The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-07-04
A BRIDAL WINE CUP.
A True story.

Pledge with wine, pledge with wine"
cried the young and thoughtless 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.
"Yes, Marion, lay aside your scruples
for once" said the Judge, in low tone,
going toward his daughter, "the compa-
ny 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 eye was turned toward the bri-
dial pair. Marion's principles were well
known. Harvey had been convivialist
but of late his friends had noticed a
change in his manners-a difference in
his babits-and tonight they watched
him to see, as they sneeringly said, if he
was tied down to woman's opinion so
soon.
Pouring brimming beaker, they held
it with tempting smiles toward Marion.
She was very pale, though more compos-
ed, and her hand shook not, as smiling
back she gracefully accepted the crystal
bumper and raised it to her lips. But
scarcely had she done so, when every
hand was arrested by her piercing accla-
nation Of 'Oh how terrible
"What is it?" cried one and all,
thronging together, for she had slowly
carried the glass at arms length, and
was fixedly regarding it as though it was
some hideous vipor.
"Wait,' she answered, while an in
spired light shone from her dark eyes,
"Wait, and l will tell you. see." she
added, slowly pointing one jeveled 6n-
ger at the sparkling ruby liquid, "a
sight that beggars all description. And
yet listen-I will paint it for you if /
can. 1t is lonely spot tall mountains
crowned with vendure rise in awful sub
Unity around, river runs through, and
bright bowers grow to the waters edge.
There Is thick, warm mist that the sun
seeks in vain to pierce; trees, lofty and
beautiful, wave to the airy motions of
the birds. But there group of Indians
gather; they float 10 and fro with some
thing like sorrow upon their dark brows
and in their midst lies manly form, but
his cheek how deadly pale his eyes
wild with ftful fires of feverl One
friend stands beside him-nay, should
say kneels; for he is pillOwing that poor
head upon his heart.
Genius in ruins OH the high, |
holy-lOoking brow Why should death |
mark it, and 50 youngl Look how he
throws the damp. curlsl 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 piteously his fathers
name! See him twine his fingers togeth-
er As he shSieks for his sisier-his only
sister-the twin of his soul-weeping
for him in his native land.
''Seel' she exclaimed. while the bri-
lal party shrank back, the untasted
wine trembling in their faltering grasp,
and the Judge fell oyerpOwered upon
bis seat "See his arms are liiied TO
Heaveni he prays now wildly for mercy
Hot fever rushes through his veins The
friend beside him is weeping. Awestrick-
m, the dark men move silently away,
md leave the living and dying together.
There was a hush in the prinoely par
or, broken only by what seemed a smOth-
'red sob from some manly bosom. The
bride stood yet upright, with quivering
lips and tears stealing 10 the outward
,dges Of her lashes. Her beautiful arm
lad lost its tension, and " glass with
Is little troubled red wave, came SLOW
y toward the range of her vision. She
poke again every lip was mute. Her
'oiOo was low, faint, ye. awhnlly distant;
he fixed her sorrowhil glance On the
aine cup. \