The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-06-23
THE BRIDAL WINE CUP.
BY MRS. N. A. DENsIsoy.

"Pledge with wine! pledge with wine!
cried young and thoughtless Harvey Wood
"Pledge with wine!" ran through the bril-
liant crowd.
! The beautiful bride grew pale-the deci
sive hour had come. She pressed her hand.
together, and the leaves of the bridal
wreath trembled on her pure brow; hel
breath came quicker: her heart beat wilder
"Yes, Marion, lay aside your scruples this
once,' said the Judge in low tone, gone
towards his daughter; "the company ex
poets it. Do not so seriously infringe upor
the rules Of etiquette. In your own homo
act as you please; but for this once, please
me-
Every eye was turned towards the brida
pair. Marion's principles were well known
Henry had been convivialist; but of late
his friends had noted change in his manner
difference in his habits; and tonight they
watched him "to see," as they sneeringly
said, ''if he was tied down to woman's opin.
ion SO soon.''
Pouring brimming beaker, they held j,
with tempting smiles towards Marion. She
was still very pale, though more composed
and her hand shook not, as, smiling back
she gracefully accepted the crystal tempter
and raised it to her lips; but scarcely had
she done so, when every hand was arrested
by the piercing exclamation, "Oh! how ter
rible."
"What is it, cried one and all, throng-
ING t ge her: %. SIZE had s!osly carried the
glass at arms length, and was regarding it
as though it were some hideous object.
''Well," she answered, while an inspired
light shone from her dark eyes; swat and
| will tell you. see,'' she added, pointing
one jeweled finger slowly at the sparkling
ruby liquid, "a sight that beggars all ldescrip-
ton; and yet, listen-I will paint it for you
if can. 1t is lonely spot--tall noun.
tains, crowned with verdure, rise in awful
sublimity around-a river runs through, and
bright flowers grow to the waters edge.
There is thick, warm mist that the sun
seeks vainly to pierce. Trees, lofty and
beautiful, wave to the airy motion OF the
birds: but there--a group OF Indians gather.
They fit to and fro with something like sor-
row depicted upon their dark brows; and in
their midst lies manly form-but his cheek.
how deathly! his eyes wild with the fire of
fever. One friend stands beside him-nay
| should say kneels; for see, he is pillowing
That poor head upon his breast.
Genus in ruins!- IN, the high, holy look
ing 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 thrilling shrieks for life! mark how
he clutches at the form of his companion,
imploring to be saved! Oh, hear him call
rlteously his fathers name! See him twine
his fingers together as he shrieks for his sis
ter-his only sister-the twin of his soul
weeping for him in distant land!
''See!" she exclaimed, while the bridal
party shrunk back holding the untasted wine
in trembling grasp, and the Judge fell over
powered upon his seat; ''see! his arms are
raised to heaven! he prays-how wildly
Tor mercly Bet hb2etsds him is Weeping Awe
stricken, the dark men move silently away,
and leave the living and dying together
There was hush in that princely parlor,
broken only by what seemed a sob from
some manly bosom. The bride yet stood
upright, with quivering lip, and tears steal
ing to the edges of her eye-lashes Her
beautiful arm had lost its tension, and the
glass, with its troubled waves, came slowly
to the range of her vision. She spoke
again. Every lip was mute. Her voice
was low and faint, yet awfully distinct; she
still fixed her sorrowful glance upon the
wine cup.
ut is evening now; the great white moon
is coming up, and its beams lie 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
names of father and sister-death is there;
death-and no soft hand, no gentle voice to
bless and sooth him. His head sinks back
one convulsive shudder-he is dead!'
A groan ran through the assembly, sol
vivid was her description, so unearthly was
her look, so inspired her manner, that what
she represented seemed actually to have ta-
ken place then and there. They noticed
also that the bridegroom hid his face in his
hands, and was weeping.
.sDead!" she repeated, and her lips quiver-
ing faster, and her voice more and more
broken; "and there they scoop him grave;
and there, without shroud, they lay him
down in that damp, reeking earth. The on
" son of proud father-the only, the idol
zed brother of a fond sister! And he sleeps
to-day in that distant country, and no stone
to mark the spot! There he lies-my .tatt-
sr's son, my own trin brotter.-a victim to THIS
deadly poison! Father.'' she exclaimed,
while the tears rained down her beautiful
cheeks; "father! shall drink 1T now!"
The form of the old Judge was convulsed
with agony. He raised not his head, but
in smothered voice he taltered, "No, no!
nv dear child-in Gods name, nor
She lifted the glittering goblet, and letting
it suddenly fall to the floor, it was dashed in
to a thousand pieces. Many a fearful eye
watched her movement, and dinstantaneously
every wine-glass was transferred to the mar
BILE table on which it had been prepared.
Then, as she looked at the fragments of the
crystal, she turned to the company saying,
Let no friend hereafter, who loves me,
tempt me to peril my soul for wine. No firm
er are the everlasting hills than my resolve,
God helping me, never to touch or taste that
terrible poison. And he to whom | have
yiyen my hand-who watched over my
brothers. dying form in that last solemn
hour, and buried the dear wanderer there by
the river in that land of gold, will, trust,
sus tain me in that tresolye-will you not, my
dear husband!"
His glistening eyes, his sad, sweet smile,
was his only answer. The Judge left the
room, and when, after an hour, he returned,
and in more subdued manner, took part i'll
the entertainment of the bridal guests, no
one could fail to read that he, too, had de-
ternimed to Danish the enemy at once and
forever from his princely home.