The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-11-16

breaking noise, and he felt himself vic,
lently pushed into crowd of people; all
around him he heard q murmuring oil
voices, and near him conversation car
ried on in language quite unknown to
him, but which he thought was Russian.
As he stood helpless, blind-folded,
pressed upon from every side,a in the
utmost confusion he felt himself seized
upon by q mans hand and violently
drawn through the crowd. At last it
seemed to him as if the people fell back,
the bandage was loosened, and he found
himself standing with one Of the two
strangers before the altar. A row of
large lighted tapers, in magnificent can
dlesticks, adorned The altar, and the
church itself was splendidly illuminated
by profusioh of candles. If before,
while standing blindfQlded. the murmur
soul with CONSERVATION, not less amazed
was he now at the unbroken silence
which reigned throughout the church !;
the side passages and all the seats were
crowded to excess, but the middle pass
age was quite clear. and he perceived in
it newly opened grave, and the stone
which had covered it leaning against
bench; around him be saw only male
figures; but on one of the distant benches
he thought he distinctly perceived fe-
male form. The silence lasted tor some
minutes, during which not motion
could be detected in that vast multitude.
Thus, when a spirit is bent on deeds OF
darkness, silent, gloomy brooding of
soul often precedes the horrid action.
At last . man. whose magnificent
dress distinguished him from all the rest
and bespoke his elevated rank, rose and
walked hastily up the empty passage;
as he passed along, his steps resounded
through the building. and every eye was
turned upon him; he appeared to be Of
middle stature, with broad shoulders and
strong limbs; his gait was commanding,
his complexion of yellowish brown,
and his hair raven black; his features
we're severe and his lips compressed as
if in wrath; bold aquiline nose height
ened the naughty appearance of his
and dark shaggy brows
lowered over his fierce eyes. He wore
a green cont, with large golden brsids
and glittering star. The bride who
now kneeled beside him, was magnifi-
Gently dressed. A sky blue robe, richly
trimmed with silver, enveloped her slen-
der limbs, and foated in graceful folds
over her form; diadem sparkling with
adorned her fair hair; The ut |
most beauty and loneliness might be
traced in her features, although despair |
now expressed itself in them; her cheeks |
were pale as those of corpse-her fea-
lures were unanimated-her lips were |
eyes dimmed-her power
less arms hung motionless by her almost |
lifeless form. As she knelt before the |
altar, the picture of death itself, terror
seemed to have wrapped her conscious
ness as we'll as her vital powers in for
tunate slumber.
The cure now discovered near him an
Did, ugly bag, in a parti colored dress,
1er head covered with q blood red tur-
pan, who stood gazing with an express
on of fnry and mockery upon the kneel-
ng bride; and behind the bridegroom
he saw q man of gigantic size and
gloomy appearance, whose eyes were
ixed immovably upon the ground.
Horror struck, the priest stood mute
or some time, till thrilling look from
he bridegroom reminded him of the GER
mony he had come hither to perform.
But the uncertainty whether the couple
10 was now about to marry understood
lis language afforded him fresh source
f uneasiness. He ventured, however,
o ask the bridegroom for his name and
hat of his bride: ''Neander and Feo-
Ora" was the answer given in q rough
dice.
The priest now began reading the rit-
al in faltering accents, frequently mis-
aking and stopping to repeat the words.
Iithout, however, either the bride or
bridegroom appearing to observe his
which confirmed him in his
onjecture that his language was almost
Unknown to either OF them. On asking:
Neander, wilt thou take this wo-
IAN for thy welded wife?" he doubted
'hether he should receive any answer.
ut to his establishment the bridegroom J
in the Affirmative with q loud
nd almost screaming voice, which rung
throughout the whole church with deep
ighs from the whole spectators accom-
anied the awful "yes;" and . silent .
uivering, like the reflection Of flash
distant lightning, threw q transitory
notion over the death pale features Of
be bride. The priest turned to her,
peaking louder TO raise her from her
rance: ''Feodora, wilt thou have this
IAN for thy welded husbandy The
fsless form before him at this question
semed to awake deep convulsive
hrob of terror trembled on her cheeks
or pale lips quivered-a passing CLEAN
q A. IL - L. t~~~~ a i