St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1879-02-15

| indistinct shadows fitted. In one Of these
arches the old priest strained his eyes, as
he thought he behcld the garments of a
woman. Nor was he mistaken. But
that which suddenly caused his heart to
shrink with dread, was to behold the
slab which covered the vault of Francs
Krynszlott removed from its place and
standing on its end against one of the
pillars that supported the root.
kryn.z'oft, q rich old land owner who
had been dead nearly a century, had
built the church, being careful to stipu-
ia e that his body should rest in the tomb
which WAS built in the middle aisle Of the
edifice.
AS the good priest gszed down the
building, a tall imam issued from one of
the gloomy shadows, leading a lady who
seemed scarcely able to walk, so uncer
tain were her steps. - Both figures were
masked. The man was as splendidly at
tired as his com panion, and his tall form
and military carriage induced the belief
that he was no common parsonage, Be-
hind him came the persons who had been
GROUPED by the walls.
1t was strange sight at that lonely
hour of the night to see an old gray
headed priest trembling with fear and
surrounded by unknown men ard wo-
men, compelled to celebrate marriage
with an open tomb in view.
The first thought that rushed to the
mind of the good man was,zthat after he
had performed the ceremony, they
would murder him, cast his body into the
vault, replace the slab, and his fate would
perhaps never be revealed, for none of
the bones of the Krynzsloft family, save
old! Francis, would ever repose there.
But he5 quickly dismissed this thought,
as be could conceive no reason for them
to Aill an inoaensive man living in an
obscure part of the. fempire..and scarcely
known beyond the confines OF Biornborg.
His r. Elections. however, were cut short
by the man Reckoning bis attendants to
close about him, and then in an imperi.
GUS tone commanding the priest to pro.
coed with his Office. Summoning all the
courage he could command, the priest
inquired the name of the bride and bride
groom.
"N;cholas and ..Castalie," replied the
bridegroom ssterEly. .
At the sound Of mis- voice@be poor lady
trembIed violently, and more than once
appeared about to fall. 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 nomen-
tary resolution, for he was not g courage
Gus person.
Proceed! proceed" commanded the
man, in an impatient tome.
Not daring auy longer to delay, the old
priest began the ceremony, but lie was so
bewi dered that he made many mistakes,
which, however, wera not observed by
those present. Perhaps they were
ignorant Of matters like this. At length
he came to the question, "Nilt thou,
Nicholas, acknowledge CastaIie, who now
kneels beside thee, to be thy lawfully
welded wife?'
Il will p WAS the reply, in tones that
rang through the arches of the building,
80 steruly were they pronounced.
The reply, for some unknown reason,
Produced marked sensation among the
maskers, for low murmur came from
their midst.
And thou, CastaIie,' continued the
priest, "wilt thou acknowledge as thy
lawfully welded husband, Nicholas, who !
kneels beside thee?"
Il WILL" came in voice that was
only just audible, and which quivered
with evident fear.
A moment more and the woman sank
on the stone floor with cry of anguish.
Several Of the party gathered around
her, and one raised her head while the
bridegroom poured some drops from
vial On her lips. 1t was amid this con-
fusion that the priest concluded 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
20 his home, and, upon the peril Of his
life, never to speak of that nights occur
renee. Instantly, then, the men re
entered the church and closed the door,
md thepliest could hear the bar adjusted
o prevent intruders.
But the old man did not Immediately
proceed on his way. He knelt down
lpon the ground and applied his ear to
he door-sill. He could hear loud and
ngry tones from within, and suddenly
here came piercing shrek from a man,
ollowed by pistol>shot. Then all was
till. springing from his crouching posi-
io,, the old man darted with all the
peed left him, toward the houses of the
'illagers for the purpose of alarming
hem, as he felt sure deed of terror and
hood had just been enacted. But SO