The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-05-09

RIGS him. What q fool a woman Gun make
of a sensible man-only it usually takes
young onc!!'
THE MYSTERIOUS MARRIAGE.
A Strange Story Of the Eighteenth
Century.
Ono night in the carly part of the
eighteenth century the old and respected
pastor of the village Of Norwig, in Zca-
land, sat in his solitary chamber, lost in
devotional meditation. The hour was
near midnight. His house was situated
at the furthcst extremity of the village,
and the simple inhabitants knew so little
of mistrust or dishonesty, that bolts ard
locks were like strangers to them, aud
every door remained either opened or
without fastening.
Tho pastors lamp burned dim, the
solemn stiffness Of the hour was only in
tcrruptcd by the murmuring Of the
waves, aud the pale moonbeams were re-
ilcctcd on the surface OF the ocean, when
he suddenly heard his house door open,
and heavy steps ascend his stairs, Ind he
naturally expected a call to the sick-bcd
OF some Of his pensioners to afford the
last spiritual consultations, when two
strange men entered his apartment, their
faces concealed in large white cloaks.
One OF them advanced, and said to him
very courtcously:
!" Reverend sir, be good enough to fol-
low us Immediately. We want you to
perform marriage ceremony, and the
bridal pair already await you in the
church. This sum" continued he, taking
a purse from lis breast, twill reward you
for your trouble and for disturbing you
at this unreasonable hour
Silent and frightened the old man re-
gar'led his visitors, who seemed to him
| to have something strange and even I'M
earthly i'll their appearance. The strait
ger repeated his invitation in a command
ing and threatening tone. When the old
man had recovered himself little, he
began in mild manner to demonstrate,
and told him that his sacred office did
now allow him to perform the solemn
ceremony of marriage without knowledge
Of the individuals themselves, and com
plying with such other formalitics as the
law directed.
"Ecverend SIR said the other man.
stepping forward in Il threatening man-
nvr, you lave the choice to follow us
and take the sum Of money offered to
you, or rcmein here with pistol
bullet in your BRAIN" With that he held
pistol to the old mans head, and
awaited his answer.
The old pastor grew pale, rose up silent
; and trembling, AMI. hastily clothing
himself in his robes, said, i am ready,
gentlemen"
The strangers had spoken i'll Danish,
but with such foreign accent as could
not be mistaken. The mysterious men
Went silently through the village, buried
us it was in slumbcr, and the pastor fol
lowed them. 1t was dark night in au-
tunn, and the moon had already gone
down. When they approached the
church, the bewildered old man, with
fear and establishment, saw it brilliantly
lighted up, and his comnanions fastened
across the low sandy flats which interven-
ed between it and the village, still con
cea!cd in their white mantlns, while, witt,
his li:llos palsied with age and fright, he
with difficulty strovc to keep Up with
them. When they reached the church
they blind -foldel lis eyes. The to thc
PASTOR we'll known side door opened at
their approach, grating ON its hinges,
aud he found himself then thrust forward
into the church, which appeared filled
with q great multitude. All around him
he heard a muttering and sound of many
voices in tongue unknown to him, but
which he supposed to be Russian. And
ifs he stoui amid the multitude with
b!indfo!aed eyes, puzzled, and not know.
ing what was about to happen, he felt
his hand seized, and was pulled with
considerable violence through the crowd.
At last, as well as he could judge, the
throng was thrust aside. They LOGGED the
handase f,om his eyes. and he recognized
by his side one OF his former companions
and found himself standing before tie
altar, which was lit up by a row OF wax
lights, burning in splendid silver candle.
sticks, and the church itself was 50 COM
plctely illuminated by numerous lights,
that the most distant object could be
plainly disccrned; and US, when he was
thrust blindlo!ded amid the crowd. the
noise had terrified him, so now his soul
WAS struck with establishment and horror
at tho dead silence that prevailed.
Although the side aisles and benches
OF the church were dcnscly crowded, vet
the centre aisle was quite empty, and the
pastor perceived opened il it q newly
made grave. The stone which had COW
cred il was placed leaning against one of
the pcws. The pastor saw none around
him but men, but he thought he could
distinguish one female form. in one OF
the most distant pcws. The stiffness
lasted some minutes without any: one
attempting to break it, just as in the hui
man soul still, gloomy brooding of the
thoughts generally prcccdes some deed
of crime.
At last man lose up whose noble ap-
pcarance distinguished him from the rest
Of the asscmbiage and betrayed his high
rank. He stepped quickly through the
empty aisle, while the multitude Silently
gazed at him as his steps resounded
through the church. This man was OF
middle height, and stoutly built, Of a
most proud and naughty carriage; his
complexion very dark raven black hair
and high aquilinc nose gave very
commanding exple son to his countc
nance, while long and busny cyelashcs
over Swallowed his small black eyes, which
appeared to CLEAN will, wild pa sions
He Was dressed in magnificent green
suit richly embroidered With gold, and
on his breast gittered star. The bride
who kne!t near him was most carefully
and even sumptuously at,ircd A dress
of skv.bIuc satin embroidered with silver
envclopcd her slender form and hung in
large folds of drapery over her graceful
limbs. a diadcn, blazing with magnit.
icent diamonds, adorned her golden hair
The highest grace and beauty could be
traced in her face, distigured as it was by
terror. Her blood!ess features seemed
immovably fixed: her pale lips appeared
dcathlikc-her eyes half closed-and her
powerlcss arms dropped helpless on lei
half-sinking body. So she knelt, picture
Of death, an understandable tear and par
alyzing horror appearing to freeze both