The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-10
IN LIFE AND DEATH.
A Page of Family History.

"You come to consult mew he re-
peated bitterly. "Do you come to ask
me whether will give you up to this
man who is rich, and can make you
c0untessW
Honestly, yes"
"And you said you loved meT
81 did do. But you know what I
am, and what our prospects, both of U.S.
are. l don't think could bear to live
in small house, to have everything
about me poor and miserable and
straitened. 1t has been bad enough here
as a dependent. 1t grows worse and
worse as grow older. / am weary of my
life. Release me, Philip. Let us each
seek something better for ourselves than
this hopeless waiting"
81 too am weary of my life"
He got up and stood facing her; while
she also, startled by something in his
tone, rose, and waited with her hand
upon the arm of her chair.
"Helen," he went on, "there has been
one inequality between us always. You
| have, where you choose, iron will. Il
! am naturally weak, easily persuaded.
You have made up your mind to break
your word to me, and to marry this earl.
/ You will do it. But for once l am as
! resolute as you. Here, in this very place
where three years ago you promised SOL
EMMY in the sight of heaven to be my
| wife-here. where you have over and
, over again repeated your promise, 1 tell
| you never will release you from it. Go,
, marry whom you will-get all the good
you can from your bargain; but,married
! or single, rich or poor, living or dying,
|. you are minep
- He had raised his hand with threat
; ening gesture. His words sounded like
curse. For all her steady nerves, she
shuddered.
"Philip! hear reason-let me speak,"
she cried.
"No more. If I have been blind, it has
been willfully. Now see. But you are
bound, now and forever, in life and in
DEATH"
He broke from her; and rushing away,
through the window, past the white
nymphs, was lost instantly in the dark
ness.
CHAPTER III.
The morning had been fair and lovely
village children were out early gather
ing flowers and weaving garlands, ac-
cording to their custom, to strew the
BRIDES path; but at 10 o'clock all
changed. A heavy black cloud rose up
from the horizon, and passed before the
sun; strong, fierce wind seemed to fol-
low it, and shrieking around the church,
swept the flowers from the path, and tore
down the arch above the gateway. 1t
fell with crash upon the roof of the
carriage, which at that moment passed,
carving Helen Fortescue to her mar
riage. The startled horses plunged, and
could hardly be drawn up at the church
door; but the bride stepped out, calm as
ever, though her face was deadly pale,
and its delicate lines drawn into unEatu-
raj hardness. Her uncle, feeble, quer-
ulous old man, followed her trembling,
and as they passed into the aisle tile
storm burst. Sheets of rain fell like a
deluge, vivid flashes OF lightning shone,
and quick terrific peals of thunder rat
tied over the building. The party gath
cred round the altar, but there was a
minutes pause while the clergyman
waited for a lull in the storm before he
commenced the service.
The lull came-heavy, death-like,
Sminous. The darkness seemed to in
crease, but through the silence the cler-
gyman's voice was heard, low and un.
steady at first, till he came to the words,
4f any man can show just cause why
they may not lawfully lie Joined togeth.
er, let him now speak, or else hereafter
forever hold his peace"
Then, at that instant, peal of thun.
dea, louder than before, shook the build
ing; crash after crash it came, and in the
midst of it voice cried: "There is q
cause. Before God l forbid this mar.
riage." But the thunder and the voice
ceased, and the speaker was invisible,
The frightened guests looked at each
other, and then into the dim corners and
recesses of the church, and there was no
one but themselves, and the old sexton
covering and trembling behind monu.
men.. The bride caught al the altar
rail, but neither cried out nor tainted the
bridegroom glanced round haughtily,
hiding his dismay under show of pride.
The vicar, stepping back, called aloud
for the unknown to come forward, but
none answered. A second and third
time he called, but in vain. Then they
began to say that it must have been
fancy-that the thunder had sounded
like voice-and that the marriage
should 60 on.
So it went on. "I require and charge
you both, as you will answer on the
dreadful day of judgment, when the Sc
crets Of all hearts shall be disclosed, that
If either of you know any impediment
why you may not be lawfully joined to-
gether-"
n strong shudder reached the bride,
and shook the cloudy folds Of her veil
but she repressed it, making no sign of
hesitation. Then, in the pause after that
solemn adjuration, there came another
n