The weekly Columbian., 1857-02-14
The Bridal Wine Cup.
A THRILLING SKETCH.

"Pledge with wine--pledge with wine" !"
cried the young and thoaghtless Harvey
Wood "pledge with wine," ran through
the crowd.
The beautiful bride grew pale-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,
and her heart beat wilder.
Eyes, Marion, lay aside your scruples
for this once" said the Judge, in low
tone, going towards his daughter, "the
company expects 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 me-"
Every eye was turned towards the bri-
dal pair. Marion's principles were we'll
known. Harvey had been convivialist,
but of tate his friends had noticed a change
in his manners, and tonight, they watch
ed to see, as they sneeringly said, if he
were tied down to a woman's opinion so
soon.
Pouring brimrning beaker, they held
it with tempting smiles toward Marion.
She was very pale, though more COM
posed, and her hand shook not, as smiling
back, she gracefully accepted the crystal
tempter, and raised it to her lips. But
scarcely had she done so, when every
hand was arrested by her piercing excla-
nation 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 was
some hideous object.
Wait" she answered, while an in
spired light shone from her dark eyes,
wait, and / will tell you. / see," she
added, slowly pointing one jewelled fin
ger at the sparkling liquid-"a sight that
beggars all description, and yet listen !;
| will paint it to you, if l can. 1t is a
lonely spot; tall mountains, crowned with
verdure, rise IN awful snbllmity around !;
a river runs through, and bright flowers
grew to the waters edge. There is a
thick, warm mist, that the sun seeks vain
ly to pierce. Trees, lofty and beautiful
wave to the airy motions of the birds !;
but there-a group of Indians gathers !;
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 fitful fire of fever. One friend
stands beside him-nay, | should say,
kneels; /; for see, he is pillowing that poor
head on his breast.
"Genius in ruin-oh! the high, holy
looking brow, why should death mark it,
and he SO young! See him clasp his
hands! Hear his thrilling shrieks for
life Mark how he clutches at the form
of his companion, imploring to be saved !!
oh hear him call plteously 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.
"See !" she exclaimed, while the bri-
dal party shrank back, the untasted wine
trembling in their grasp, and the Judge
fell ovelpowered upon his seat; "see, his
arms are lifted to Heaven; he prays, how
wildly, for mercy! but fever rushes thro'
his veins. The friend beside him is weep
ing; awe-stricken, the dark men move
silently away, and leave the dying and
the living together
There was hush in that princely par
lor, broken only by what seemed smo-
thered sob from some manly bosom. The
bride stood yet upright, with quivering
lip, and tears stealing to the outer edge
of her lashes. Her beautiful arm had
lost its extension, and the glass, with its
little red troubled waves, came slowly
toward the range of her vision. She
spoke again; every lip was mute. Hel
voice was low, faint, yet awfully distinct
she still fixed her sorrowfdl glance upon
the wine cup.
1T Is evening now; the great white
moon is coming up, and Its beams lie gen.
tly on his forehead. He moves not his
eyes are set in their sockets dim are
their piercing glances in vain his friend
whispers the name of father and sister
death-and no soft hand, no gentle voice
to bless and soothe him. His head sinks
back !-one convulsive shudder !-he is
dead!"
A groan ran through the assembly. SC
vivid was her description, SO unearthly
her look, SO inspired her manner, tha,
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!' she repeated again, her lips
quivering faster and her voice more and
more broken; "and they scoop him a
Grave and fborc ,y,tLout !, ebrou1 tho,