The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-10-12
Storp.
PrOconsul Carrier.
PART |.

The ceremony was over, and the
church doors were flung open, display
ing the high altar decorated with flow
ere and lights, and in the garlanded
doorway appeared the young pair, while
the bells pealed joyously. All nature
seemed to be in festal attire, for the
sweet odors of spring filed the air, the
the wild birds were singing merrily, and
sunbeams fell like halo across the
foreheads of the bride and groom. She
was fair and graceful, and in her white
gown and veil seemed like an angel
strayed from heaven; the bridegroom,
noble and gallant, looked with love I'M
utterable at the fair girl who leaned
upon his arm.
The country people were dressed in
their Sunday clothes, the men wearing
rosettes in their button-holes. the
women with lilies-' f-the- valley in their
bodices, and all waved towering haw-
thorn branches, and made the air ring
with acclamations.
"Long live Mademoiselle Yolandel
Long live the bridel God bless our
sweet young ladyl" they cried, and
from time to time they added, Long
live the msrquisl"
The church of Clairville overlooked
The village, being built on rocky emil
nence, and was approached by steep
winding path and stairway; rich and
poor, noble and simple, dead aud liv-
ing, all must enter the church by way
of Paradise Road" The wedding
party, glittering in gold and silver and
velvet, and followed by the cheering
rat,
way to where the carriages were wait
ing, and the bridegroom, pleased by
the enthusiasm of the people and their
evident affection for his bride, said to
her tenderly:
You see, my love, how dear you
are to these people. They will never
forget you. l fear they owe me a
grudge for stealing their good angel
from them"
The bride smiled and raised her sweet
eyes to his face for a moment, and then
she turned to her father. saying:
1t is such a beautiful day, papa
may we not walk homer"
" Certainly, dear, if you wish it," he
replied, glad of the opportunity of pleas
ing his child, from whom he must soon
be parted; and accordingly the bridal
pair and all the young persons of the
party walked through the village to
the chateau of Clairville, which was
situated at the other end, while the
dowagers and other persons followed in
their carriages.
Yolande, leaning on her husbands
arm, stopped repeatedly at the humble
cottages where the poor old men and
women, whom age or infrmity rendered
unable to go out, were waiting in their
doorwavs to see the bride pass. For
each one she had word or smile, and
many trembling hand and weak, thin
voice was raised to bless her.
The joyous procession now reached a
turn in the narrow road and came to
standstill, being met by funeral
party. 1t was very poor affair; there
was no coronet emblazoned on the
white pail which covered the corpse of
young maiden, and not flower was
seen there, not single blossom, in
spite of the warm spring timel Behind
the bier a poorly-cl man, the only
mourner, walked slowly, looking, with
bis head bent and his eyes covered
with his hands, picture of despairing
grief. At sight of the Clairville we'd
ding party, the men carrying the bier
stopped and would have turned out of
the road, but the mourner raised his
head and gazed fiercely at the pass
ing throng, who, with their gala cloth
ing and smiling faces, seemed to offer
insult to sorrow.
4" Go onr" he said in hoarse voice
to the porters, as if he would have
liked to crush the fine lords and ladies
beneath his feet, but the men did not
stir. Then the count stepped forward,
saying gravely:
Respect the dead, friends! Fall
back and let the bier pass"
He was instantly obeyed, and the
funeral moved on past the gorgeously
attired throng. who made way rever-
emily, the ladies crossing themselves
and the lords removing their hats. AS
the bier passed the bride, she was
filled with pity at the sight of the young
still form under the white pail, and,
taking sprig of orange blossoms out
of her bouquet, she laid it gently upon
the bier. The stern mourner saw the
act, and his expression softened a little;
then, covering his face again, he broke
into low sobs.
Who is that MANI" asked Count
Clairvlle.
81 don't know, my lord" replied the
man addressed. 4" He is stranger. He
came to the inn few days ago with his
sister. She was almost dead, as any one
could see. He seemed to love her very
much, and when she died, he cursed
like hereto, and shook his fist at
heaven. This morning l told him it
was too early to have the funeral, and
that he ought to give the clergyman
time to change his stole after the we'd
ding, but he would not listen to me-"
The bridal party moved on, and soon
the merry peals of the church bells were
changed to mournful tolling, as the
bier passed under the gay floral decora-
tions of the door.
"Who is that young lady?" asked the
mourner of bystander.
"The bride? That is Mademoiselle
Yolande de Cairville," and the stranger
murmured softly:
May she ALWAYS be happyl"
Then he went into the church.
PART II.