New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-28


lage children were out early gathering flowers
and weaving sallands according to their Gus
tom, to Strew the brides path; but at ten
o'clock all changed. heavy black cloud
rose up from the horizon, and passed
before the sun; a strong, fierce wind
seem to follow it, and shrieking round
the church swept the flowers from
the path. aud tore down tie alch above
the gateway. 1t fell with n crash upon the
roof OF IL carriage which that moment passed.
carving II len For, lscue To her marriage. The
startled hons PLUNGED and could hardly bc
drawn up at the church door; but the bride
stepped out, calm rs ever, though her face was
deadly pale, and IT, delicate lines drawn INTO
unnatural hardness. Her uncle, a feeble. qucT-
1llous old man, followed her trembling. aud a.
they Ua>.cd iato the aisle the storm burst.
Sheets Of ram fell like dclugc, vivid tiashe, of
Lightning ShOlo, and quick terrific pCals Of
thunder ratified over the building. The party
gathered round the altar, but there was Il min
utts pause while the clergyman waited for q
luil III the storm before he commenced the ser
vice.
The lull came-heavt, deathlikc. ominous
Tie darkness seemed t. increase, but through
the silence the ciclgyman's voice was heard
low and unsteady AT first but rising fuller and
clearer each moment, till he came 10 the words,
d" II any man en- show just cause why they may
not lawfully G joined together lc Ian low
speak OF else hereafter for ever nod hls pc2e..'
Then, at that instant, a peal OF thunder,
after crash IL came, and il the m!d.t Of ,. a
voice cried, There J. cause. Before God |
forbid this mairiaoe" Bat the thunder and The
voice ceased, aud she speaker was Invisible.
The frightened guests looked at each other,
and then into the dim corners and IcCcs-cs Of
toe church, hut there was no one bul thtn-
selves, and tic old sexton covering and trcm-
bling behind Il monument. The bride caught
at the altar rail. but neither cried ont nor
faIbt,d; the bridegroom glanced round haught-
lily, hiding lis Glsngy under a show Of PRIDE.
The vicar stopping back. called aloud 10 The
unknown 10 come forward, but none answered.
i second aud third lime he called, but in vain.
Then they began 10 say that II must have been
faocy-that The thunder had sounded like a
Vol .c--and that the marriage should 20 on.
So IL went on. Il require and charge You
both, as yOu will answer az the dreadful day of
Judgment. when the secrets of all hears shall
he disclosed, that II either OF yOn know any I'M
pediment WHY yc may not be lawfully joined
together"
A strong shudder seized tn bride, and shook
the cloudy folds OF Ter vel but she rcpic.sod
il, making no sign OF hesitation. Then, III the
pause after thdt solemn DURATION, thclc came
another mysterious response audlhie through
all the chuich.--an iuarticulatc sound, that was
neither sigh nor gGOan but more full OF despair
than ever was either. And SIN there was no
one VISIBLE. 1t might have been some strange
eft c. Of the wind which still swept IN stormy
Gus. round TIE building, rafting tie windows
work; Bat whatever il might be, il was not re-
p-ated. The marriage went on; and Helen,
Countess Of DlintIY, turned from the altar TO
receive the congratulations Of her friends
Bat oh, my dear, sud one old lady 10 her
as they drove home to The
Hall, It is an il-om6ned wedding. She tued
hard for him, and she has got him; and be-
licvc IN my heart that she is a woman VINO
would get what she wanted il she had to step
over the body Of her best friend TO reach 1t.
Bat it Is a strange weddingw
&C andmamna, don't say such loITid things.
SIZE Is excessively hand somc and clever, and
/ don't wonder ne fell in love with
her,"
Charming y aud the old lady laughed scOrn-
fully. "Ycs, they say poor Philip Conway
found that out long ag1-as well as others
"Plilip Conway Her unce's secreiaryl
Why, glandmamlna you would moi let me he
.ivii 20 him.,
~Youp that's a different thing He's her
,ous,n few times removed, and quit. AZ good
IS she is However, its not my aff.lir-nOr
ours. Ugh what rain /"
The bridal party reached the Hall while the
torn was still al ITS height They sat down to
,Ieakt"Ot' Apd The dnnrssion and senAe at !