The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-06-15

% the bells. ana yet turned out urh.ppfiy. that I
shall hope for the ssttsr fortune under such dif-
fersnt auspiceA-
Madam answered the rector. in great per-
piexity. -this strange occurrence brings to my mind
q marriass-ssrmon OF the famous Bishop Taylor.
wherein he minsies 90 many Thoughts OF mortality
and future woe that. to speak somewhat after his
own rich style. he seems 10 hang the bridal
chamber In black and cut the wedding garment
out OF . eofnn-pail And Il has been the custom
OF divers nations to infuse something OF sadness
into their marriage ceremonies. 30 10 keep death In
mind while contracting that enhancement which
is iifss cheapest business Thus we may draw
sad but profitable moral from this funerai-knell-"
But. though the clergyman might have given
his moral even q keener point be ala not fail TO
despatch an attendant to inquire into the mystery
ana stop those sounds so dismally appropriate 10
such marriage A brief space elapsed. durinK
which the silence was Broken only BY whispers
and . few suppressed titterinss among the we'd
ding-party and the spectators. who after the shock
were disposed to draw an m-natured merriment
from the anair. The young have less charity for
aged foliies than the old for those OF youth. The
widows glance was observed to wander for an
instant toward a window of the church. as ~
searching for the time-worn marble she had ded-
icated 70 her nrst husband: then her eyelids
dropped over their faded orbs and her thoughts
were drawn irresistibiy to another grave. Two
buried men with q voice at her ear and a cry afar
on were calling her TO lie down beside them
Perhaps with momentary truth of feeling. she
thought how much happier had been her fate u.
after years OF oiiss. the bells were now tollinE for
her funeral and she were followed 20 the grave
py the oiu auection OF her earliest lover. long her
husband. But why had she returned TO him when
their cold hearts shrank from each others em-
braee7
SIN the death-ben toiied 30 mournfuly that the
sunshias seemed to fade In the air. A whisper.
communicated from those who stood nearest the
windows now spread through the church: a hearse
with a train OF several coaches was creeping along
the street. conveying some dead man to tho
ehurehyard. while the bride awaited a living one
at the altar. Immediately after. the Footsteps OF
the Bridegroom and his friends were heard at the
Aocr Tha wvfAo. IooLaA 4o.v, ~ aFar. 80
ciinched the arm of one OF her bridesmaids IN her
bony hand with such unconscious violence that the
fair girl trembled.
you frightened me. my dear madam" cried she.
~For heavens sake, what Is the matterg'
Nothing. my dear-nothing." said the widow;
then. whispering close to her ear. there IL q
foolish fancy that I cannot get rid Of ! am ex-
pectlng my bridegroom to come into the church
with my two nrst husbands for groomsmen"
"Lookl iookr' screamed the bridesmaid. What
Is here7 The funerali"
As she spoke a dark procession paced into the
church. First came an old man and woman. like
chief mourners at a funeral. attired from head to
foot in the deepest black. all but their pale
features and hoary hair. he leaning on a STAN and
supporting her decrepit form with his nerveless
arm. Behind appeared another and another pair.
as aged. as black and mournful as the hrst. As
they drew near the widow recognized in every face
some trait OF former friends long forgotten. but
now returning as II from their old graves to warn
her to prepare a shroud. or. with purpose almost
as unweIeome. to exhibit their wrinkles and In
hrmity and claim her as their companion by the
tokens OF her own decay. Many a merry night had
she danced with them In youth. and now in joy
less age she felt that some withered partner should
request her hand and all unite in a dance OF death
to the music OF the funeral-belL
While these aged mourners were passing up the
aisle Il vas observed that from pew TO pew the
spectators shuddered with irrepressible awe
as some object hitherto concealed by the Inter
veninE figures came fun IN sight Many turned
away their faces: others kept a hxed and rigid
stare. and a young girl EiEgied Historically and
tainted with the laughter on her lips. when tht
spectral procession approached the altar each
couple separated and slowly diverged. TIL In th'
centre appeared a form that had been worthily
ushered In with all this gloomy pomp the death
knen and the funeral II was the bridegroom Ia
his shrOud-
No rarb but that OF the grave could have be
hued such a death-like aspect. The eyes. indeed
had the wild gieam % a sepulehral lamp. all eis'
was hxed IN the stern ealmness which old met
wear in the comm. The corpse stood motioniess