The Trinity journal., 1856-10-04
The Bridal Wine Cup.
A THRILLING SKETCH.

cried the young and thoughtlcss Harvey
Wood "plcdge with wine, ran through
the crowd
The beautiful bride grew p0le-the dcci-
Sive hour had come She pressed her white
hands together, and the leaves of her bridal
wreath trembling on her pure brow her
breath came quicker, and her heart beat
wilder
&" Yes, Marion lay aside your scruplcs for
this once," said the Judge, in low tone,
going toward his daughter, " the company
expect it. Do not so seriously infringe upon
the rules of etiquette in your own home
act as you please, but in mine, for this once,
please ne"
Every eye was turned toward the bridal
pair, Marions principles were well known.
Harvey had been conyiyalist, but of late
his friends had noticed change in his man
ners, the difference in his habits, and to-
night they watched to see, as they sncering-
ly said, if he were tied down to a woman's
opinion so soon.
Pouring a trimming beaker, they held it
with tempting smiles toward Marion She
was very pale, though more composed, and
her hand shook not, as smiling back, she
gracefully accepted the chrystal tempter
and raised it to her lips But scarcely had
she done SO, when every hand was arrested
by her piercing exclamation of Oh how
terrible ?"
What is it y cried one and all, throng-
ing together, for she had slowly carried the
glass at arms length, and was fXcdly re
garding it as though it was some hidcouS
object.
Wait" she answered, while an inspired
light Shonc from her dark eyes, "wait, and
| will tell you | see" she added, slowly
pointing one ieweled finger at the sparkling
liquid-a sight that beggers all description,
and yet listen | will paint it to you, if |
can. 1t is a lonely spot tall mountains,
crowned with verdure, rise in awful sublmity
around a river runs through, and bright
flowers grow to the waters edge There is
a thick, warm mist that the sun seeks yuinly
to pierce Trees, lofty and beautiful, wave
to the AIRY motions of the birds but there
"a group Of Indians gather they fit to
and fro with something like sorrow upon
their dark brows And in their midst lies
manly form but his dark check, how
deathly his eyes wild with the ftful fire Of
fever. One friend stands beside hini-nay,
should say, l;nccIs for see, he is pillowing
that poor head ON his breast
"Gcnius in ruin-oh the high, holy
locking brow, why should death mark it, and
he so young? Look how he throws back
the damp curlS See him clasp his hands i!
Hear his thrilling shrieks for life Mark
how he clutches at the form of his compan-
ion imploring to be saved Oh hear him
call piteousIy his fathers name see him
twne his fingers together rs he shricls for
his sster-his only siStcr-thc twin of his
soul-weeping for him in his distant native
land
See " she exclaimed, while the bridal
party shrank back, the untastcd wine trcm-
bling in their grasp, and the Judge fell over
powered upon his seat see, his arms are
lifted to Heaven he prays, how wildly, for
mercy I but fever rushcs through his veins
The friend beside him is weeping awe
stricken, the dark men move silently away,
and leave the dying and the living together"
There was hush in that priuccly parlor,
broken only by what seemed smothcrcd
sob from some manly bosom The bride
stood yet upright, with quiyering lip, and
tears stealing to the outer edge Of her lashes.
Her beautiful arm had lost its extension,
ana the glass, with its little red troubled
waves, came slowly toward the range Of her
vision. She spoke again every lip was
mute. Her voice was low, faint, yet awful
ly distinct = she still fixed her sorrowful
glance upon the wine cup
1T is evening now the great white
moon is coming up, and its beams lay gent
" on hisforehcad lie moves not his eyes
are set in their sockets dim are their pierre
ing glances in vain his friend whispers the
name of father and sister--death-an no
soft hand, no gentle voice to bless and sooth
him. His head sinks back one convuisiyc
shudder he is dead !"
A groan ran through the assembly, so
vivid was her description, 50 unearthIy her
look, so inspired her manner, that what she
described seemed actually to have taken
place then and there They noticed also
that the bridegroom hid his face in his hands
and was weeping.
\ Dead p she repeated again, her lips
qAiycring faster and her voice more and
more broken and there they scoop him a
grave, and there without a shroud they lay
him down in that damp rocking earth. Tho
only son Of a proud father, the only idolized
brother Of fond sister And he sleeps to
day in that distant country, with no stone tC
/. mark the spot There he llcs-my father
sonny own twin brother Ia victim tC
the deadly poison. Father she exclaimed
turning suddenly, while the tears raineC
down her beautiful checks, father shall
drink it now 7"
The form of the old JUDGE was conyulseC
with agony He raised not his head but il
smothercd voice he laltered-" No, no, ny
child, in Gods name, no.'
She lifted the glttering goblet, and let
ting it fall suddenly to the floor it was dash
ed in thousand pieces. Many tearlu
eye watched her movement, and lnstantane