The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-08-01

i 80 s...SAS00A ...t.00sA usan 1lhkmln8 00&10.
ming with the temporary alteration Of
reason, i had well.nigh culminated in .
i fatal catastrophe. The terrified and re-
morsetul parents were now induced to
retract their ill-tlme and irrational
i opposition. The lovers renewed their
intercourse. But the blow TO MlIe.
st Valliefs coustitution was TO radi.
cal 70 admit OF . speedy cure. 4.
Still. 60 NO dangerous symptoms re-
vealed themselves to the careful and
minute investigation of experienced
Physicians, it was agreed that the allow.
but, as was fondly hoped, certain pro.
CESS OF recovery would best be seconded
by speedy consummation of the mar.
riage tie.
"The nuptisl day was fixed. All the
preliminaries and formalltles were duly
accomplished. The marriage feast was
provided. The guests were bidden.
and had joyfully answered the summons
OF the ever-welcome bridal bell The
metropolitan church of Santa Repsrata,
in the centre of what is now the old
town of Nizza la Bella, was the chosen
theatre wherein Monsignor the Bishop
himself-for tono less dignitary could
SO august ceremonial be entrusted
was to consecrate the union of the love.
LEST and noblest bridal pair which had
ever received the Episcopal benediction
at the hymeneal altar and been
clasped in the church's indissolu-
BILE love-links. The April sun shone
with merry smile through the rose.
tinted tears. In word, dall went mer-
ry as marriage bell" But the sullen
distant echoes Of that bell were, per.
haps mercifully, yet inaudible to the
ear Of youth and hope, though the
breath of inexorable fate was even now
shadowing the horizon. Never had
bride smiled fairer or lovlier smile-ney-
er had gallent night uplifted prouder
brow. Nay-as if to crown the propi.
tious auspices with every favorinR cir
cumstance of luck or providence-neyer
had fair lady's fond and now frankly
consenting parents worn happier or
more hopeful aspect. In word, there
could hardly have been moro inauspic-
ious moment for the inevitable prophet
of evil to point his lean and menacinp
finger toward that sunny horizon, where
"a cloud no bigger than mans head"
was slowly but surely struggling up
ward, like an electric storm cloud,
against the bonny blithesome breeze of
this happy April morning.
"But th festive hour was at hand.
The spacious choir Of the ancient
Church at st. Reparata was flooded
with beauty and cllivalry,' fair women
and brave men, while the grand music
Of the monster organ burst forth in that
voluptuous SWELL whose vocal waves
float upward all that is least mortal in
the human soul. The wedding mass
had begun. Now, for the first time
was it casually remarked by some of
the bystanders that the brilliant car.
nation of the brides habitually pale
cheeks, aud the almost unnatural GLOW
in her normally placid and retica-hsgrae
were tell-tales of porte6srbinoers of
of moral exallation an And t6at wss M
corresponding >> '''''' "'''
!, That impressive climax in the mar
riage service was now finally reached
when the venerable prelate, joining
their hands together in his own, pro-
nounces the nuptial VOW of mutual and
lifelong fidelity, which is repeated after
him by man and wife altern ately. The
count had already fulfilled his part of
the contract, and his spouse, with q
voice Of surprising decision and almost
superhuman energy and resonance, was
in her turn articulating the solemn
pledge, when her strength seemed sud-
denly to fail her, and as she vainly
strove to enunciate the final words
Until death do us part Repeating
the effort, second time did the words
die away in her throat, when with an
hysterical laugh and defiant air, ard
drawing deep breath which struck on
the ear of the bystanders like passing
sigh, she uttered with a!mOst,a shrek,
the fateful words, 'Until-deatll-us
l-do-party An instant later, and,
clasping her hand to her heart, with o
whisper 'Amen,' she fell forward into
the arms of the count-a lifeless bride!
"Only few years after this event the
gate of. the Beneilictine Abbey of st. Dal-
mas di Tenda opensd to admit strang-
er in the garb of a novice who, though
bearing evident traces of youth and ex-
traordinary beauty, yet failed not to be-
tray signs of having passed through
that furnace of moral probation which
sears the very root Of hope, and renders
the bare name of happiness an echo of
mockery. His name and antecedents
are alike unknown to the members of
this studious and secluded community
this cloistered microcosm. Though,
indeed, it was not long before the gos-
sip rumor whispered to these echoing
walls the secret of his noble, almost
princely lineage, and its vast ancestral
demesnes; likewise that, having sus-
stained in early youth q severe shock to
his affections, he had sought and found
consolation in a religious life. To him,
indeed, might truly be applied the de.
scription Of the poet:
Twas quickly seen
What'er he was, twas not what he had been.
One of those whom the probation of
few years so changes that their most
familiar friends would pass them by for
stranger, yet perchance turn back
ward look as the image of some faint
personal resemblance to one whom they
we'll remembered in bygone years
flashed across their memory. His once
towering and upright form had yielded
to slight stoop, ss of premature age;
his rich raven locks were white as the
snow that lies more than half the year
round on Alpine highlands which be-
girdle the valleys Of the Roya; more
over, their rare luxuriance had been
long since subjected to the shears and
the tonsure in conformity with the aus
tere self.abnegating vows to which
their once proud possessor had volun-
tarily submitted.
Perhaps the most faithful and fore
ible comparison which could be sug-
gested between the grave and MARBLE
pale, smooth faced Brother Sebastian
Of the present with the gay, proud, hir-
suite Count Robert Of the past, would be
that Of o plaster cast or post-mortem
| picture contrasted with the living pro-
totype in the heyday Of youth and ex-
uberant vitality.
"But the inexorsble finger Of time
speeds East. round the arrival Of Dom
Sebastian, gradually sank beneath the
weight Of his infirmities, and his Office
became vacant. With one voice the
grateful and apprecative fraternity ell
ected their exemplary and generous
beusfactos for their spiritual head 8
dignity which be exercised to the gener-