Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-02-23
THE BRIDAL WINE CUP,
A TRUE STORY.

the brilliant crowd
The beautiful bride grew palos-thc decis
I've hour had come. She pressed her white
hands together, and the leaves Of her bridal
wreath trcmbled on her poor brow her
breath c,mc quick, and her heart beat wildly.
Yes, Marian, lay aside your scruplcs for
this once, said the Judge in a low tone, go.
ing towards his daughter; Z" the company ex-
poet it, DO not seriously infringe upon the
rules o. etiquette; in your own house act as
you please, but im mine, for this once please
me-
Every eye was turned upon the bridal pair.
Marian principals were well known. Henry
had been cunvivialist, but of lat, his friends
noticed tho change in his manners, the diff
ference in his habits and to night they
watched him to see, as they snceringy said,
if he was tied down to woulan's opinion so
Soon
Pouring brgming bcakcr, they held it,
with tempting smiles, towards Marian. She
was very p1lc, though more composed, and
her hand shook not, as smiling back, she
gratefully accepted the crystal tcmptcr, and
raised it to her lips. But scarcely had she
done so, when every hand was arrested bv
her piercing exclamation of con, how ter.
rblcw
What is it cried one and all throngca
together, for she had slowly carried. the glass
at arms length, and was fixcdly regarding it
rs though it was some terrible object.
Wait she answered, while an inspiring
light shown from her dark Dyes "Wait,
and will tell you. see" she added slow
~, pointing one jcwclcd finger at the spark.
ling ruby liquid, "a sight that bcgyars all
description; aud yet listcn-I will paint it
for you it can. 1t is n loncy spot; tall
mountains crowned with vcrluc, rise in awful
sublimity around; river runs through and
bright flowers run t. the waters edge.
There is thick, warm mist, that the sun
seeks va'nly to pierce; trees, lofty and beau.
t'tu, wave to the airy motion of the birds;
Ir,t there groupof Indians gather; they nis
to and fro, with something like sorrow upon
their dark brows; and in, their midst lies
manly form-but his check, how dcathly,
his eyes wild with the fire of ftful fever
One friend stands beside him, nay, should
say kncels, for lie is pllowing that po,r head
upon his breast. Genius is ruined; Oh 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 shricks for lie !
mark how nc clutches at the form of his com
panlon, imporing to be saved Oh, hear
him cal! pitcously his fathers name SEQ him
tw'nc his fingers together as he shricks for
his sister his only sister-the twin of his
soul weeping for him in his distant native
land. "Oacc p sho exclaimed, wbilc Iho
bridal party shrunk back, the untastcd wine
trembling in their faltcring grasp; (; the iulyc
fell ovcrpowered upon his sc,t-." see hs
arms are lifted to IEcavcn he pravs. how
wildly, for mercy !. hot blood ever rushcs
through his veins, The friend beside him is
weeping; awe stricken, the dark men move
slowly away, and leave the living and dyinr
together"
There was hush in that princely parlor,
broken only by what seemed ii smothered sob
i!om some manly bosom. The bride stood
yet upright with quivcrinS lips, and tears
stealing to the outward edges of her eve
lashcs Her beautiful arm had lost it's ten
sion, and the glass, with its little red waves,
came slow y toward the range Of vision, She
spoke aSln; every lip was mute. Her voice
wls low, faint, yet awfuly distinct; she still
fixed her so:row!ul glance upon the vine cup:
1t IS evening nov; the great white moon is
coming up, and her beams lay gently on his
forehead. lie moves not; his eyes arc set in
thcir sockets; dim are their piercing glanccs
IN VAN his friend whispers the name of s,thcr
ana sistcr-dcath is there. Death, and no
soft hand, no gentc voice to bless and s,othe
hun. His he.d SINKS back coayulsiye
shuddcr he is dead !"
y groan ran through the assembly so
vivid VS. her description, 50 unearthly her
loo!, 50 inspired hcr manner, that whit She
described seemed actually to have taken place
then and there. They nnticed also that the
bridegroom hid his face in his h,nls and WIS
weeping
:" Dad" she pc'tcl ag ,iu, her lips quiv
ciins tnstcr anl faster, anl her voice more
and more broken; "and there they sc,op him
a grave, an'l there without Il shrond, they law
him down in the cold, reeking earth. The
only son OF proud father, the only idolizcd
hrnthnr of q fnn sistnr nj l,o sl.a. .