New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-06-16
The Bridal Wine Cup.
A TRUE SCENE.

Pledge with wine-pledge with wine '-oried
the young and thOughtess Harvey Wood
:" Pledge with wine,' ran through the brilliant
crowd.
The beautiful bride grew pale-the decisive hour
had come She pressed her white hands together
and the leaves of her bridal wreath came quicker
and her heart beat wilder.
Yes Marion, lay aside your scruplea for once"
said the Judge, in low tone, going towards his
daughter, the company expect it. Do not seri.
ousIy infringe on the rules of etiquette; in your
own house act as you please but in mine, for this
once, please me-"
Every eye was turned toward the bridal pair.
Marions principles were well known. Harvey
had been a convivialist, but of late his friends
noticed the change in his manners, the difference
in his habits-but tonight they WATCHED him 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 towards Marion. She was very
pale, though more composed, and her hand shook
not, as smiling back, she gratefully accepted the
crystal bumper and raised it to her lips But
scarcely had she done so, when every hand was
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 1t were some hideous object
" Wait" she answered, while an inspired light
shone from her eyes, wait, and will tell you. l
seen she added slowly, pointing one ieweled
finger at the sparkling ruby liquid, 20 sight that
beggars all description; and yet listen will paint
it to you if can. 1t is a lonely spot; tall noun
tains, crowned with yerdure, rise in awful sub.
Unity around a river runs through H. and bright
flowers grow to the waters edge. There is
thick warm mist that the seeks yainly to pierce
trees lofty and beautiful, waive to the airy motion
OF the birds; but there 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, now deathly-his eyes
wild with the fttul fire of fever. One friend stands
beside him, nay, should say kneels; for he is pill
lowing that poor man on his breast.
"Genius in ruins. On the high, holy looking
brow Why should death mark it, and he so
young +? Look how he throws the damp curls !
See him clasp his hands Hear his thrilling shrieks
for life Mark how he clutches at the forms of his
companions, imploring to be saved! Oh hear
him call piteously his fathers name See him
Irvine his hngures together as he shrieks for his
sister-his only sister-the twin of his SOUL weep
ing for him in his native land
"See ~ she exclaimed while the bridal party
shrank back, the untasted wine trembling in her
faltering grasp, while the judge felt overpowered
This arms are lifted to heaven he prays now
wildly, for mercy hot fever rushes through his
veins. The friend beside him is weeping awe
stricken the dark men move silently away, and
leave the living and dying together.n
There was hush in that princely phrlor broken
by only what seemed to be smotheEed sob from
some manly bosom. The bride stood yet upright
with quivering lips and tears stealing Co the out
ward edge Of her lashes. Her beautiful arm had
lost its tension and the glass with its little
troubled waves, came slowly toward the range of
her vision. She spoke again every lip was mute.
The voice was low, faint yet awfully distinct !;
she still fixed her sorrowful glance on the wine
cup.
"It is evening now the great white moon is
coming up, and her beams lay gently on his fore
head. He moves not; his eyes are set in their
sockets--dim are their piercing gla1ces; in vain
his friend whispers the name of father, sister
death is there. Death, and no soft hand no gentle
yoieeto bless and soothe him. His head sinks
back; one cOnvusive shudder, he is dead!n
A groan ran through the assembly so vivid was
her description; so unearthy her looH SO inspiring
her manner, that what she described seemed actu-
ally to have taken place then and there. They
noticed also that the bridegroom had his hands On
his face, and was weeping.
: Dead 7 she repeated again. her lips quiy-
ering faster and faster, and her voice more and
more broken, and there they scoop him grave
and there, without shroud, they lay him down in
that damp, reeking earth. The only sbn 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 les-my
fathers sonny own twin brotherI victim to
this deadly poison. Father,n she exclaimed turn
ing suddenly, while the tears rained down her
beautiful cheeks, " dear father, shall drink this
now ?n
The form Of the old judge was convuIsed with
agony He raised his head, but ina smothered
voice ne taltered, " No, no, my child, in Gods
name, no.n
She lifted the glitteriuu goblet md latting It
q aavl,ly 1!n 70 inc Hoor, II was dashed into
movement and instantaneously every GLASS was
transferred to the marble table on which If had
been prepared. Then, as she looked at the frag.
ments of crystal, she turned to the compan8
saying P"t'S'
:" Let no friend hereafter, who loves ma tarnt
me to peril my soul for wine Not firTner he evar'
asting hills than my resolve, God helping me
never to touch or taste that terrible b0ison, And
lie to whom have given my hand, Who watched
'ver my brothers form in that last solemn 6onr
md buried the wanderer there by the river in fbat
and of gold, will, trust, sustain ma in that re-.
olive. viii you not my dear husband ~,
His glistening eye, his sad, sweet smile, was
lis answer. 'N'
The judge left the room, and when an bonr
tter he returned, and with more snbdued man.
Ter took part in the entertainment pf the bridal
uests, no one could fail to read thathe, too had
determined to dash the enemy at once and forever
rom his princely home l
Those who were prerent at that. wedding ean
~. lotseI tnat impression SO solemny made.
i"nJ iroln 'ha' hour foreswore the social glass. c
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