Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-04-04

ploring TO be saved Oh. hear him cal
lpiteously his fathers name see him twin,
his fingers together. as be shrieks for BIZ
sister. the twin Of his souI-weeping 70,
him in his distant native land. See." shs
exclaimed. while the bridal party shranl
back. the untasted wine trembling in theil
grasp. and the deacon fell overpowcred
into bis seat-''sce. his arm. ere lifted q
heaven he prays. how wildly he pras.
for mercy! But fever rushes through hi.
brain. The friend beside him is weep.
pg. Awe stricken. the dark men move
silently away. and leave the living and
dying together" -se t..a-s 9at.a
These was hush In that prinssly. par.
lor. broken only By what seemed q sm',sh-
cred sob from some manly bosom. The
bride. stood yet upright. with quivering
lips 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. She spoke again;
every lip was mute; her voice low, faint.
yet awfully distinct. She fixed her sor.
rowful glance upon the wine cup.
at is evening now. The great white
moon is coming up. ard her beams fall
gently on his forehead He moves not :;
his eyes are out OF their sockets dim are
the piercing glanoes. In vain his friend
whispers the name Of father. of sister no
soft hand and no gentle voice soothe him.
His head sinks back; one convulsive shud-
der; he is dead"
A groan ran through the assembly. So
vivid was her description, so unearthly
her look. so inspired her manner, that what
she described seemed actually to have ia
ken place then and there. They noticed.
also. that the bridegroom had hid his face,
aud was weeping.
Dead - she repeated again. her lips
quivering faster and faster. and her voice
more brokcn-"and there they scoop a
grave. and there, without shroud. they
lay him down in the damp. recking earth.
the only son of proud father. the idol.
izcd brother Of fond sister; and he sleeps
to-day in that distant country, with no
stone TO mark the spot There be lies,
nv fathers son. my own twin brother. \
victim to this deadly poison Father ~
she exclaimed. turning suddenly, while
the tears rolled down her beautiful checks
father shall drink this poison now?'
The form Of the old deacon was convul-
sed with agony. He raised not his head i,
but in a smothcred voice he faltereG, mo.
my child. in Gods name, no."
She lifted the glittering goblet, and let
ting it fall suddenly to the floor. it was
shattered to pieces. Many a fearful eve
watched the movement. and ir,,antane.
ousl Y every glass was transferred to the
marble table on which it had been pre-
pared. Then. as she looked at the frag-
ments of crystal. she turned to the compa-
ny saying:
Let no friends hereafter. who love me,
! tempt me to peril my soul for wine. or
any other poisonous venom. Not frmer
are the everlasting hills. than my resolve,
God he Up me, never to touch or taste the
terrible poison. And he. to whom I have
given my hand-who watched over my
brothers dying form in that land of gold
will sustain me in that resolyc. Will you
not. my husband 7" His glistening eyes,
his sad. sweet smile. was her answer. The
deacon had left the room; but when he re.
turned. aud with more subiued manner
took part in the entertainment of the bri-
dal guests. none could fail to see that he.
too, had determined to banish the enemy
at once and forever from the princely
home.
Reader, this is no fiction. was there
and heard the words. which have PEN
ned as near as can recollect them. This
bride. her husband. and her brother who
died in the gold regions of California, were
schoolmates Of mine. Those who were
present a. that wedding of my associates.
never forgot the impressions so solemuly
made. and all from this hour forsook the
social glass.