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

but Addressed the widow IN accents that sssnsd u
melt into the cianE Of the bell which fen heAvtr
on the air while he spoke
-cone. my srsds.- said those pale ups -Ths
hearss is ready. the sexton stands waiting for N
At the door Of the tomb. Let Ne De married. ans
then 10 our coninsr'
How shan the widows horror De represented
II gave her the ghasuiners OF a dead mans bride
Her youthful friends stood apart. shuddsring =
self; the whole scene expressed By te stronsss
imagery the vain struggle OF the gIided vanities o
this world when opposed to sss. innrmity. sorrow
and death.
rhs awestruck silence was nrst broken BY IN,
clergyman.
Mr.. Ellenwooc.v said he. soothingiy. yet wit
mind has been aEitased by the unusual cireum
stances In which you are placed The eeremon,
must be deferred. As an old friend. let me entres
you TO return home"
"Home-yes: but not without my bride" an
swered he. IN the same hollow accents you deem
this mockery-perhap madness Had I bedizenet
broidery; had I forced my withered lips TO smii'
at my dead heart. that might have been moekers
or madness; but now let young and old deelar
which OF us has come hither without . weddins
garnent-the bridegroom or the bride"
He stepped forward at q ghostly pace and stoo,
beside the widow. contrasting the awful simplicit.
she had arrayed herself for this unhappy seems
None that beheid them could deny the terribii
strength OF the moral which his disordered intel.
lect had contrived TO draw.
-crueii erueIr" Eroaned the heartstrieken bride
"cruei1" repeated he: then. losing his dsathliks
eomposure In a wild bitterness. Heaven judEt
which OF us has been cruel TO the otheri In youth
you deprived me OF my happiness. my hopes. nj
aims: you took away all the substance OF my iif
and made II a dream without reality enough ever
TO grieve at-with only a pervading gloom. through
which I walked YEARLY and cared not whittier
But after forty years. when I have built my toni
and would not give up the thought OF restlni
there-no. not for such a life a. we once pictured
you call me to the altar. AZ your summons 1 am
here. But other husbands have enjoyed your youth
your beauty. your warmth OF heart ana all thG
could be termed your life. What II there for me
but your decay and deathf And therefore I hav,
bidden these funerai-friends. and bespoken thu
sections deepest knell. and en- come In my shrou'
10 wed you as with a burial service, that we mas
join our hands at the door OF the s~epulehre an'
enter It together"
II was not frenzy. Il was not merely the drunk.
enness Of strong emotion In n heart unused to u
that now wrought upon the bride. The stern les
son OF the day had done its WORK; her worldlines
was gone. She seized the brideEroom's hand.
yes" cried she; "let us wed even at the doc
OF the sepulehre. My life IL gone In vanity and
emptiness. but at its close there Is one true feeIins
1t has made me what I was in youth: Il makes M
worthy OF you Time is no more for both OF us
Let US wed for eternity
With a long and deep regard the bridegroom
looked into her eyes. while a tear was CATHERINE
in HIS own. How strange that sush OF huma
feeling from the frozen bosom OF a corpsei X
wiped away the tear. even with his shroud.
Beloved OF my youth" said he. Il have bee
wild. The despair OF my whole lifetime had re
N-fhea ~ once Auu mauueueo me. ForHlNe ana ,
forgiven. Yes: II l. evening with Us now. and W
have realized none OF our morning dreams of hap
pinesA But let US Join our hands before the alta
as lovers whom adverse circumstances have sepa
rated through life. yet who meet again as they ar
leaving IL and find their earthly Affection change
into something holy as religion. And what is tim
to the married OF eternity7"
Amid the tears OF many and a swell OF exalte
sentiment In those who felt Alright was salemnize
the union OF two immortal souls. The train g
withered mourners. the hoary BRIDEGROOM IN nj
shroud. the pale features OF the aged bride and IN
death-beii tollinK through the whole tn is dee
voice overpowersd the marriage words. all marke
the funeral OF earthly hopes. But as the ceremon
proceeded. the organ. as n stirred by the sym
pathies OF this Impressive scene. poured forth a
anthem. hrst mingilnE with the dismal kneii, the
rising 20 a loftier strain. TIL the soul looked dow
upon It's woe. And when the awful rite was nr
ished and with cold hand In cold hand the Marie
OF eternity withdrew. the organs peal OF soism
triumph drowned the wedding kneii.