Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-08-22
A THRILLING SKETCH.

bride. emerging from bevy ofbridesmads
and extending glass Of brimming cham
paigne as she spoke.
Tie gentleman whom she addressed had
studiously relrained, during the evening,
from drinking any ol' the costly wine, pre-.
pared for the guests. But finding himself
the object Of general altenIion-for when
the bride spoke every eye was upon him
he colored. stammered few ndistncr
words, lonk The glass. aud bo&ing grace.
fully drank long life and happiness to tho
bride.
Il told you should succeed" said the
young and happy creature, her eyes spark
ling with triumph, as she retired into the
circle of bridesmaids. II knew Col. War
rem would not refuse me. Wha, n pity
he has go, such purlanical notions in his
head. He used 10 bcIoremost with hap.
py allusion or eloquent sentiment when the
vine circulated.
No one was Ii,ere to contradict this iny>
ous bul lhoughtless creature, or to tell her
that Colonel Warrcn's indulgence in wine
nearly proved his ruin. He had been abb
sent from his native city for some years,
during which retiod he had formed reso.
luton not 10 drink, in consequence Of
conviction Of his OWE Weakness. On his
return, bis old associates in vain persuaded
him TO alter his detern inalion. On vari.
Gus festive occasions they had endeavored
10 induce him to jnin them 10 pledging
each other, bu, his answer had always
been the same. This was the first time.
since his return, thar wine had been inlro-
duced in Inc presence of ladies. It was
resolved to try whether the influence Of
the sex would not break a resolution which
more than one fell 10. be reproactt On
himself How the scheme succeeded we
have SEEM,
No pen can adequately describe he emo.
lions Of Col. Warren during. the moment
he hesiialed before lhking the pruffered
glass from the bride. He was chvaIrous
to fault in his deneanor 10 the sex, and
had never hcen known to refuse u favor
asked by woman. The bride was The
daughter Of his early friend, cherished
treasure, whom he had many time dan
died on his knee, aud whom he had never
done any Thing to slight or pain. lie stood
as-we have, irresulute for moment, hesi-
taiiug between fears for the result, and a
ldislike 10 disoblige his tayorile onsthis her
FsialiII5 SItlSsaE!. Rfs5E. But asless.
Lille did tho young bride think of The
dreadful issue nf her tempting words and
smiles. Little did she dream that The han
kering love for wine which hal once redu-
ced her victim 10 the virge of confirmed
inebriacy. would awake again al the tasle
Of that glass and rage with more violence
than ever. Young, happy and thought.
less. she looked oIIy at the present triumph
without considering the result. How hen
was she surprised to hear, few months
after her marriage, that Col. Warren had
become an inebfiate-that he rarely retired
to he'd unless in a slate of intoxicatun, and
that in consequence his fine person wn4
becoming disfigure'l, and his large fortune
wasting away. She shuddered, but sill
did not think Of her own agency in the
matter, anil. when uext she me, him, with
The privilege of youth aud beauty, venturrd
10 plead with him on the subject.
Madam" said, he in reply. and the
melancholy and somewhat Stern tone in
which be spoke never left her memory, sit
is too late was once as am now
rallied, lnsk n resolution never 10 drink
asain-I broke rhat resolution, you know
how, and when; and now um hopeless
inebriale."
He turned and left her presence. Her
eyes were opened, Oh, bitterly did she
reproach herself for having spoken those
fatal words. For nights she could 90,
sleep. She sought again and again 10 see
her victim, but he stunned her presensc.
They never met again bit once. Reader!
would you know how?
Some years arer, ON a cold, bleak morn.
ing in January, travelling sleigh, drawn
by Two splendid horses, was dashing along
the turnpike between Norris'own and Phil
adelphia. There had been snow storm
during the night, and fakes lay piled
against the fences and banks. where they
had been driven by the ice winds which
swep, down from the hills beyond the
SchuyIkill. The sky was sill overcast
the winl yet ragged violently, and il was
intensely cold. Few scenes eau be more
desola,e. Houses, barnes. trees. and hay
ricks. were covered with snow. and the
cattle covering in The sheds, seemed every
where To heseech the sky in vain. IA the
sleigh, with its merry bells, whirlcd down
The long hill that leads to Managing turn
pike, The horses suddenly shield, nearly
precipilaling The vehicle into an Opposite
snow bank. A lady slightly screamed
and looked od1 in alarm from the (urs that
enveloped her; but aeeiug no cause for
danger, she was about to or,ler the driver
TO. proceed, when her liulc hoy pointing to
The object which had startled the horses.
saiJ,-''NloIher, what can thar be in the
road surely it is mans hat"
The lady turned. In The centre Of the
highway was apple Of .lritIted snow lule
longer than N human body. One end or
the pile had been blown away, disclosing,
as the boy said, mans hal.
Grarious heavcn n' she exclaimed.
'.can it be tha! some poor wretch has fro.
zen to deaIh here f? James," and she turned
10 the foo, man, Ego and see."
With interest the lady watched while
lha servant brushed awey tho snow. In
a few seconds ii was apparent that corpse
yas indeed there. and poi lons before The