The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-03-29
From the Olire Branch.
The Bridal Wine Glass.

"Pledge with wine-pledge with wine
cried the young and thoughtless Harvey Wood
"pledge with wine )" ran through the brilliant
crowd.
The beautiful bride grew pale-the decisive
hour had come. She pressed her white hands
together and the leaves of the bridal wreath
trembed on her pure brow; her breath came
quicker, her heart beat wilder.
eyes Marion, lay aside your scruples for
this once" said the Judge in a low tone, going
towards his daughter, the company expect
it; do not so seriously infringe upon the rules
of etiquette in your own home act as you
please but in mine, for this once, please me- D
Every eye was turned towards the bridal
pair. Marion's principles were well known.
Henry had been convivialist, but of late his
friends noted the change in his manners, the
difference in his habts-and tonight they
watched to see, as they sneeringly said, if he
was tied down to a womans opinion so soon.
Pouring brimming breaker, they held it
with tempting smiles toward Marion. She was
still very pale, though more composed; and
her hand shook not, as smiling back, she grace,
fully accepted the crystal tenpter, and raised
it to her lips. But scarcely had she done so,
when every hand was arrested by her piercing
exclamation of ooh how terrbe;"
"What is it 2" cried one and all thronged
together; for she had slowly carried the glass
at arms length, and was ixedly regarding it as
though it were some hideous object
"Wait," she answered, while an inspired
light shone from her dark eyes, "wait, and l
will tell you" 81 see," she added, slowly,
pointing one jewelled finger at the sparkling
ruby liquid -" a sight that beggars all descrip-
ton; and yet listcn-I will paint it for you if
| can. 1t is lonely spot; tall mountains
crowned with verdure rise in awful sublimity
around river runs through, and bright flow
ers grow to the waters edge.-Ihere is thick,
warm mist, that the sun seeks vainly to pierce.
Trees, lofty and beautiful, wave to the airy
motion of birds; but there group of Indians
gather; they fit to and fro with something
like sorrow upon their dark brows. And in
heir midst lies manly form-but his cheek
how deathly, his eye wild with the fitful fire of
fever One friend stands beside him-nay, l
should say knecls; for see, he is pill owing that
poor head upon his breast.
Genius in'runs oil the high, holy looking
brow why should death mark it, and he SO
young? Look how he throws back the damp
curls! see him clasp his hands hear his thrill.
ing shrieks for life mark how he clutches at
the form Of his companion, imploring to be
saved. Oh hear him call piteously his faith,
er's name--see him twine his fingers together
as he shreks for his sister--his only sister
the twin Of his soul--weeping for him in his
distant native land.
"Seen' she exclaimed, while the bridal par
ty shrank back, the untasted wine trembling
in their faltering grasp, and the Judge fell,
overpowered, upon his seat" see his arms
are lifted to heaven--he prays, how wildly for
mercy hot fever rushrs through his veins.
The friend beside him is weeping awe-stri&.
on, the dark men move silently away, and leave
the living and the dying together"
There was hush in that princely paror,
broken only by what seemed a smothcrcd sob
from some manly bosom. The bride stood yet
upright, with quvering lip, and tears stealing
to the outward edge of her lashcs. Her beau.
tful arm had lost its tension, and the glass,
with its 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 awfuly distinct; she still fixed
her sorrowful glance upon the wiue.cup.
1t is evening now; the great white moon
is coming up, and its beams lay gently on his
forehead. He moves not; his eyes are set in
their sockets; dim are their piercing glances
in vain his friend whispers the name of father
and sister,-death is there. Death--and no
soft hand, no gentle voice to bless and soothe
him. His head sinks back ono convulsive
shudder! he is dead"
A groan ran through the assembly, so vivid
was her desert ption, so unearthly her look, so
inspired her manner er-that-what she desert.
bed, seemed actually to have taken place then
and there. They noticed also that the bride
groom hid his face in lis hands and was weep.
ing.
dead" she repeated again, her lips quiv-
cring faster, and her voice more and more bro.
ken ; Sand there they scoop him grave
and there, without shroud, they lay him down
in that damp, recking earth. The onl ly son of
a proud father, the only, the idolised brother
of fond sister. And he sleeps to day inEsthat
distant country, with no stone to mark the
spot. There he lics-my fathers SONNY
own twin brother! a victim to this deadly poi
son. "Father,". she exclaimed, turning sud.
denly, while the tears rained down her beauti.
full checks, father shall drink it now!"
The form of the old Judge was convulsed
with agony. lie raised not his head, but in a
smothercd voice he faltered-"no, no, my
child, in Gods name-no."
She lifted the gIittering goblet, and letting
it suddenly fall to the floor, it was dashed in a
thousand pieces. Many a fearful eye watch,
ed her movement, and instantancously every
wine glass was transferred to the marble table
on which it had been preparcd.--Ihen as she
looked at the fragments of crystal, she turned
to tbp comnanv SAVING I" LET no friend hereaf.