Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-10-02
NlisfeIlanp.
The Bridal Wine Cup.
A THRi' LING SKETCH.

lCuuc Will Wtilc tIlTuupu tue cTuWu.
The beautiful bride grew pale--the decisive
hour had come. She pressed her white hands
together, and the leaves of her bridal wreath
tremhled on her brow; her breath came quicker
aud her heart beat wilder.
Yes, Marion, day lay aside your scruples
for this once" said the Judge, in a low tone.
going toward his daughter, 6 the company or
cepl it, Do not so seriously infringe upon the
rule OF etiquette in your own home act as you
peass, but in mine, for once, please me-
Every eye was turned towards the bridal pair.
Marion's principles were well known. Henry
had been conviviast, but Of late his friends
noticed the charge in his manners, the Inference
In his habs-and that night they watched to)
see, as they snaeringly siil, if he was tied
down by woman's opinion s, soon.
Pouring brimmng beaker, they held it with
tempting smiles towards Marion She was very
pale, though more composed, and her hand shook
not, as smiling back, she gracefully accepted the
crystal ,empter, and raised it 10 her lips But
scarcely had she done so, when every hand was
arrested by her piercing exclamation off, oh
how terrible !"
g What is it !" cried one and all, thronging
together, for she slowly carried the glass at arms
length, and was fxedly regarding it as though it
were some hideous object.
= Waltz she answered. while an inspiring
l~ht hor J,,ty W. anI |
will tell you see," she added, slowly point
ing one jewclled finger at the sparkling liquid.
a sight that beggars all description and yet lis
ten-l will paint it for you if | can. 1t is
lonely spot tall mountains crowned with YER
dure rise in awful sublimty around river
runs through, and bright flowers grow to the
waters edge There is thick, warm mist that
the sun seeks vainly to pierce. frees, lofty and
beautiful wave to the airy motion of the birds /;
but there's group of Indians gather; they fit
to and fro with something like sorrow upon their
dark brows and ia their midst lies a manly
form-but his dark cheeks grow deahly, his
ewes wild with the fatal fire of fever. One
friend stands beside, him-nay. should say
knees = for see. he is pilowing that poor head
upon his breast.
s. Genius in ruins-oh the high. hoy looking
brow, why should death mark it And he is
young. Look, now he throws back the damp
curls See him clasp his hands hear his thrill
inc shrieks for life mark how he clutches "a,
the iorn of his companion, implorlng to be
saved. Oh hear him call piteously his fathers S
name-seo him twne his fingers together AS he
shreks for his siser-hs only sister, the twin OF
his ou--weeping for him in his distant native
land.
"See !" she reclaimed, while the bridal party
shrank back the nnasted wine trembling in their
grasp, and the judge fell, overpowered, upon his
seat" see his arms are lifted to hcaven-he
prays, how wildly. for mercy but fever rushes
through his veins The friend besides him is
weeping awe-stricken. the dark men move s-
lenty away, and leave the living and The dying
together"
There was a hush in that princely parlor,
broken only by what seemed sob from some
manly bosom. The bride stood yet upright,
with quivering lip, and tears stealing to the out
watd edge of her lashcs Her beautiful arm had
lost its exention, and the glass, with its little
troubled red waves comes slowly towards the
range of her vision. She spoke again; every
lip was mute. Her voice was faint, low, ye
awfulIy distinct, She still fixed her sorrowiu
glance upon the wine cup.
" 1t is evening now The great white moon il
comlning up, and its beames lay gently on hi
forehead. He moves moths eyes are set II
their sockets-dim are their piercing gances ; il
win his friends whispered the names of father am
sster--death-andH 40 soft hand, no gentle vote
to soo,he bim Hi head sinks back one con
vulsjre shudder-he is dead
A groan ran through the assembly, 50 vivi
her description, so unearh'y was her look
So inspired her manner that what she describe
seemed actually to have taken place then there
They noticed also that the bridegroom hid hi
face in his hands and was weeping.
-" Dead!'' she repeated again, her lips quivel
ing faster, and her voice more broken g an
they scoop him grave, and there without
shroud, they lay him down in that damp, reel
ing earth. The only son of proud father, lido
lied brother of fond sister, and he sleeps tt
day in that distant country, with no stone
mark the shot. There he lies-my fathers 81
M own twin brother victim to this dpadl
poison Father !" she exclaimed, turning SUI
denly, while the tears raned down her beautit,
cheeks, Father shall drink nowl
The form of the old Judge was convulse
with agony. He raised not his head but in
smothered voice filtered
=" No, no, my child, in Gods name-no
She lifted the glitering goblet, and letting
suddenly lall to the flour, it was dashed in
thousand pieces Many fearful eye had watch
her movement, and lnstantaneously every wi
glass was transferred to the marble on which
had been prepared. Them as she looked at up
fragments of crystal, she turned to the compar
saying Let no friend hereafter who loves n
tempt me to peril my soul for wire No, 6ru
are the everlasting hills than nv resolve. G
helping me, never to touch or taste deadly pos
And he whom have given my hand-y
watched over my brothers dying form in
last solemn hour, and buried the dear wanJs
III that land of Goodwill, trust, sustain me
that resolve. Will you not, my husband ~
His gstening eyes, his sad, sv Get smile
her answer The Judge left the room, and "
n hour after he returned, and in more sub,