Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-06-27

THE BRIDAL WINE CUP.
A THRILLING SKETCH.


The beautiful bride grew palc-the
decisive hour had come. She pressed
her white hands together, and the leaves
of her bridal wreath trembled on her pure
brow; her breath came quicker ana her
heart beat wilder.
"Yes, Marion, lay aside your scruples
for this once" said the Judge. in low
tone. going towards his daughter, the
company expect it. DO not so serious
fy infringe upon the rules of etiquette
in your own home act as you please, but
an mine, for this once, please me-.
Every eye was turned towards the
bridal pair. Marions principles were
well known. Harvey had been con.
vivialist, but of late his friends noticed
the change in his manners. the difference
in his habits-and tonight they watch
ed to see, as they sneeringly said, if he
was tied down to a woman's opinion SO
soon.
Pouring brimming bcakcr. they held
it with tempting smiles towards Marion.
She was pale, though more composed. q.
and her hand shook not. as smiling back,
she gracefully accepted the crystal tempt
er, and raised it to her lips. But scarce
ly had she done SO. when every hand
was arrested by her piercing exclamation
of "oh how terrible -
"What is it cried one and all,
thronging together, for she had slowly
carried the glass at arms length, and
was fixedly regarding it as though it
were some hideous object
Wait" she answered. while an in
spired light shonc from her dark eyes.
.'wait, and | will tell you. l Sec she
added, slowly. pointing one jewclled fin
ger at the sparkling liquid. "a sight that
bcggars all description, and yet listen
Twill paint it for you il can. 1t is a
lonely spot tall mountains crowned with
veidure rise in awful sublimity around :;
river runs through and bright flowers
grow to the waters edgc.-Thcre is a
thick warm mist, that the sun seeks
yainly to pierce. Trees. lofty and beau
tiful. wave to the airy motion of the
birds but there-a group of Indians
gather they fit to and fro with some
thing like sorrow upon their dark brows !;
and in their midst lies a manly form
bat his dark cheek how deathly his c, es
wild with the titful fire of fever One
friend stands beside him-nav. should
say kneels-for see he is pillowing that
poor head upon his breast.
Genius III ruins-oh the high, ho-
ly looking brow, why should death mark
il, and he SO Young. Look how he
throws back the damp curls see him
clasp his hands hear his thrilling shreks
Tor life mark how he clutches at the
form oil his companion, imploriug to be
saved. Oh. hear HIM call piteou his
fathers name-see him twinc his fingers
together as he shrieks for his sister-his
only sister-the twin of his soul-wccp-
ing for him in his distant nltive land
See. = sac exclaimed, while III, bri-
dial party shrank back, the untastcd vine
trembling in their grasp, and .he Judge
iell, overpowerei upon his scat" Sc
his arms are lifted t. hcaven-hc pras :,
how wildly, for mercy. but fever rushe,
through his veins The nicnl b sid,
him is weeping :. awe-strlckcn, tn; dark
III IN move s.leAtly away, and Leave tn
living and tho dying together,
There was bush in that princely par
lor, broken only by what seemed ii
smothered sob from some manly breast.
The bride stood yet upright, with qAiv-
erins lip. and tears stealing to the out
ward edge of her lashes. Her beautiful
arm had lost its extension, and the glass,
with its little troubled red wave, came
slowly towards the range of her vision
She spoke again every lip was mate,
Her voice was low, faint, yet awlully
distinct. She still fixed her sorrowtul
glance upon the wine cup.
1T is evening now; the great Whit
moon is'comins up, and his beams lay
gently on his forehead He moves not
his eyes are set in their sockets-iim
are their piercing glances; in vain his
friends whisper the name of father and
sister-death-and no soft hlni, no gen
tie voice to bless and soothe hlm. His
head sinks back one conyulsive shul-
der T, he is dead -
~
vivid was her description. 50 unearthly
her look, so inspired her manner, that
what she described seemed actually to
have tak-n 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
quivering faster, and her voice more and
more broken; land there they scoop him
grave, and there without shroud. they
lay him down in that damp, reeking
earth. The only son Of a proud father.
the only idolized brother of fond sister.
And he sleeps to-day in that distant
country with no stons to marx the SPOT.
There he lies-my fathers <on-my own
twin brother victim to this deadly
poison, Father she exclaimed, turning
suddenly, while the tears rolled down
her beautiful cheeks, Father, shall !
drink it now ~
The form OF the old Judge was con-
vulsed with agony. He raisel not his