Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-03-29
ruE nRIpAE cuP.

WHY 30 tate in July m0snilgnt
just 10 say what's said By moonlightz rc
THE BRIDAL CUP- so
"Pledge with wine-pledge with
wine," cried the young and thought
less Harvey Wood; "pledge with
wine" ran through the bridal par
ty. Ia .rs. af
The beautiful bride grew pale
the decisive hour had come. She
pressed her white hands together
and the leaves Of tho bridal wreath
tremhled on her brow; her breath
came quicker, and her heart beat
wilder.
eyes, Marion, lay aside your scru-
pies for this once" said the judge,
in a low tone, going toward his
daughter; "the company expect it.
Do not seriously infringe upon the
rules of etiquette; in your own
home do as you please, but in mine,
for this once, please Me.p af.
Every eye was turned toward the
bridal party. Marion's principles
were well known. Harvey had
been a convivalist, but OF late his
friends noticed the change in bis
manners, the difference in his hab-
its; and tonight they watched him
to see, as they sueeringly said, II
he was tied down to a woman's 3
opinion so soon. rin
Pouring a brimming cup, they
held it with tempting smiles toward
Marion. She was very pale, though
more composed; and her hand shook
not as smiling back, sho gracefully
accepted the crystal tempter, and
raised it TO her lips. But scarcely
had she done so when every hand
was arrested by her piercing eXcla-
nation of sfOi how tcrriblelH r
What is it?'' cried one and all
thronging together, for she had
slowly carried the glass at arms
length, and was fixediy regarding i
as though ID were some hideOus OBJ
ject. .T
Wait" she answered, while !
light, which seemed inspired, shons
from her dark eyes; "Wait, and
wall tell you. / see,T she added
slowly pointing one jeweled finger
at the sparkling ruby liquid, ''s
sigh that beggars all description;
and yet listen will paint it FOR YOU
if / can. 1t is a lovely spot; noun.
tains crowned with Yerdure rise il
awful sublimity around; river
runs through and bright flowsri
grow to the waters edge. There j:
a thick warm mist, that the sun
seeks Yainly to pierce Trees, lofty
and beautiful, wave TO the airy mo-
tion OF the birds; but therc-a group
of Indians gather; they fit 10 and
fro, with something like sorrow
upon their dark brows. And in
their midst lies n manly form-bui
his cheek, how deathly; his eyes,
wild with the fitful fire Of fever
One friend stands behind him-nay,
L should say kneels, for see, he is
pillOwing that poor head upon his
breast.
.'Genius in ruins-Ol the high,
holy looking brOwl why should
death mark IL, and he so young7-
Look how he throws back the damp
curlsi see him clasp his hands, hear
his thrilling shrieks for lifel mark
how he clutches at the form OF his
companion, imploring to be saved.
OF hear him call piteOusly his faith
er's name-see him tWine his fingers
together as he shrieks for his sister
his only sisteF-the twin of his soul
weeping for him in his distant ma
tive land.
"Seel" she exclaimed, while the
bridal party shrank back, the un-
tasted wine trembling in their fall
tering grasp, and The Judge fell,
oYerpOwereds upon his scat s.seel
his aFI1s are lifted 40 heayen-he
prays, how wildly for mercyi Hot
lever rushes through his veins.-
The friend beside him is weeping;
awe-strieken, the dark men move
silently away, and leave the living
and the dying together.
There was a hush in that princely
parlor, broken only by what seemed
= smOthered sob from some manly
bosom. The bri0e stood yet mp
right, with quivering lip, and tears
stealing to the outward edge of her
lashee. Her beautiful arm had lost
its tension, and the glass, with its
little troubled red waves, can.e
slowly toward the range of her Wis
ion. She spoke again; every lip
was mute. Her voice was low,
faint, yet aWfuIly distinct; she still
fixed her serrOwiul glance upon the
wine cup.
cit is evening now; the great
white moon is coming up, and her
beams lie gently on his forehead =
lie moves not; his eyes are set in
their sockets; dim are their pierre
ing glances; in vain his friend Whis-
pers the name.of father and sister
death is there. Death-and no soft
hand, no gentle voice to bless and
sOOthe him. Ills head sinks back
One convulsiVe shudder-he Is
deadl"
A grosn ran throug the assembly.
So vivid was her description, so un-
earthly her look, so inspired her
manner, that what she described
seemed actually to have taken place
then and there. They noticed also
that the bridegroom laid his face in
his hands and was weeping.
''Deadp' she repeated again, her
lips quiVering faster and faster, and
her voice more and more broken;
.'and there they scoop him in 8
grave, and there, without shroud,
they lay him down in. that damp
reeking earth; the only son of a
proud father, the only idolized
brother of a fond sister. And be
sleeps to-day III that distant country,
with no stone to mark the spot
There he lies-my fathers sonny
own tlCiR 6rOfherl a victim to this
deadly poison. Father" she ex-
claimed, turning suddenly, while
the tears rained down her beautiful
cheeks, ''father, shall l drink il
now!"
The form of the old judge was
Convulsed with agony. He raised
not his head, but in a smothered
voice he faltered: "No, no. my
child-no!"
She lifted the glittering goblet
and let it suddenly fall TO the hool
il was dashed in a thousand pieces
Many a terful eye watched her move
ment, and instantaneously every
wine glass was transferred to thl
marble table on which it had beer
prepared. Then, as she looked q
the fragments of crystal, she turned
to the company saying: "Let M
friend hereafter, who leves me
tempt me to peril my soul for wine
Not firmer are the everlasting hill
than my resolve, God, helping me
never to touch or taste the poisol
cup. And he to whom / have give
my hand-Who watched over m
brothers. dying form in that las