The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-12-04
headed priest trembling with fear and
surrounded by unknown men and wo-
men, compelled to celebrate marriage

and bridegroom.
"Nicholas and Castalie," replied the
bridegroom sternly.
At the sound of his voice the poor lads
trembled violently, and more than once
appeared about to fall. She was evident
ly suffering great terror. Once or twice
the priest was on the point of positively
refusing to conduct marriage under
such equivocal circumstances, but the
sight OF the open tomb shook his
momentary resolution, for he was not a
courageous person.
"Proceed! proceed" commanded
the man, in an impatient tone.
Not daring any longer to delay, the
old priest began the ceremony, but he
was so bewildered that he made many
mistakes, which, however, were not
observed by those present. Perhaps
they were ignorant of matters like this.
At length he came to the question,
"Wilt thou, Nicholas, acknowledge
Castalie, who now kneels beside thee,
to be thy lawfully welded wife?"
"I will" was the reply, in tones
that rang through the arches of the
building, so sternly were they pro-
nounced.
The reply, for some unknown reason,
produced a marked sensation among the
maskers, for low murmur came from
their midst.
"And thou, Castalie," continued the
priest, "wilt thou acknowledge as thy
lawfully welded husband, Nicholas,
who kneels beside thee?"
81 will," came in voice that was
only just audible, and which quivered
with evident fear.
A moment more and tho woman sank
upon the stone floor with cry OF an
guish. Several of the party gathered
around her, and one raised her head
while the bridegroom poured some
drops from q vial on her lips. 1t was
amid this confusion that the priest con-
cluded the ceremony.
Again the bandage was placed over
his eyes, and he was led out of the
church. Once without he was given the
use of his sight, with the injunction to
hurry to his home, and, upon the peril of
his life, never to speak of that nights
occurrence. Instantly, then, the men
re. entered the church and closed the
door, and the priest could hear the bar
adjusted to prevent intruders.
But the old man did not Immediately
proceed on his way. He knelt down
upon the ground and applied his ear to
the door. He could hear loud and
angry tones from within, and suddenly
there came piercing shrek from man,
followed by pistol-shot. Then all was
still. Springing from his crouching
position, the old man darted WITH all the
speed left him, toward the houses of
the villagers for the purpose of alarming
them, as he felt sure deed Of terror
and blood had just been enacted. But
so violent was his emotion, and so
powerful had been the strain upon his
nervous system, that, when he reached
the door of John Ispranitz, he fell to
the earth as he knocked for admittance.
Some hours later the whole village
was startled by the announcement that
their pastor was lying at Ispranitz's
cottage in state of unconsciousness.
Men, women and children focked to the
spot, and all did what they were able in
aid of the priests recovery. For days
he lay delirious, and while the fever was
burning up his frame he raved of the
open tomb of old Francis Krynszloft,
the midnight marriage and the shot
which probably sent some poor creature
to eternity.
"Alas |" sighed the simple people,
"our good pastor has lest his reason,
heaven grant it may be restored to him
again."
It was nearly o month ere the priest
was able to leave his couch. Among the
first things he did when he was able to
converse, was to tell the story of the
midnight marriage. But his hearers
gazed at each other With incredulous
glances, believing the old man was bereft
of his wits. After awhile, however, he was
able to leave John Ispranitz's cottage,
and then he assembled the people, and
they proceeded to the church in body.
A careful inspection of the slab of the
vault, showed that it had been recently
displaced.
Suddenly a new purpose seized the
minds of the villagers. Spades and crow
bars were at once at hand, and the vault
was quickly uncovered.
The first object that met their gaze
was richly-mounted coffin reposing by
the crumbling remains of that which
held the ashes of Krynszloft. To raise
the lid was only the work of a few mo-
ments, and then they beheld, still with
perfect features, the body of beautiful
woman with q wound directly in the
region of the heart.
Never had such Cry of terror and
anguish echoed within those walls.
The clothing on the body was of the
finest and most expensive description,
but it exhibited no mark by which clue
could be formed to unravel the dreadful
deed that had been committed.
The priest, however, considered it
Lhis duty to make the whole affair known
to his bishop, who resided at Helsing-
fors, and he in turn communicated the
attested facts to the government authori-
ties.
In due time came back message not
| to revive the matter again, coupled
with warning that the inhabitants of
Biornborg would do we'll to interest
themselves no further in the strange
affair.
Some years later, a naval vessel ap.
peared off the coast and landed party
of armed men, who proceeded to the
church, keeping all the people ct dis,
tance by placing guards in the vicinity.
When night fell they were heard at
work, and ere morning dawne5 they had
embarked, carrying with them burden
covered by pail.
The few people who were curious
enough to get glimpse of the departure
of the party, stated that the persons en-
ployed showed the most profound re-
spect and reverence to the object they
bore away to their barge.
As soon as the ship was we'll In the
oh6ng, the excited villagers again open
ed the tomb, but they only beheld the
accustomed remains of old Francis
Krynszloft.
That midnight marriage forever re-
NAMED mystery.-National Standard
There is no prettier sight now than 8
schoolgirl picking her way abstractedly
along the streets, coming her philoso
ply lesson, and ever and anon stopping
to bury her little Grecian nose LdeeI
-. ss.ox.xnoSh x,;oL1a che M orrios mn,