The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-05-16

Pouring brimming goblet, they held
it with tempting smiles toward Marion.
She was very pale, though more composed,
and her hand shook not. as, smiling back,
she gracefully accepted the crystal temp
ter and raised it to her lips. But scarce
ly had she done so when every one was
attracted by her piercing exclamation of
"Oh, how terrible !"
"What is it ?" cried one and all,
thronging together, for she had carried
the glass to her arms length, and was
fxedly regarding it as though it was some
hideous object.
"What ?" she answered, while an in
spired light shone from her eyes "wait,
and | will tell you. l see," she added,
slowly raising one of her fingers at the
sparkling liquid, "a sight that beggars
oil description and yet, listen-I will
paint it for you, if | can; +; it is lovely
spot; tall mountains, crowded with ver-
dure, rise in awful sublimity around a
river runs through, and bright flowers
grow to the waters edge. There is a
thick, warm mist, that the sun seeks
vainly to pierce. Trees, lofty and beau
tiful, wave to the motion Of the breeze.
But there group of Indians fit to and
fro with something like sorrow upon their
dark brows, and in their midst lies a
manly form-but his dark cheek, how
deathly-his eyes wild with the ftful
fire of fever. One friend stands beside
him, l should say kneels, for see, he is
pillowing that poor head upon his breast.
Genius in ruins on the high, holy-looking
brow-why should death mark it, and he
so young! Look how he throws back the
damp curls See him clasp his hands
hear his shrieks for life how he clutches
at the form of his companion, imploring
to be saved Oh. hear him call pitcous-
ly his fathers name; see him twine his
fingers together, as he shrieks for his
sister-his only sister, the twin of his
soul-weeping for him in his distant ma.
tive land See !" she exclaimed, while
the bridal party shrank back, the untas
ted wine trembling in their grasp, and
the deacon fell over-powered into 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 and the dy.
ing together"
There was hush in that princely par.
lor, broken only by what seemed a smoth
cred sob from some manly bosom. The
bride stood yet upright, with quiverinf
lip, and tears streaming into the outward
edge of her lashes. Her beautiful arm
had lost its extension, and the glass, with
its little troubled waves, came slowly
toward the range of her vision. Sh'
spoke again every lip was mute; hel
voice was low, faint, yet awfuiy distinct
She still fixed her sorrowful glance upor
the wine.cup.
at Is evening now; the great white
moon is coming up, and her beams tal
gently on his forehead. He moves not
his eyes are out Of their sockets dim arr
the piercing glances. In vain his frien(
whispers the name Of father and sister
no soft hand and no gentle voice bles.
and soothe him. His head sinks back
one convulsive shudder-he is dead"
A groan ran through the assembly
So vivid was her description, SO unearth
ly her look, so inspired her manner, tina
what she described seemed actually t,
have taken place then and there. The,
noticed, also, that the bridegroom hat
hidden his face and was weeping.
Dead" she repeated again, her lip
quivering faster, and her voice NOR,
broken-"and there they scoop him
grave; and there, without shroud, the,
lay him down in the damp, reeking eartl
the only son of a proud father, the lido
lized brother of fond sister: and h.
sleeps to-day in that distant country, will
no stone to mark the spot. There he lie
my fathers son, my own twin-brother
victim ofthis deadly poison Father,
she exclaimed, turning suddenly, Will
the tears rolled down her beautiful check
-"father, shall drink the poison now :?
The form Of the old deacon was con
vulsed with agony. Ila raised not hi
head, but in smothered voice he fal
tered, "No, no, my child, in Gods name
mo-"
She lifted the glittering goblet, an
letting it fall suddenly to the floor, it wa
dashed to pieces. Many a fearful ey
/, watched her movement. and instantane
ously every glass was transferred to tn
marble table on which it had been pre-
pared. Then, as she looked at the frag
ments of crystal, she turned to the con-
, pany, saying:
"Let no friend hereafter who love
me, tempt me to peril my sonl for wine
or any other poisonous venom. Not firm
, er are the everlasting hills than my re
,, solve, God helping me, never To touch o
, taste the terrible poison And he t
whom ! have given my hand-wh
, watched over my brothers dying forn
!, in that land of goodwill sustain me i
|, this resolve. Will you not, my husband :?
q His glistening eyes, his sad, swee
smile was her answer. The deacon ha
left the room, but when he returned, an,
with more subdued manner took par
in the entertainment of the bridal guests
no one could fail to see that he. too, ha,
q determined to Danish the enemy at one
and for ever from that princely home.
Reader, this is no fiction. l was there
and heard the words, which l hav
! penned, as near as can recol!ect them
/ This bride, her husband, and her brother
, who died in the gold regions of Califor
. MIA, were schoolmates of mine. Thos
who we're present at that wedding of m,
; associates never forgot the impression s.
!, solemnly made, and all from that hou
, forswore the social glass.
A city miss, newly installed as tn
. wife Of a farmer, was one day called upoI