The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-08-18
The Bridal Wine Gun.

cried the young and thoughtless Harvey
Wood
''Pledge with wine," rang through the
brilliant crowd.
The beautiful bride grew pale-the deci-
sive hour had come. She pressed her white
hands together, and the leaves of her bridal
wreath trembled ON her pure brow; her breath
came quick, and her heart beat wilder.
eyes, Marion, lay aside your scruples for
this once" said the judge in a low voice 60
ing towards his daughter; ''the company
expect it. Do not so seriously infringe up
on the rules ofetiquette in your own home
act as you please, but in mine, for once,
please me-"
Every eye was turned toward the bridal
pair. Marion's ideas were known. Henry
had been convivialist, but of late his friends
ence in his habits-and to night they watch
ed him to see, as they sneeringly said, if he
was tied down to woman s opinions.
Pouring Drumming beaker, they held it
with tempting smiles toward Marion.
She was very pale, but more composed,
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 exclamation of ''Oh! how ter
ribe!"
s'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.
sWait !" she answered, while an inspired
light shown from her dark eyes, ''wait and
will tell you. l sec, she added slowly, point
ing one iewelled finger at the sparkling liq
uid, "a sight that beggars all description!
and yet listen-I will paint it for you, if l
can. 1t is a lonely spot, tall mountains
clothed in verdure rise in awful sublinity
round; river runs through and
bright flowers grow in the waters edge.
There is a thick warm mist, that the sun
tries vainly to pierce; trees, lofty and beau
tiful, wave in the airy motions of birds; but
there-a group Of Indians gather; fit to and
fro with something like sorrow upon their
dark brows. And in their midst lies a man
ly form-but his cheek how deathly; his eye
bright with the fitfIll fire of fever. One friend
stands beside him--nay,I should say llneels;
for see, he is pillowing that poor head upon
his breast.
''Genius in ruins-oh the high, holy look
ing 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 i'm
ploring to be saved! Oh! hear him call pite
ously his fathers name-see him Irvine his
fingers together as he shreks for his sister
his only slster-the twin of his soul-weep-
ing for him in his distant native land
''See!" she exclaimed, while the bridal
party shrank back, the untasted Wine tremb-
ling in her faltering grasp, and the Judge fell
overpowered upon his seat-''see, his arms
are lifted to heaven-he prays, how wildly,
for mercy hot fever rushes through his
veins. The friend beside him is weeping !;
awe strscken, the dark men move silently
and leave the living and the dying together. F"
There was u hush in the principle parlor,
broken only by what seemed smothered
sob from some manly bosom The bride stood
yet upright with quivering lip, and tears
stealing to the outward edge OF her lashes
Her beautiful arm had lost its tension, and
the glass with its little troubled red
wave, came slowly toward her vision. She
spoke again, every lip was mute Her
voice was low, faint, ly yet awful distinct.
She still fixed her sorrowful glances upon
the wine cup:
sit is evening now; the great white moon
is coming up and its beams lie gently upon
his forehead. He moves not; his eyes are
set in their sockets; dim are their piercing
gIances; in vain his friend whispers the
name of father and sister-death is there
Death-and no soft hand, no gentle voice
to bless and soothe him. His head sinks
backbone convulsiye shudder- ayd he is
dead"
A groan ran through the assembly, so
vivid was her description, so 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
hand sand was weeping.
'Dead!" she repeated again, her lips quiv-
ering faster and faster, and her voice more
and more broken; and there they scooped
him grave and there without shroud
they lay him down in the damp reeking
earth-the onl y son Of a 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 he
lies my fathers S0n-nsg Darn tqgin brother
Father" she exclaimed turning sudden
ly, while the tears raned down her beau tfuI
c cheeks, father shall drink it now?'
The form of the old Judge was convulsed
with agony, He raised not his head, but
n a snothered voice he faltered--
mo, no, my child; in Gods name, no',
She lifted the glittering goblet, and let
ing it suddenly fall to the floor it was dash
ID into a thousand pieces. Many fearful
we watched her movements; instantaneous
y every wine-gl lass was transferred to the
marble table on which it had been prepared.
Then as she looked at the fragments of
rystal, she turned to the company saying:
Let no friend hereafter that loves me,
empt me to peril my soul for wine, Not
irmer are the everlasting hills, than my re-
olive, God helping me, never to touch or
aste that terrible poison. And he to whom
have gwen my hand-who watched over
ny brothers dying form i'll the last solemn
our, and buried the dear wanderer there by
he river in the land of goodwill | trust,
co. sustain me in that resolve. VIII you :
ny husband?"
Hia glistening eye, his sad sweet smile, ,
,as her answer. The Judge left the room, .
nd when an hour after he returned, and
18th a more subdued manner took part III
ne entertainment of the bridal guests, no
ne could fail to read that he too, had deter
lined TO Danish the enemy at once and for
yer from his princely home. +
Those who were present at that wedding
an never forget the impression SO solemly
lade Many from that hour forswore the
ocial glass.