The stern lesson of the day had done its work ; her worldliness was gone . She seized the bridegroom 's hand . `` Yes ! '' cried she ; `` let us wed even at the door of the sepulchre . My life is gone in vanity and emptiness , but at its close there is one true feeling . It has made me what I was in youth : it makes me 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 gathering in his own . How strange that gush of human feeling from the frozen bosom of a corpse ! He wiped away the tear , even with his shroud . `` Beloved of my youth , '' said he , `` I have been wild . The despair of my whole lifetime had returned at once and maddened me . Forgive and be forgiven . Yes ; it is evening with us now , and we have realized none of our morning dreams of happiness . But let us join our hands before the altar as lovers whom adverse circumstances have separated through life , yet who meet again as they are leaving it and find their earthly affection changed into something holy as religion . And what is time to the married of eternity ? '' Amid the tears of many and a swell of exalted sentiment in those who felt aright was solemnized the union of two immortal souls . The train of withered mourners , the hoary bridegroom in his shroud , the pale features of the aged bride and the death-bell tolling through the whole till its deep voice overpowered the marriage-words , -- all marked the funeral of earthly hopes . But as the ceremony proceeded , the organ , as if stirred by the sympathies of this impressive scene , poured forth an anthem , first mingling with the dismal knell , then rising to a loftier strain , till the soul looked down upon its woe .
And when the awful rite was finished and XXXXX cold hand in cold hand the married of eternity withdrew , the organ 's peal of solemn triumph drowned the wedding-knell .
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