Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-03-03
The Bridal Wine-Cup.
A TRUE STORY.

wine," cried the young and thought
less 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 bridal wreath trembled on
her pure, white brow; her breath
came quicker, and her heart beat
wilder.
eyes, Marion, lay aside your scru-
pies for once" said the Judge, in a
low tone, going toward his daugh-
ter, "the company expects it. Do
not 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 well known. Harvey had been
convivialist, but Of late his friends
had noticed change in his man
ners-a difference in his habits
and tonight they watched him to
see, as they snceringly said, if he
was tied down to woman's opin-
ion SO soon.
Pouring Il brimming beakcr, 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 bumper aud
raised it to her lips. But scarcely
had she done so, when every hand
was arrested by her piercing cx-
clamation of ''Oh! how terriblew
"M hat is it, cried one and all,
thron.ing together, for she had
slowly carried the glass at arms
length, and was tixcdly regarding it
as though it were some hideous OBJ
iect.
"N att" she answered, while an
inspired light shone from her black
eyes, swat, and will tell you. |
scc," she added, slowly, pointing
one iewcled finger at the sparkling
ruby liquid, "a sight that beggars
all description. And yet listen-l
will paint it for You if | can. 1t is
Il lonely spot; tall mountains crown
ed with verlure rise in awful sub
Unity around, Il river runs through,
and bri ght bowers grow to the wa
ter's edge. There is a thick, warm
mist that the sun seeks in vain to
pierce; trees, lofty and beautiful,
wave to the airy motions Of birds.
But there group Of Indians gath
er; they float to and fro with some
thing like sorrow upon their dark
brows; and in their midst lies a
manly form, but his cheek, how
deathly pale! his eyes wild with the
tittul fires of fever! One friend
stands beside him-nay, | should
say, keels; for he is pillowing that
poor head upon his breast.
"Genius in ruins! Oh. the high,
holy-looking brow! Why should
death mark it, and so young? Look
how he throws the damp curls! see
him clasp his hands! hear his thrill
ing shrieks for life! mark how he
clutches at the form Of his compan-
ion, imploring to be saved! OH!
hear him call piteously his fathers
name! See him twine his fingers
together as he shrieks tor his sister
his only sister-the twin of his
soul-weeping for him in his native
land.
"Seew she exclaimed, while the
bridal party shrank back, the un-
tasted wine trembling in their fall
tering grasp, and the Judge fell
overpowercd upon his seat. "Sec!
his 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 silent
ly away, and leave the living and
dying together"
There was hush in the princely
parlor, broken only by what seemed
smothered sob from some manly
bosom. The bride stood yet up
right, with quivering lips and tears
stealing to the outward edges Of her
lashes. Her beautiful arm had lost
its tension, and the glass, with its
little troubled red waves, came slow
ly toward the range of her vision.
She spoke again; every lip was
mute. Her voice was low, faint.
yet awiully distinct; she fixed her
sorrowtul glance on the wine-cup.
"It 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 sockcts-dim are their pier
cing glances-in vain his friend
whispers the name Of father and
sister. Death is there--death, and
no gentle voice to bless and soo,he
him! His head sinks back! one con
vulsive shuddcr! he is dcad!"
A groan ran through the assem-
bly,. So vivid was her DESCRIPTION,
so uncarthly her look, so ms, iring
her manner, that what she describ-
ed seemed actually to have taken
place then and there. They noticed,
also, that the bridegroom hid his
face in his hands and was weep
ing.
"Dead!" she repeated again, her
lips quivering faster and faster, and
her voice more broken; "and there