The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-04-21
The Bridal Wine Cup.

Pledge with wine pledge with wine,
cried the young and thoughtlcss Harvey
Wood pledge with wine,' ran through
the brilliant crowd.
The beautiful bride grew palc--the
decisive hour had come. She pressed
her white hand together, and the leaves
Of the bridal wreath trembled on her
pure brow her breath became quicker,
her heart beat wilder
yes, Marion, lay aside your scruples
for this once said the Judge, in low
tone, going towards his daughter, the
company expect it. Do not seriously
infringe upon the rules Of etiquette; /; in
your home act as you please but in
mine, for this once, please me-
Every eye was turned towards the
bridal pair. Marion's principles We're
well known Iervey had been a con-
vivialist, but of late his friends noted the
change in his manners, the difference in
his habits-and tonight they watched
him to see, as they said, if he was tied
down to a woman's opinion so soon.
Pouring brimming breaker, they
held it with tempting smiles toward
Marion. She was still very pale, though
more composed; aud her hand shook
not, as smiling back, she gracefully ac-
ccpted the crystal tempter, and raised it
to her lips. But scarcely had she done
so, when every hand was arrested by her
piercing exclamation Of oh how
terriblen y
'What is it cried one and all
thonging together; for she had slowly
carried the glass at arms length, and
was iixedly regarding it, as though it
were some hideous object
watt she answered, while an in
spired light shone from her dark eyes,
wait, and | will tell you. l see,' she
added slowly, pointing one jcweled
finger at the sparkling ruby liquid-'a
sight that bcggars all description; and
yet listen-I will paint it for you if |
can. 1t is lonely spot; tall noun
tains crowned with vcrdure rise in awful
sublimity around II river runs though,
and bri ght flowers grow to the waters
edge. There is a thick, warm mist that
the sun seeks vainly to pierce. Trees,
lofty and beautiful wave to the airy
motion of birds but there-a group Of
Indians gather they fit to and fro with
something like sorrow upon their dark
5rows. And in their midst lies Il manly
torm-but his cheek how deathly, his
eye wild with the ftful fire Of fever
One friend stands besides him-nay, |
should say knecls; for see, he is pillow
ing that poor head upon his breast.
Genius in ruins-oh ! the high
holy looking brow why should death
mark it, and he so young; Look how
he throws back the damp curls see him
twine his fingers together as he shricks
for his sister-his only sister--the twin
of his soul-weeping for him in his dis
tant native land.
See = she exclaimed, while the
bridal party shrank back, the untasted
wine trembling in their ialtering grasp,
and the Judge fell, overpowered, upon
his seat see his arms are lifted to
heaven-hc prays, how wildly for mercy
hot fever rushed through his veins. The
friend beside him is weeping; awe
stricken, the dark men move silently |
away, and leave the living and the dying
together
There was hush in that princcly
parlor, broken only by what 'seemed a
smothered sob from some manly bosom.
The bride stood yet upright, with quiy-
cring lip, and tears stealing to the out
ward edge Of her lashes Her beautiful
arm had lost its tension, and the glass,
with little troubled red waves, came
slowly towards the range of her vision.
She spoke again; every lip was mute.
Her voice was low, faint, yet awiully
distinct; she still fixed her sorrowful
glance upon the wine cup.
1T is evening now; the great white
moon is coming up, and his beams lay
gently on his forehead. lie moves not
his eyes are set in their sockets dim