The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-11-04
THE MYSTERIOUS NEEDING

On the northwest of the Isle of Zea-
land stretches 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 awfully wild and sterile appear
ance. The living sands have here OBJ
liberated every trace of vegetation; and
s1he storms which blow from all points Of
the wild ocean are constantly operating q
change on the fiuctnating surface Of the
desert, whose hills of sand rise and dis
appear with constant alienation, restless
as the waves which roar around them. In
travelling through this ephntfy I spent
upgards of an hour in this district, and
never shall forget the impression which
the scene mad upon my mind.
While riding alone through the deso-
late region, thunder storm rose over
the ocean towards the north--the waves
roared; the clouds were 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
whirlwind arose and filled the atmos-
phere with dust; the traces of the path
became invisible; my horse foundered
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
vapor 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
whirled around me; my danger was evil
dent and extreme, when sudden shower
of rain laid the sand, and enabled me to
push my way to the little town. The
storm had just encountered was a hor-
rid 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 typjfed 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-tne
voice of conscience threatening like the
thunder, while awful anticipations shed
their lurid light over the dark spirit
till at last the long dried-up sources of
tears open way to their powerful floods,
and bury the anguish of the distracted
soul beneath their waves.
In this desolate country lay, in former
times, village called Roerwig, about a
mile distant from the shore. The NOV
ing sands have buried the village, and
the nhabitants-mostly shepherds and
fishermen-hayer 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 cheerless shifting desert. This
church was the scene of the following
mysterious transaction.
In an early part of the last century the
venerable cure of Roerwig was one night
seated in his study, absorbed in pious
meditations. It 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 un-
known amongst them, and every door
remained open and unguarded.
The night lamp burned gloomily-the
sullen silence of that dark hour was only
interrupted by the rushing noise of the
| sea, on whose waves the pale moon was
| reflected, 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
lister the the last holy offices of religion
to some one of his parishioners 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, 'syou will have the good
ness to follow us instantly. You must
perform marriage ceremony; the bride
and bridegroom are already awaiting
your arrival at the church. This sum-
continued the stranger exhibiting te
the old man a purse full of goodwill
sufficiently recompense you for the
trouble and alarm our sudden demand
has given YOU
The cure stared in mute terror upon
| the strangers, who seemed to have some
thing fearful, almost CHASTITY, in theil
! looks, the demand was repeated in al
| earnest and authoritative tone. WheI
the old man had recovered from his frs
surprise, he began mildly to represen
that his duty did not allow him to per
form so solemn an action without soms
knowledge of the parties, and the inser
yention of those formaiities required b,
law. The fother stranger herenpo1
stepped forward in q menacing attitude
"Sir," said he, ssyou have your choice
follow us, and take the sum we nov
offer you-or remain, and this bulle
goes through your head" He leveled
his pistol at the forehead of the vener
able man. and waited his answer; where
upon the latter rose, dressed himself
and informed his visitants-who hat
hitherto spoken Danish, but with
foreign accent that he was. ready to &C
company them.
The mysterious strangers now pro
ceeded silently through the village fol
lowed by tie clergyman. 1t was darl
autumn night, the moon having alread,
set; but when they emerged from th
village, the old man perceived witt
terror and astonishment tb-t the distan
church was all illuminated. Meanwhile
his companions, wrapped mp in thei
white cloaks, stepped hastily on befor
him through the barren. sandy plain
On reaching the church they bound u
his eyes; a side door opened with
creaking NOISE, and he felt himself VIC
lently pushed into crowd of people; al
around him he heard murmuring o
voices, and near him conversation car
ried on in language quite unknown L
him, but which he thought was Russian
As he stoods helpless, blind-folded
pressed upon from every side and in th