San Andreas independent., 1856-09-24
The Bridal Wine Cup.
i THRILLING SKETCH

cisive hour had come. She pr ssed her
white hands together, and the caves OF
her bridal wreath trembled on her pure
brow her breath came quicker, and her
heart beat wilder.
eyes, Marion, lay aside your scrpples
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 cnce, please me-
Every eye was turned toward the bridal
pair. Marion's principles were well
known. Harvey had been convivialist,
but of late his friends had noticed change
in his manners, the differences in his habits,
and tonight they watched to see, as they
sneeringly said, if he were tied down to
woman's opinion SO soon.
Pouring brimming 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 temp
ter, 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 p
What is it p cried one and all, throng-
ing together, for she had slowly carried the
glass at arms length, and was fxedly re-
garding it as though it was some hideous
object.
Wait, she answered, while an inspired
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| viii tell you. | see" she added, slowly
pointing one ieweled finger at the spark
/ ling liquid, "a sight that beggars all de-
scription, and yet listen; | will paint it to
you if can. 1t is lonely spot; tall
mountains, crowned with verdl,re, rise in
awful sublimity around; riyerrun through
and bright flowers grow to the waters edge
There is thick, warm mist, that the sun
seeks vainly to pierce. Trees, lofty and
beautiful, wave to the airy motions of the
birds; but there-ag 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
cheek, how deathly his eyes wild with
the ftful fire Of fever One friend
stands beside him--nay, [ should say kneels;
for see, he is pillowing that poor head OIL
his breast
"Genius in ruin-oh the high, holy
looking brow, why should death mark i,
and he so young? Look how he throws
back the damp curls? See him clasp bis
hands! Hear his thrilling shrieks of life
Mark how he clutches at the form Of his
companion imploring to be saved ! Oh!
hear him call piteously his fathers name.
see him twine his fingers together as he
shrieks for his sister-his only sister
the twin of his soul-weeping for him in
his distant native land.
sSeev she exclaimed, while the bridal
party shrank back, the untasted wine
trembling to their grasp, and the Judge
fell overpowered upon his seat g see, his
arps. are lifted to Heaven; he prays, how
wilt for mercy but fever frshesthrough
his veins The friends beside him are
weeping awe-stricken, the dark men move
silently away, and leave the dying and the
living together"
There was hush in that princely parlol,
broken only by what seemeda smotherel
sob from some manly bosom. The bride
stood yet upright, with q,iiaering lip, and
tears stealing to the outer edge of her
lfshes. Her beautiful arm had lest Its
extension, and the glass, with It's 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 awfully distinct; She still fixed
her sorrowful glance upon the wine cup.
Il is evening now; the great white
moon is coming up and its beams lay gent
/ ly on his forehead. He moves not; his
eyes are set in their sockets; dim are their
piercing glances; in vain his friends wfis1
per the name Of father and sister-death
and no soft hand, no gentle voice to
bless and sooth him. His head sinks back
one convulsive shudder! he is deadl''
A groan ran through the assembly, SO
vivid was her description, 50 unearthly
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
"Deadl' she repeated again, her lips
quivering faster and her voice more and
more broken; and there they scoop him
grave, and there without a shroud, thew
lay him down in that damp, reeking earth. +
The only son of proud father, the only
idolized brother of fond sister. And
he sleeps to-day in that distant country,
with no stone to mark the spot There
lies my fathers SON my own twin
brother la victim to the deadly, poison. T
ssFather," she exclaimed, turning suddenly /
while the tears rained down her beautiful /
cheeks, " father, shall drink it now?"
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