The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-04-15
THE BRIDAL WINE CUP.
A Thrilling Sketch.

Thrilling Sketch.
"Pledge with wine-pledge with
wine," cried the young and thought
less Harry Hood; pledge with wine
IAN through the crowd.
The beautiful bride grew pale-the
decisive hOurhad come. She pressed
her white hands together, and the
leaves of her bridal wreath trembled
on her pure brow; her breath came
quicker, and her heart beat Wild
er.
"Yes, Marion, lay aside your scru-
pies for this once" said the Judge, i'm
low tone, going towards his daugh-
ter; "the company expect it. Do not
so seriously infringe upon the rules of
etiquette; in yOur own house act as
you please, but in mine for this once,
please me-"
Every eve was turned toward the
bridal pair. Marion's principles Were
we'll known. Henry had been con-
viYialist, but of late his friends MOTTO
the change i'm his manners, the differ
enee i'm his habitS-tO-night they
watched to see, as they sneeringly
said, if he was tied to a wOman's
opinion so soon. Pouring a brim-
ming beaker, they held it with tempt
ing smiles towards Marion. She was
very pale, though more composed, and
her hand shook not, so smiling back,
she gracefully accepted the crystal
tempter, and raised it to her lips. But
scarce Y had she done so, when every
ha d was arrested by her piercing
exclamation of "Oh how terrible"
"What is il ?'' cried one and all
thrOnging together, for she had slow
ly carried the glass at arms length,
and was fixedly regarding it as tho it
were some hideous object. "Wait," "
she answered, while an inspired light
shone from her dark eyes wait, and l
will tell yOu. / see she added slow
Iy. pOinting one jewelled finger at the
sparkling liquid, "a sight that beg
gars all description, and yet listen
will paint it for you if / can. 1t is a
lonely spot; tall mountains crowned
with veTlure rise in awful sublimity
around; a river runs through and
bright flowers grow to the waters
edge. There is thick, warm mist,
that the sun seeks vainly to pierce
Trees, lofty and beautiful, wave tn
the airy motion Ofthe winds but there
"a group of Indians gathered they
fit to and fro with something like
sorrow upon their dark brows, and in
their midst lies manly fOrm-but
his dark cheek how deathly, his eyes
wild with the fitful fire of fever. One
friend stands beside him, nay-I
should say kneels-fOr see, he pillows
that poor head upon his breast. Gen
ius-oh the high, holy looking brow,
why should death mark it, and. he so
Young. Look how he throws back
the damp eurls see him clasp his
hands hear his thrilling shrieks for
life mark how he clutches at the
form of his companion, implOring to
be saved. Oh! hear him call piteOus-
ly his fathers name-see him twine
| his fingers together as he shrieks for
his sister-his only sister-the idol OF
his sOul-weeping for him in his dis
tant native land. See she exelaim-
ed, while the bridal party shrank
back, the untasted wine trembling in
their grasp, and the Judge fell, over
powered upon his seat-see, his arms
are lifted to heaven-he prays, how
wildly, for mercy, but fever rushes
through his veins. The friend beside
him is weeping; awe-stricken the
/ dark men move silently away, and
leave the living with the dying"
] There was hush i'm that princely
parlOr, broken only by what seemed
n smOthered sob from some manly
bosom. The bride stood yet upright
with quivering lip, and tears stealing
! 10 the outward edge of her lashes.-
Her beautiful arm had lost its eXten-
sion, and the glass, with its little trOu-
! bIed red waves came slowly again :
every lin was mute. Her voice was
low. faint, vet awfully distinct. She
still fixed her sOrrswful glance upon
| the wine cup. at is evening now ;
the great white moon is coming up,
and her beams lay gently upon his
| forehead. He moves moths eyes
are set in their sOckets-dim their
piercing glances in vain his friends
Whisper the name of father and SIS
ter-death-and no soft hand, no gen
Tie voice to bless and soOthe him. His
head sinks backbone eOIyulsiye
shudder-he is dead"
Dead" she repeated again, heI
lips quivering faster, and her voice
more and more broken 4; 'and there
they scoop him u grave, and there
without a shrOud, they lay him down
| i'm the damp, reeking earth. The on
Iy son Of proud father, the only idol
/ lied brother of fond sister. And he
sleeps to-day i'm that distant country
with nOstone to mark the spot. There
he lies-my fathers sonny Own
twin brOther-a victim to this deadly
poison. Father, ''she exclaimed turn
ing suddenly, while the tears rained
down her beautiful cheeks. "Father,
shall drink it now ."
The form of the old Judge was con-
vulsed with agony. He raised his
venerable head, and in smOthered
voice he faltered
mo, no, my child, in Gods name,
no."
She lifted the elittering goblet, and
letting it fall to the floor, it was dash
I ell into thousand pieces.
Many fearful eye watched hef
movement, and instantaneOusly eve
~ wine-glass was transferred tn the
| marble table on which il had been
prepared.
Then, as she looked ut TIE crys-
tai she turned TO the company say
| ing:
iIet no friend of mine hereafter
/ tempt me to peril my soul for wine
| Not firmer are the everlasting hills
than my resolve, God helping me-
never to touch or taste Of that terri
I BILE poison. And he to whom L have
| given nv hand-whO i'm that last sol
emn hour watched over my brothers
diving form, and buried the dear wan
derer there by the river in that land
/ OF gold, will, trust, sustain me in
that resolve. VIII you not, my nus
/ band -
His glistening eyes, his sad, sweet
smile was her answer. The Judge left
the room, and when an hour after he
returned, and with more subdued
manner took part in the entertain
ment of the bridal guests no one could
/ fail to see that he, too, had determin-
ell to lSanish the enemy at once and
forever from his prineely house.
Those who were present at the
wedding can never forget the i'm
preston 80 sOlemnly made. Many
from that hour fOreswOre the social
glass.
The Cleveland Leader, once a
strong woman paper, now says:
fsWhen the woman conventions shall