Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-07-27
THE BRIDAL WINE CUP.
A True Scene.


Pledge with wine-pledge with wine" "
cried, the young and thoughtless Harvey
Wood. :. Pledge with wine" ran
through the brilliant crowd.
! The beautiful bride grew .pale-Tthe de-
cisive 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 scruples
for once, said the judge, in low tone,
going toward his daughter, " the COM
pany expect it. Do not seriously in
fringe 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 brit
dal pair. Marion principles were we'll
known. Harvey had been conyivialst,
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 sneeringy said, if he were
tied down TO n woman's opinion so soon.
II Pouring brimming 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 gratefully accepted
the crystal bumper and raised tito her
lips. But scarcely had she done so,
when every hand was arrested by her
piercing exclamation Of " Oh how terri
bic r r sN..,s,.,
"What is it2' cried one and all,
thronging together, for she had slowly
carried the glass at arms length, and
was fxedly regarding it as though it
were some hideous object.
Wait" she answered, while an IN
'spired light shone from her eyes, wait,
and | will tellyou 1 see, y she added,
slowly, pointing one jeweled finger at
the sparkling liquid, "a sight that beg
gars all description; and yet listen, l
will paint il TO you if lean II rs a lovely
spot; tall mountains, crowned with;ver-
dure, rise in awful sublimity around; a
river runs through it, and bright flowers
grow to the water 8 edge. There is a
thick, warm mist that the sun seeks
vainly to pierce; trees lofty aud beaut-'
ful wave to the airy motion OF the birdsS
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, now deathIy-his eyes wild with
the fitful fire of fever One friend
stands beside him, nay, 1 should say,
kneels !. for he is pilowing the. poor
man on his breast,
& "Genius in ruins On the high, holy
hooking brow Why should death mark
it, and he so young2 Look how be
throws the damp curls See him clasp
bis hands Hear his thrilling shrieks
for life Mark how he clutches at the
forms of his companions, implOring to
be savedf Oh hear him call piteously
his fathers nameI See him twine his
fingers together as he shrieks for his sis
ter-his only sister--ihe twin Of his soul
weeping for him in bis native land.
See |" she exclaimed, while the bri
dal party shrank back, the untasted wine
trembling in her faltering grasp, while
the Judge felt overpowered, his arms
are lifted to heaven heprays now, wildly,
for mercy hot fever rushes through his
veins. The friend beside him is weep
ing; awe-stricken the dark men move
silently away, and leave the living and
Inc Dying tOHetneT
s There was hush in that princely par
Tor, broken only by what seemed to be a
smothered sob from some manly bosom.
The bride stood yet upright, With quiver-
ring lips, and tears stealing to the out
ward edge Of her lashes. Her beautiful
arm had lost its tension, aud the glass,
with its little troubled waves, came slowly
toward the range Of her vision. She
spoke again, every lip was mute. Bhe
voice was low, faint, yet awfully distinct;
she still fixed her sorr0wful glance on
the wine cup
at is evening now; the great white
moon is coming up, and her beams lay
gently on his forehead He moves not;
his eyes are set in their sockets-diu1 are
their piercing glaHces In vaiHhis friend
whispers the name of father, sister
death is there. Death, and noson hand,
no gentle voice TO bless aud soothe him.
His head sinks back; one conclusive
shidder, he is dead
A rroan ran through the assembly, 50
vivid was her description, so unearthly
her look, so inspiring her manner, that
what she described seemed actually 20
have taken place then aud there They
noticed also that the bridegroom had his
hands on his face, aud was weeping
@Beadr she repeated again, her bps
quivering faster and faster, and her voice
more and more broken, 'and there they
scoop him a grave, and there, without a
shroud. they lay him down in the damp.
reeking earth. The only son Of q proud
father. the only idohzed brother Of
fond sister. And he sleeps to-day IN that
distant country, With no stone 70 marx
.hn .nnt Thara he les-mY lathers