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


land stretches a small peninsular dis
trict, fertile and studded with hamlets,
and connected with the main land by a
narrow strip of sandy waste. Beyond
the only town which this little PENN.
sula possesses the land runs into the
restless waves Of the Cattegat, and pre-
sents an swfully Wild and sterile appear
ance. The living sands have here OBJ
liberated every trace of vegetation; and
the storms which blow from all points of
the wild ocean are constantly operating a
change on the huctuating surface of the
desert, whose hills of sand rise and dis
sppear with constant alienation, restless
rs the waves which roar around them. In
travelling through this country I spent
upwards of an hour in this district, and
never shall forget the impression which
the scene mad upon my mind.
While riding alone through the DESC
late region, a thunderstorm rose over
the ocean towards the north-the waves
reared; the clouds we're driven along be-
fore the wind; the sky grew every in
slant more gloomy, "menacirg earth and
sea- the sad began to move in increas-
ing masses under my horses feet; q
NuIIlWluu dIOSc uuNi AiAOu uuV obhAOo-
phere with dust; the traces of the path
became invisible; my horse houndered
deeper and deeper in the sand, while
sky, earth and ocean seemed mingled
and blended together, every object be-
ing involved in cloud Of dust and
vspor. l could not discern the slightest
trace of life or vegetation; the storm
howled above me, the waves of the sea
lashed mournfully against the shore; the
thunder rolled in the distance. and
scarcely could the lurid lightning fash
pierce the heavy cloud of sand which
vhirled around me; my danger was evil
dent and extreme, when q sudden shower
Of rain laid the sand, and enabled me to
push my way to the little town. The
Storm had just encountered was hor-
hid mingling of all elements. An earth
quake has been described as the sigh
which troubled nature heaves from the
depth of her bosom; perhaps not more
fancifully this chaotic tempest might
have typified the confusion of wildly
distracted mind, to which pleasure and
even hope itself have been long stran
Gers-the cheerless desert of the past
revealing only remorse and grief-the
voice of conscience threatening like the
thunder, while awful anticipations shed
their lurid light over the dark spirit
ill at last the long dried-up sources of
tears open a way to their powerful floods,
and bury the anguish OF the distracted
soul beneath their waves.
In this desolate country lay, in former
times, a village called Roerwig, ABOUT q
mile distant from the shore. The NOV
ing sands have buried the village, and
The Enthusiastically shepherds and
removed their cottages |
close to the shore. A ..single solitary |
building, the village church, which is |
situated upon a hill. yet rears its head
above the cherries shifting desert. This |
church was the scene Of the following
mystei iOus transaction.
y In an early part of the last century the
venerable cure of Roerwig was one night
seated in his study, absorbed in pious
Meditations. 1t was near midnight.
The house lay at the extremity of the
village. and the simple manners of the
inhabitants were so little tinged with
distrust that bolts and locks were I'M
known amongst them, and every door
remained oren and unguarded.
The night lamp burned gloomily-the
|
interrupted by the rushing noise of the
sea, on whose waves the pale moon was
when the cure heard the door
below open, and, presently afterward,
the sound of mems steps upon the stair.
He was just anticipating call to admin
ister the tie last holy Offices Of religion
10 some one of his practitioners on the
point of death, when two foreigners,
wrapped up in white cloaks, stepped
hastily into the room. One of them ap-
preached him with politeness:
''Sir, " he said, you viii have the good
ness to follow us instantly. You must
perform marriage ceremony; the bride
md bridegroom are already awaiting
Jour arrival at the church. This sum"
continued the stranger exhibiting to
he old man . purse full Of gold-"will
Dufnciertly recompense You for the
trouble and alarm orr sudden demand
has given you"
The cure stared in mute terror upon
NE strangers, who sesmed to have some
hing fearful, almost ghastly, in their
looks, the demand was repeated in an
earnest and authoritative tone. When
he old man had recovered from his first
he began mildly to represent
Nat his duty did not allow him to per-
Iorm 80 solemn an action without some
knowledge of the parties. and the inter
vention Of those formalities required by
|Aw. The other stfanger hereupon
Stepped forward in meuacing attitude:
Sir" said he, you have your choice;l
M IL - /