The Van Buren press., 1873-04-01
MISCELLANY.
The Bridal Wine.Cup,
A THRILLING SKETCH.

WIN ''N'
the young and thoughtless Harve,
Wood "pledge with wns. ran thro
the crowd.
The beautiful bride grew pale-the de
cisve hour had coms. She pressed hel
white hands together, and the leaves o
the bridal wreath trembled on her brow
her breath became quicker aud her heart
beat wilder
Yes, Marion, lay aside your scruple,
for this once, said the judge, in a low
tone, going towards his daughter; " the
company expect it. Do not seriously in
fringe upon the rules Of etiquette; in your
home act as you please, but in mine, tor
this once, please me
Every eye was turned toward the bri
dal pair Marion's scruplcs were well
kaown Henry had been convivialist,
but Of late his friends noticed the change
in his manner, the difference in his hab
its, and that night they watched to see, as
they snecringly said, il he was tied down
by woman's opinion SO soon.
Pouring out = brimming breaker, they
held it. with winning smiles, to Marion.
She was very pale, though more compos
ed. and her hand shook not, as she grace
fully accepted the crystal tompter, and
raised it to her lips. But scarcely had
she dsne 80, when every hand was arrest.
ed by her piercing exclamation Of "Oh +!
how horrible" ~
What is it?' cried one and all,
thronging together, for she slowly car.
ried the glass at arms length, and was
fxcdly regarding it az though it were
some hideous object
"Wait" she answered, while AN in
spirlng light shown from her dark eyes.
Z" wait, and l will tell you. l see," she
added; slowly pointing one ieweled fin.
ger at the sparkling liquid, "a sight that
bsggars all description, and yet listen; !
will try and paint 1t for you if ] can. 1t
is lonely spot; tall mountains, covered
with verdurs, rise in awful sublimity, Q
river runs through, and bright flowers
grow in the waters edge There 10 q
thick, warm mist that the sun seeks in
vain to break to pieces. Trees, lofty and
beautiful, wave to the airy motion Of the
birds; but thore--a group Of Indians
gather they fit to and fro with something
like sorrow on their dark brows; and in
their midst lies manly form, but his
checks are dcathly, his eyes wild with
the fatal fire of fever. One friend stands
beside hm-nay should say knesls-
for see, he is pillowing that poor head
upon his breast.
Genius in ruins. Oh the high,
holy looking brow, why should death
mark it? And he 80 young Look how
hs throws back the curls See him clasp
his hands Mark how he clutches at the
form Of his companion to be saved! Oh !!
here him call piteousy his fathers name !.
See him twinc his fRgers together az he
shrieks for his sister, tho twin OF hi, soul
weeping for him in his distant native
land.
See" she exclaimed, while the br.
dsl party shrank back, the untasted wine
trembling in their grasp, and the Judge
fell overpowercd upon 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 weeping; awe stricken. the dark
men move silently away. leaving the liv
ing and dying together.
There was hush in that princely par
lor, broken only by what seemed = sob
from some manly posom The bride
stood yet upright, with quivering lips,
and tears stealing to the outward edges
Vt her lashes. Her beautiful arm had
lost its extension. and the glass with its
little troubled red waves. came slowly to-
ward the range Of her vision. She spoke
again; every lip was mute. Her voice
was fan, and low, yet awfully distinct
She still fixed her sorrowful glance upsn
the wine cup
at is evening now. The great white
moon is coming up, and its beams lay
gently upon his forehead. He moves
not-his eyes are set in their sockets
dim are their piercing glanccs-=in vain
the fresd whispers the name Of father
and sister-desth--and no soft hand, no
gentle voice to soothe him.
His head sinks back. One convul.
sive shudder-hs 10 dead
A groan ran through the assembly so
vivid WAS her description, SO uncarthly
was her look, so inspired her manner,
that what she described seemed actually
to have taken place then and there. They
noticed, also tkat the groom hid his face
and was weeping
dead, " she repeated, her lips quiver
ing faster, and her voice more broken
"and they seoeped him grave, aud
there, without shroud, they laid him