THE MARRIAGE BEFORE GOD.
Gunther had returned from the palace to his own lodgings in the city.
Here, the labors of the day over, he sat dreaming of his love, wondering
whether she thought of him during these dreary weeks of their forced
parting.
He had stretched himself upon a divan, and, with his head thrown back
upon the cushion, he gave himself up to thoughts of that love which was
at once the greatest grief and the greatest joy of his life.
"Will it ever end?" thought he. "Will she ever consent to leave that
princely home for me?"
Sometimes a cloud came over his handsome, noble features, sometimes the
sunlight of happiness broke over them, and then he smiled. And on he
dreamed, happy or unhappy, as he fancied that Rachel was his, or was
parted from him forever.
The door-bell rang with a clang that startled him. But what to him was
the impatience of those who sought admittance to his house? He had
almost begun to fancy that Rachel was before him, and he was vexed at
the intrusion.
Meanwhile, the door of his room had been softly opened, but Gunther had
not heard it. He heard or saw nothing but his peerless Rachel. She was
there with her lustrous eyes, her silky hair, her pale and beautiful
features. She was there.
What! Did he dream? She was before him, but paler than her wont, her
dark eyes fixed upon him with a pleading look, her lithe figure swaying
from side to side, as with uncertain footsteps she seemed to be
approaching his couch. Good God! Was it an apparition? What had
happened?
Gunther started to his feet, and cried out, "O my Rachel, my beloved!"
"It is I," said she, in a faltering voice. "Before you take me to your
heart, hear me, Gunther. I have fled from my father's house forever--for
he would have sold me to a man whom I abhor, and whom I could never have
married, had my heart been free. I bring neither gold nor jewels. I come
to you a beggar--my inheritance a father's curse, my dowry naught but my
love and faith. So dowered and so portioned, will you take me, Gunther?"
Gunther looked upon his love with eyes wherein she must have read
consolation for all her trials, for her sweet lips parted with a happy
smile.
"My treasure!" was his reply, as he took her little trembling hand, and
pressed it fondly within his own. "Come, my Rachel, come and see how I
have longed for this day."
He drew her forward, and opened a door opposite to the one by which she
had entered.
"Come, your home is ready, my own."
They entered together, and Rachel found herself in a drawing-room where
taste and elegance amply atoned for the absence of splendor.
"Now, see your sitting-room."
Nothing could be more cheerful or homelike than the appointments of this
cosy apartment, lighted like the drawing-room by a tasteful chandelier.
"There," said Gtinther, pointing to a door, "is your dressing-room, and
within, your chamber, my Rachel. For six months this dwelling has
awaited its mistress, and that she might never enter it unawares, it has
been nightly lighted for her coming. I was almost tempted to despair,
beloved. You have saved me from a discouragement that was undermining my
health. Now you are here, and all is well. When shall the priest bless
our nuptials! This very night, shall he not, my bride?"
"He can never bless them," replied Rachel, solemnly.
Gunther turned pale.
"Never? You have not, then, come to be my wife?"
"I cannot be your wife according to human rites, Gunther, for well you
know that I have sworn never to become a Christian. But I am yours for
time and eternity, and knowing my own heart, I accept the world's scorn
for your dear sake. Earth refuses to bless our nuptials, but God will
hear our vows. Gunther, will you reject me because I am a Jewess?"
Gunther imprinted a kiss upon her forehead, and sank on his knees before
her.
"Rachel," said he, raising his right hand to heaven, "I swear to love
you for better or for worse, devoting my life to your happiness. On my
knees I swear before God to honor you as my wife, and to be faithful and
true to you until death does us part."
Rachel then knelt at his side, and, laying her hand in his repeated her
vows. Then they kissed each other, and Gunther, taking her in his arms,
pressed her to his throbbing heart.
"We are husband and wife," said he. "God has received our vows, and now,
Rachel, you are mine, for He has blessed and sanctioned your entrance
into my house!"