Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-06-12
Select Story.
THE BRIDAL WINE CUP.
a TRUE SCENE.


"Pledge With wjne-Pa VIII, vine, esds y cried
'''pledge with wine,l ran through the brilliant
crowd. .yfirnr5. II si. css
The beautiful bride grew spae-the decisive
hour had come. She pressed her white hands
together and the bridal wreath trembcd on her
/ pure white brow; her breath came quicker, and
her heart beat wilder y 3s-.6. 4.s'l
Y es Marion, lay aside your scTuples for
once said the Judge, in q low tone, going te-
wards his daughter, the company expect it.
| Do not seriously infringe upon the rules OF eti
quette; in your own house act as you please;
but in mines for this once please me" lsg a,
Every eye was TUNED toward the bridal pair.
Marion's principles were well known. Harvey
I!hal been a conviyalst, but Of late his friends
noticed the change in his manners, the differ
enoe in his habits-and to night they watched
him to see, as they sneeringiy said, If he was
tied down to'woman's opinion so soon.
Pouring brimining beaker, they held it with
tempting smiles towards Marion. Ehewas very
pale, though more composed, and her hand
shock not, as smiling back, she gracefully ac-
cepted the crystal bumper 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?" cried one and all thronging
together for she had slowly carried the glass at
arm length, and was fixedly regarding it as
though it were some hideous object
WAIT" she answered, while an inspired
light shone from her dark eyes, wait, and
will tell YOU. II see, slead,led slowly, point
ing one ieweled finger at the sl7arkiig ruby Il
quid, "a sight thatbeggars all description; and
yet listen; i viii paint it for you if can. 1t
! is lonely spot; tall mountains crowned with
verdure, 1ise m awful sublimity around; atliv-
j
water edge. There is thick warm mist that
the sun seeks in vain to pierce, trees, lofty and
beautiful wave to the airy motions OF the birds !;
but-there group of.lndians gather, they float
to an fro with something like sorrow upon their
dark brow; j. and IN their midst lies "a manly
form, but his cheek, how ae&tEly pale! his eyes
wild with the fitful fires of fever. One friend
stands beside him, nay, l should say knees !;
for he Is piltlowing that poor head upon his
breast
Genius in ruins. Oh! the high, holy look
ing brow Why should death mark it, aud so
young? Look how he throws the damp eurls
see him clasp his hands hear his thrilling
shrieks for lite mark how he clutches at the
form OF his companion, imploling to be saved.
Oh! see him call piteously his fathers name
see him twlne his fingers together as heShrieks
for his slSter-hls only sisteT--the twin of his
soul weeping for him in his native Hard.
Sect she exclaimed, while the bridal par
ty shrank back, the, ,untastod wine trembling in
their taltefing grasp, and the Judge fell over
powered, upon his seat see his arms arc lifted
to heaven he prayss now wildly for illercy rhot
fevers rush through his VEINS. The friend be-
side him weeping; aWe4stricken, the dark men
move silently away and leave the liyirg and
dying tpgetler.'t y @@- @'5A 74 -
There was a hush in that princely parlor,
broken only BY what seemed a slnothered sob
from some manly bosom. The bride stood vet
upright, with quivering lips, and tears stealing
to the outward edge Of her lashes. Her beau
ilful arm has lost It's tension, and tic glass,
with its little troubled red 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 Oh the wine cup. .1s
1t Is evening now; the great white moon is
| coming up, and her beams lay gently on her
forehead. lie moves not, his eyes are set in
their sockets; dim are their piercing gl;.nccs );
In yaln his friend whispers the name Of father
ana slster-death IS there Death and no gen
tie voice to bless and soothe him. Ihsghead
SINKS back one conyulsiye shudder he is
dead T. aiibsf
A groan ran through the assembly 50 livid
was her description, 50 unearthly her look, so
inspiring 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 - she repeated again, her lips quiv
ering faster and faster, and her voice more bro
ken and there, they scoop, him a grave, and
there without shroud, they lay him down in
that damp reeking earth, the. onlygson of a
proud father, the only idolized brother of a
fond sister. And he sleeps to-day in that dis
tant country, with no stone to mark the spot.
There he les---my father's sonny own twin
brother victim to this deadly poison -
Father?' she exclaimed, turning suddenly,
while the tears rained down her beautiful
cheeks, father, shall | drink it now 2 1877
The form Of the old Judge was coTulsed
with agony. He raised his head, but IN
smothered voice he faltered- -''No, no, my
child, in Gods name, no
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