Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1866-10-10
N(isttllmeous 4eaamp.
THE BRIDAL WINE CUP.
A THRILLING SCENE.

Wood "pledge with wine," ran through
the bridal party.
The beautiful bride grew pale-the de-
cisive hour had come She passed her
white hands together, and the leaves of
the bridal wreath trembed On her 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 towards his daughter, ''the
com pany expect it. Do not so seriously
infringe upon the rules of etiquette in
your own home do as you please but in
mine, for this once, please me-
Every eye turned towards the bridal
pair. Marion's principles were we'll
known. Henry bad been . convIvuiiSt,
| but OF late his friends noticed the change
in his manners, the difference in his hab
its-aud to night they watched him to
see, as they sneerinsly said, if he was
tied down to woman's opinions so soon.
Pouring a brimming cup. 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 excepted the crystal tempt
er, and raised it to her lips. But scarcely
had she done SO when every hand was ar
rested by her piercing exclamation Of
&c ! how terrible !"
"What is it p cried one and all, throng.
ing together, for she had slowly carried
the glass at arms length, and was fxedy
regarding it as though it were some hide
Gus object.
"Wait," she answered, while a light
which seemed inspired, shone from her
dark eyes, -"wait and i will tell you. /
see," she added, slowly pointing one jew
eled finger at the sparkling ruby liquid
"a sigh: that beggars all description and
yet listen-I Will paint it for you if l can
II is lovely spot; tall mountains crown
cd with verdue rise in awful sublimity
around; river runs through, aud bright
flowers grow to the waters edge There
is thick mist, that the sun seeks va:nly
to pierce. Trees, lofty and beautiful,
wave to the airy motion 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 cheek
how deathly, his eye wild with the flfal
fire of fever. One friend stands beside
hin-nay, l should say kneels, for see,
he is pil!owing that poor head upon his
breast.
Genius in ruinsrO. the high, holy
looking brow why should death mark it,
and he SO young? Look how he throws
back the damp curls ! see him clasp his
hands hear his thrilling shrieks tor life !.
mark how he clutches at the form of his
companion, imploring to be saved. o!
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.
"See !" she exclaimed while the bridal
party shrank back, the untas.ed wine
trembling in their fal,ering grasp, and
the Judge fell, overpowercd, 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-strick-
en-, the dark men move silently away, and
leave the living aud the dying together"
There was hush in that princely par.
lor, broken only by what seemed a smoth-
cred 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 IL
tie troubled red waves, came slowl ly toward
the range of her vision. She spoke again,
and every lip was mute. Her voice was
low, faint, yet awfully distinct; she still
liked her sorrowful glance upon the wine
,up.
1T is evening now; the great white
noon is coming up, and his beams lay
gently on his forehead. He moves not
lis eyes are set in their sockets; dim are
heir piercing glauces in vain his friend
whispers the name Of father and sister
leath is there. Death, and no soft hand,