dark night in
umn When they approached the
lrch the bewildered old man, with
and astonishment, saw it brilliant
lighted up, and his companions has
ed across the low sand flats which
ervened between it and the village,
concealed in their white nlantles,
lie, with his limbs palsied with age
fright, he with difficulty strove to
20 up with them. When they reach
the church they blindfolded his eyes,
. Ito the PASTOR wel[known side
IL opened at their approach, grating
It's hinges. and he found himself
n thrust forward into the church,
ich appeared filled with a great null
de. Ali around him he heard q
ttering and sound of many voices in
1ngue unknown to him, but which
supposed to be Russian And as he
Cd amid the multitude with blind
led eyes, puzzled, and not knowing
1t was about to happen, he felt his
seized, and was pulled with con-
rable violence through the crowd.
asst, as we'll as he could judge, the
ing was thrust aside They loosed
bandage from his eyes, and he
,gnized by his side one of his former
panions, and found himself stand
before the altar, which was lit up by
W of wax lights, burning in splendid
or candle sticks, and the church
if was so completely Illuminated
the most distant object could be
My discerned; and as, when he
thrust blindfolded amid the crowd
noise had terrified him, SO now his
was struck with astonishment and
-ror at the dead silence that prevail
Although the side aisles and benches
the church were densely crowded
t the centre aisle was quite empty,
ID the pastor perceived opened In it
newly-made grave. The stone which
ID covered it was placed leaning
,ainst one Of the pews. The pastor
w none about him but men. bot be
fought ne could distinguish one fe-
lale form in one Of the most distant
ews. The stiffness lasted some min
ties without anyone attempting to
reak it, just as in the human soul a
ill, gloomy brooding of the thoughts
enerally precedes some deed of crime,
At last a man rose up whose noble
ppearance distinguished him from the
est of the assemblage, and betrayed
is high rank. He stepped quickly
trough the empty aisle, while the null
tude silently gazed at him as his steps
esounded through the church. This
ian was of middle height, and stoutly
uilt, of a most proud and naughty car
age, his complexion was very dark
aVen black hair and q HIGH anuiline