Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-05-29
THE BRIDAL WINE CUP.
A THRILLING SKETCH.


"Pledge with wine-pledge with wine,"
cried The young and ihoughtless Harvey Wood,
"peege with wine," ran through the crowd.
The beautiful bride grew pale-the decisive
hour had come. She pressed her white hands
iogt lher, and the leaves Of her bral wreath
trembled on her pure brow; her breath came
quicker and her heart beat wilder.
"Yes, Marion, lay aside your Scruples for
his once" said the Judge, in low lone' 60
ing toward his daughter, "the company expect
1t. Do not so seriously infringe upon the rules
Of etiquette; in yourown home act as you
please, but in mine, for this once, please me-"
Every eye was TUNED toward the bridal
pair. Morion's principles were well known.
Henry had been conyivlallst, but oil laie his
friends noticed the change in bis manners, The
difference in his habilS--and 10 night they
watched 10 see, ss they sneering said, if he
was tied 10 a woman's opinion so soon.
Pouring brmming beaker, they held ii
with tempting smiles toward Marion. She
was very pale, though more composed, and
her hand shook not, aS smiling, back she
gracefully accepted The crystal temper, and
Tased it 10 her lips. But scarcely had she
done 50, when every hand was arrested ey her
piercng exclamation of "ho. how tetrible"
"W nat is t?" cried one and all, thronging
together, for she had slowly carried the glass
at arms length, and was fxedly regarding IL,
as though il were some hldeouS object.
"Wait," she answered, while an inspired
light shone from her dark eyes, "wait, and I
will tell you. see," she added, slowly
pointing one jewelled finger at the sparkling
iquid--"a sight that beggars all description,
aud yet listen--I will pain; il for you If can.
Ii is a lonely spot; tall mountains crowned
with vendure rise in awful su5limlly around: a
river runs though and bright flowers grow
10 the wasers edge. There is thick warm
miS, that the sun seeks vainly to PIERCE
Trees, lofty and beautiful, wave 10 the airy
motion of the birds; but there--a group Of La
dars gather; they fit 10 and fro, with some
thing like sorrow pom their dark brows. And
in their nj idSt lies a manly form; but his dark
cheek, how deathly; his eyes wild with The IT.
full fire of fever. One friend stand beside hin
nay should say. kneeis; for see, he is pit
lowing that poor head upon his breast.
"Genious in ruinS--oh! The high, holy look
| ing brow, why should death mark it, and he sc
young. Look how he throws back the damp
cursj see him clasp his hands! hear his thrill
ling shrieks for life! mark how he clutches al
the form Of his companion, imploring to be
saved. Oh! hear him call ptlousIy his faith
er's name-see him twine his fingers togethe
as he shriekS for his Sister-hiS only sister--lft
twin OF his sOul--weeping for him in his dis
tant native land.
"See!" she exclaimed, while the brida
party shrank back, the unlased wine trem
bling in their grasp, and the Judge fell, over
powered upon his seat--"See, his arms are III
ted to heaven-he prays, how wildly, Tor mer
cyl but fever TuShes through his brains. The
friend beside him is weeping; awe stricken
the dark men move silently away, and leaT
the living and The dead dying together."
There was hash in that princely parlor
broken only by what seemed smothered sol
from some manly bosom. The bride stood ye
upright, with quivering lip, and tears s!ealln
to the outward edge OF her ;aShes. Her beau
tiful arm had lost its extension, and The glass
with its little troubled red waves came Slowl
toward the range OF her vision. She spok
again; every lip was mute. Her voice wa
low, faint, yet awfuly distinct; she sill fixe
her sorrowful glance upon The wine cup.
3 at is evening now; The great white moon
coming up, and his beams lay gently on hi
; forehead. He moves not; his eyes are set /
them sockets; dim are their piercing glances
in vain his friends whisper the name Of fa!ht
and sSler--deatl--and soft hand, no gent
voice to bless and Sootbe his. His head sink
. back! one convulsive shudder! he is deadp'
A grcan ran through the assembly, so vivi
was her description, so uneatthiy her look, 6
| ! inspired heI manner, that what she describe
> seemed actually to have taken place then an
l.I oaI a. hat tho hri1aurnn
hid his face in his hand and was weeping.
"Deadp she repeated again, her lips gun
= ering faster, and her voice more and more bTC
ken, "and there they scoop him grave, an
,, there, without shroud, they lay him down
that domp reeking earth. The only son of
proud faher, the only dolized brother OF for
SISTER. And he sleeps 10 day in that dislar
J country, with no stone 10 mark the Spoi.-
: There he lies--my Iather's son--my own !wl
> brotherl--a victim 10 this deadly pOSon.-
. Father she exclaimed, turning student
while the tears rained down her beautil
cheeks, "Gather shall drink ii no@!'
/, The form of the old Judge was conrulst
. with agony. lie raised mol has head hut in
: smothered voice he faltered--"No, no, II
!, child, in Gods name, no."
!. She lifted the gIittfeing goblet, and letli
n il suddenly fall 10 the floor, il was dashed IL
,e thousand pieces. Manya fearful eye watch
y her movement, aud instantaneously eve
n wine -glass was transferred TO the marble tat
4 on which it had been plepared, Then,
she lookedat the fragments oil crystal, $
,s iurnedto The company saying, "let no frie
thereafter, who loves me, tempt me 10 perf;i
sonl for vine. Not firmer are The eyerlasii
igl hills than my resolve, God helping Inc, ne
OF 10 touch or taste iha, terrible poison. Aud
Ito whom have given my hnnd--who watch
Q Ioyer my bto;hef's dying form. in that last $
mi emn hour, and buried The dear wanderer tn
lby the river in that land of gold, will, tru