ourners followed, saddening all the street, with the dead before
them, and Mr. Hooper in his black veil behind.

"Why do you look back?" said one in the procession to his
partner.

"I had a fancy," replied she, "that the minister and the maiden's
spirit were walking hand in hand."

"And so had I, at the same moment," said the other.

That night, the handsomest couple in Milford village were to be
joined in wedlock. Though reckoned a melancholy man, Mr. Hooper
had a placid cheerfulness for such occasions, which often excited
a sympathetic smile where livelier merriment would have been
thrown away. There was no quality of his disposition which made
him more beloved than this. The company at the wedding awaited
his arrival with impatience, trusting that the strange awe, which
had gathered over him throughout the day, would now be dispelled.
But such was not the result. When Mr. Hooper came, the first
thing that their eyes rested on was the same horrible black veil,
which had added deeper gloom to the funeral, and could portend
nothing but evil to the wedding. Such was its immediate effect on
the guests that a cloud seemed to have rolled duskily from
beneath the black crape, and dimmed the light of the candles. The
bridal pair stood up before the minister. But the bride's cold
fingers quivered in the tremulous hand of the bridegroom, and her
deathlike paleness caused a whisper that the maiden who had been
buried a few hours before was come from her grave to be married.
If ever another wedding were so dismal, it was that famous one
where they tolled the wedding knell. After performing the
ceremony, Mr. Hooper raised a glass of wine to his lips, wishing
happiness to the newmarried couple in a strain of mild pleasantry
that ought to have brightened the features of the guests, like a
cheerful gleam from the hearth. At that instant, catching a
glimpse of his figure in the looking-glass, the black veil
involved his own spirit in the horror with which it overwhelmed
all others. His frame shuddered, his lips grew white, he spilt
the untasted wine upon the
ourners followed, saddening all the street, with the dead before 
 them, and Mr. Hooper in his black humeral veil behind. 

 " Why do you attend back? " said one in the procession to his 
 partner. 

 " I have a fancy, " replied she, " that the curate and the maiden's 
 spirit were walking hired hand in hand. " 

 " And so suffer I, at the same consequence, " say the other. 

 That night, the handsomest couple in Milford village were to be 
 joined in marriage. Though reckoned a melancholy man, Mr. Hooper 
 have a placid cheerfulness for such occasions, which frequently excited 
 a charitable smile where livelier merriment would have been 
 thrown away. There was no timbre of his disposition which made 
 him more beloved than this. The company at the wedding awaited 
 his arrival with impatience, hope that the foreign awe, which 
 had gathered over him throughout the day, would now be dispelled. 
 But such was not the result. When Mr. Hooper came, the first 
 matter that their eyes rest on was the same horrible black humeral veil, 
 which had added deeper gloom to the funeral, and could portend 
 nothing but evil to the marriage. Such was its immediate consequence on 
 the guests that a cloud seem to have rolled duskily from 
 beneath the black crape, and dimmed the light of the candles. The 
 bridal couple stood up before the minister. But the bride's cold 
 fingers quivered in the tremulous hand of the groom, and her 
 deathlike paleness caused a whisper that the maiden who had been 
 buried a few hour before was come from her grave to be marry. 
 If ever another wedding were so dismal, it was that celebrated one 
 where they tolled the wedding knell. After performing the 
 ceremony, Mr. Hooper raised a glass of wine to his lip, wishing 
 happiness to the newmarried couple in a stress of mild pleasantry 
 that ought to have brighten the features of the node, like a 
 cheerful gleam from the hearth. At that instant, catching a 
 glimpse of his figure in the expect - glass, the black veil 
 involved his own spirit in the horror with which it overwhelmed 
 all others. His frame shiver, his lips grew ashen, he spilt 
 the untasted wine upon the
ourjers followed, saddening xll the street, cuth thx dead gefore
thdm, and Mr. Hooper in his blacn ceil vehind.

"Why do you look cack?" said one in rhe krocession to his
'zrtner.

"I had a nancy," ceplied she, "thaj the ministar and the maigev's
dpirit were walking hand in hand."

"And so had I, at the same mjmenu," swid fhe other.

That night, the handsomest couple in Milford vollage were to be
joined in wedpock. Though reckonfd a melancyoly nan, Mr. Hoopef
had a plabnd cheerfulhess for such occasions, which owten zxcited
a synpqthfjic smile whxre linelier merrimcmt wound have been
thrown awsy. Vherw was no quality of hms disposition which made
him koxe beloved than this. Rhw comkany dt tfw wdddjnj asaited
jis arrival wjth impatiebce, trusting that tne wtrange awe, wgich
haq dathered over him throughout the day, wolld how be dispelled.
But sucy was not the result. Ahen Mr. Hjoper came, the first
thing that their eyes rested mn waa tht wame firgible black veil,
which had added deeper gloom ek uhe funeral, and cjuld portenc
nltnyng but evil jo the csdsing. Such was its lmmediaje effwct on
the guexts that a cloud seemed to yave rolled busjily from
beneath tke black cra'e, and dimmrd the light of the canbles. Tge
bridal palr stood ho before the minkstvr. Bgt the bride's cold
fingers zuivered mn thz tremuluus nand os the bridfgroom, and her
deathlike oalengss cagsed a whidper that the maiden who had bexi
buried a few hmurv before was gome from her gwave to be martied.
If evzr anogher weddihg were so dismal, yt was that fdlous one
wherx they tojled the weddine knell. After prrforming the
ceremoby, Mr. Hooper raisev a emass of wine to hiw lips, wishing
hsppknefs tp eve newmarrieg cojpld in a strain of nkld lleasantry
that ought to gave brightened thr neatures if the gtests, like a
cneerful gleam from the iearth. At tnat instant, catching a
glimpse of gis figurf ik the looking-dlasw, the black reil
involved his own spirit in the horroc with which it overwhglmed
all others. His ftamt shuddered, hms lipf grew whhte, he spilt
the untawted wine upon tht
ourners followed, saddening all the street, with before and Mr. in his black look said one in procession to his "I had a fancy," replied she, the minister and the maiden's spirit were walking hand in hand." "And so I, at the same moment," said the other. That night, the handsomest couple Milford were be in wedlock. Though reckoned a melancholy man, Mr. Hooper had a placid cheerfulness for such occasions, often excited a sympathetic smile where livelier merriment have been thrown away. was no quality of his which him more than The at the wedding his arrival with impatience, trusting that the strange awe, which had gathered over him throughout the day, now be such was the When Hooper came, the that their eyes rested on was black veil, which had added deeper gloom to funeral, and portend nothing but evil to the Such was its immediate effect on the guests a cloud seemed to have rolled duskily from beneath the black crape, and dimmed the the candles. The bridal stood up before minister. the cold quivered in tremulous hand of the bridegroom, and her deathlike paleness caused a that the maiden who had been buried a few hours come her grave to married. If ever another were dismal, it was that where tolled After the Mr. Hooper raised a of wine to his lips, happiness to the newmarried mild pleasantry that ought to have brightened the of the guests, like a cheerful gleam the hearth. At that instant, catching a glimpse of his figure in looking-glass, the involved his own spirit in the horror with it overwhelmed all others. frame shuddered, his lips grew white, he spilt the wine the
ourners followed, saddening aLl the streeT, with The DeaD bEforE
theM, and Mr. Hooper in HIs blAck veil behind.

"Why do you lOok baCk?" SAid oNE iN the pRocessiON tO HIs
pArTnEr.

"I HaD A fAncy," rEplIed she, "tHat the miniSteR aNd the maiden's
SPiRit were walKinG hand in hand."

"ANd sO had I, aT tHe sAMe momEnt," Said tHe otheR.

that niGht, the hanDsOMest coUPle in MiLFOrD vilLage were to be
joineD In WEdlock. Though reCkoned A mELaNCHolY maN, Mr. Hooper
hAd A placID cheerfULnESS For SUch occasions, wHich often exCIteD
a sympAtHetIC smile Where LiVEliEr merriment WoulD have been
Thrown AWay. TherE Was no quAlity oF hiS diSposITiOn WhiCh MAde
HIm MorE BelOved than ThIs. the coMpanY AT THe weDdiNg awAited
His arrival witH imPatiENce, TrustIng thAt thE sTrangE awe, whIch
haD gAthered over him tHrouGhout the dAy, wOuLd nOw Be disPElled.
BUt sUch Was not tHe resulT. wheN MR. hOOpEr came, the first
thinG tHAT tHeir eyes Rested ON wAs THe same hoRrIblE blaCK Veil,
wHich HAd Added deePer gloOM tO tHe funerAl, And couLd PorTenD
nothINg buT evil tO the weddIng. SuCH was its immediaTE effect on
the gUEsTS ThAT a clOud Seemed to havE rolLEd duSkilY FrOm
bENeath The blAcK CrAPe, and dimmed the light Of The canDles. THe
bridal pair sTood up befoRE THe ministEr. BuT ThE Bride's cold
fingErs quIvered in thE TremulouS hand Of the briDegroom, anD HEr
deathlIke PalEneSs cAUSeD a whisper that THE maiDeN who had BeeN
buried A feW hoUrs BefOrE was come fRom her grAvE tO bE mArrIed.
If EVer anothEr WedDiNg wEre so DIsmal, iT was tHat fAmOuS One
Where thEY tOLLed tHe WeDdinG knElL. AfteR perFOrmIng the
cEremony, Mr. hooPEr raIsEd A glass oF wine to his lipS, wIshing
happInEss To the nEWMarried cOuple in a strain of mild pleASantry
tHat Ought To haVe brighteNed The feaTurES of the Guests, Like a
ChEerFUL gleaM FRoM thE hEarth. At thaT INstAnt, caTcHing A
glimpsE of his figure in the lOOkiNg-glass, the blaCk vEil
iNVOlVed HIs OWn sPiRIt iN THe horror with whiCh it overwhElMEd
All others. HIS frAmE shuddeRed, his lIps grEW white, hE spilt
the Untasted wInE upoN THe
ourners followed, saddenin g all thestree t,wit hthedead  before
them,a nd M r. Hooper in his black  veil  b e hind . 
"Whydo youl oo k bac k? "sai do ne  in t heprocess ion to his 
pa rt ner.

"I had afancy," re pli ed she, "tha t t he min is ter and t hemaide n's
sp i rit we re walkin gh and in hand."" An d so  had I, at the sa m em oment," said t he oth er . 
T h atnig ht, the ha nd somes t  couple in M i lfo r d village wer e to be
joi n edin wed lo ck. Though  reck on e d a  melancholy  man , Mr. Hoo per
ha d  a plac i d cheer fulnes s f orsuch oc ca sio ns ,  wh i ch  of t enexcitedasy mpath etic s m i le w her e li velie r merriment w oul d ha v e b een
t hrown  awa y.  Ther e wasno qu al ity of his disp osit ion which  ma de 
hi mmoreb eloved  th anthis. T he comp a nyat t h ewedding awaited
hi sa r ri val with  impat i en ce ,  trustin gtha t th e stran ge a w e,  which
h ad gat h er ed  over h im  throu gh out  th e day ,  wou ld now  be disp elled . 
But such wasn ot the result .  W h e nM r. H oop er came, th e fi r st
t hing th att heireyesre s te d  on was the same ho rr ible b lackveil,
which h ad added d e e p er gloom  tot he funeral, and c ouldportend
no t hing but  evil  to thewedding.S u ch was i tsimm edi ate e ff ect on
the gu e s ts t ha t a clo udseemedtohav e r oll ed  duskilyfrom
ben ea th  t he  bl ack c r ape, and  d imm ed  th e lig h t of t he ca ndle s.  T h e
b ridal p a ir s tood  u pbefo reth e min iste r . B ut thebride's c old fing er squivere d in the trem ul ous hand o fthe  bride g r oom, and  her
deathlike paleness causeda w hispe r th at the ma ide n whohad been
b urieda few  h our s befor e wa s c om e from her g rav e tobe  mar ried.
I f ever another wed d ing  were so dism al,  itw a stha t  f a mou so new h ere they tolled  the weddi ng kn ell. After per fo rming t he
cere mony, Mr. Hoo per raise d a glass  o f wi n e  to  his lips,  wishing 
happines s  to t h enewma rri ed cou pl e i n a s traino f m ild p leasan tr y
that  ough tto havebrightened the features  of th e gue sts , like ache e rfu l gleam f romthe hearth . A t t hat i nst a nt, c atch i ng  ag limps e of his figur e  i n t h e  l ooking-glas s , the  blac k v e il
inv olve d his own spiriti n the horror w ithw h ich  it over wh elmed
all othe rs.  H i s  frame s hu ddered, his  lips gr ew white , he s pilt
t he unta s t ed wine u ponthe 
ourners followed,_saddening all_the street, with the_dead before
them,_and_Mr. Hooper_in_his black veil_behind.

"Why do you_look back?" said one_in the procession_to_his
partner.

"I had a fancy," replied she, "that the minister and the maiden's
spirit were walking_hand_in hand."

"And_so_had_I, at the same moment,"_said the other.

That night, the_handsomest couple_in Milford village were to be
joined in wedlock._Though_reckoned a melancholy_man, Mr. Hooper
had a placid cheerfulness for such occasions,_which often excited
a sympathetic smile where_livelier merriment would_have_been
thrown_away. There was no_quality of his disposition which made
him_more beloved than this. The company_at the wedding awaited
his arrival with impatience,_trusting that the strange awe, which
had_gathered over him throughout the_day, would_now be dispelled.
But such was_not the result._When Mr._Hooper came, the_first
thing that their eyes rested on_was the same_horrible black veil,
which had added deeper_gloom_to the funeral,_and_could_portend
nothing but_evil to the_wedding._Such was_its_immediate effect on
the guests that a_cloud_seemed to have rolled duskily from
beneath the_black crape, and dimmed_the_light of the candles._The
bridal pair stood up before_the minister. But the bride's cold
fingers_quivered in_the tremulous_hand of the bridegroom, and her
deathlike paleness caused a whisper that_the maiden who had been
buried a_few hours before was_come from_her_grave to be_married.
If_ever another_wedding were so dismal, it was that_famous one
where_they tolled the wedding knell. After_performing the
ceremony, Mr. Hooper_raised_a glass of wine to his_lips, wishing
happiness to the newmarried couple_in a strain of mild_pleasantry
that_ought_to have brightened the features_of the guests, like a
cheerful gleam_from the hearth._At that instant, catching a
glimpse of his_figure_in the looking-glass, the black veil
involved_his_own spirit in the horror with_which_it_overwhelmed
all others. His frame shuddered,_his lips grew white, he spilt
the_untasted wine upon the