South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1853-05-27
TIE BRIDAL WINE CUP.
A THRILLING SEETcu.

! white hands together, and the leaves of
! her bridal wreath trembled on her pure
! brow her breath came quicker, and her
heart beat wilder.
Eyes, Clarion, lay aside your scruples for
this once,' said the Judg. in a low tone,
going towards his daughter, phe company
expect it. DO not so seriously infringe
upon the rules Of etiquette; in your home
act as you please, but in mine, for this
cnce, please me-
| Every eye was turned towards tie bri-
daI pair. Marion's principles were we'll
known. Henry had been n convivialist,
but of late his friends noticed the change
in his manners, the difference in his habits
and to night they watched him to see,
as they sneeringly said if he was tied down
to woman's opinion so sooE.
Pouring a brimmins beaker, they held
it with tempting smiles toward Marion.
She was very pale, though more compos-
ed, and her hand shook not, as smiling back,
she gracefully accepted the crystal tempt
er, and raised it 10 her lips. But scarce
Iy had she done SO, when every hand was
arrested by her piercing exclamation Of
'oh how terrible,'
sWhat is it . cried one and all, tIrong-
ing together, for she had slowly carried
the glass at arms length, and was fix.dly
! regarding it as though it were some hide
ons object. -
Waii,' she answered, while an inspired
| light shone from her dark eyes, swat and
| will tell yon. src,' she added, slowly
pointing one jeweled finger at the spark
ling, ruby liquid--a sight thai beggcr, all
description, and yet listen-I will paint il
for you if can. 1t is a lonely spot tall
mountains crowned with verdura rise in
awful sub!imity around, river runs
through and bright Mowers grow to the
waters edge. Th~rk is thick warm mis-,
that the sun seeks vainly to pierce. Trees,
! lofty and beautiful, wave to the airy mo-
ton Of TIE birds. but th"rc-a group OF
Indians gather; liiey fit to and fro with
! something like sorrow upon their dasl,
brows. And il their midst lies manly
form-but his chr-l; how deathly, his eve
wild with the iitini fire OF fever. One
| friend stands beside him-nav, should
say, kneels; for see, he is pilIowins thai
poor had upon his breast.
8rnius in rnins-oh the high, hoIr
looking brow! why should death mark it,
and he so young. Loob how hr throws
back tho damp crrlS. see him clasp his
hands hear his thrilling shrieks for life :,
mark how he clutches at the form OF his
companion, imp'oTirg 10 b" saved. Oh !!
hear hini call pi'rnnsIv his fathers name
see him twin" his fingers together as he
HhrIsks Tor his SIs,rT--his only siscr-thr
twin Of his son!--we'ping for him in his
distant native land.
'Srr" she exclaimed, while tlr bridal
par:v shrank back, the untasled wine
!rern5l"d in their faI,sring grasp, and the
Judge fell, o"erpowcrrd, upon his seat
'se" his arms are lifted TO hraven-hc
prays, how wildly. for mercy. ho. fever
rushrs through his vtirs. The friend BE-.
side him is weeping awe-strici;rp, the
dark men move silently away, and leave
the living and thu diving tosrthpr.'
There was hush in that princely par
ior, broken by what seemed smo,htred
sob from some manly bosom. The bride
yet stood upright, with qivering LIP, and
tears stealing to tlI" outward edge of her
iashrs. Her bcauiiiul arm had lost lis
tension: and the glass, with its little irou-
bied red waves, came slowly towards the
range OF icr vision. She spoke again: e.
very lip was mute Her voice was low.
faint, yet, yet awfuliy distinct; she still
fixed her sorrowlui glance upon the wine
cup.
1T is evening now; the great white
moon Is Coming up, and b:au,s Jay gently
on his ior,!"ad. He moves not his eyes
are set in their sockets dim are their
piercing glance in vain his friends wbis-
per the name Of father and sister death is
there. Death; and no soft hand no GEN
tie voice 10 bless and soothe him. His
i.~--i -i-;--i-L--L .-----.-i.-..-I =,
lie is dead -
y groan ran through the assembly, so
vivid was her description, so unearthly her
look, so inspired her manner, that what
she described seemed actually 10 have la
ken place then and there. They noticed
also that the bridegroom hid his face in his
hands and was weeping.
Dead? she repeated again, her lips
quivrring faster and faster, and her voice
more and more broken; 'and there they
scoop him gtave, and there, without a
shroud, they lay him down in that damp.
rt,king earth. The only son Of a proud
father, The only idolzed brother Of fond
sister. And he sleeps to-day in that dis
tant country, with no stone 10 mark The
spot. There he lies--my fnthcr'S SOIL
my own fuin-6rothcr "a victim 10 THIS
deadly poison. Father she exclaimed,
turning suddenly, while the tears raincd
down her beautiful checks, Ia,hcr, shall
drink il now :"
The form Of the old Judge was con-
vulsed with agony. lie raised not his
head, but in a smo,hered voice he Galtercd
mo, no, my child, in Gods name--no.'
She lifted the gliitering goblet and let
ting il suddenly fall 10 The floor, it was
dashed in thousand pieces. Many tear
ful eye watched her movement, and in
simultaneously every wine glass was trans
5crrcd TO the marble table on which it had
been prepared. Then as she looked at The
! fragments Of crystal, :ho turned TO The
: Coiupany SAVING trt ,,o fr;cpJ tpreaftcr